Cyclone Reef Dive Site

Site Overview

Cyclone Reef, within the Tufi (Cape Nelson, Oro Province – Fjords & Reefs) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. An offshore pinnacle with grey reef sharks, barracuda, dogtooth tuna, and sailfish possible in the blue. Geographically the site features pinnacle and seamount and drop-off formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 10 metres to a maximum depth of about 40 metres, with an average working depth near 22 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 15 to 32 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus), Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Anthias (Pseudanthias sp.), alongside dense reef fish, invertebrates, and the soft and hard corals that blanket the reef. The mix of nutrient-rich currents and Papua New Guinea's remote, well-protected reefs makes Cyclone Reef one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Cyclone Reef is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Tufi, and it rewards wide-angle photographers, naturalists, and experienced drift divers alike. Papua New Guinea's strong community-based conservation ethos and remoteness help keep the reef pristine, so divers are asked to maintain exemplary buoyancy and respect the fragile marine environment at all times.