The Wrecks of Hansa Bay Dive Site

Site Overview

The Wrecks of Hansa Bay, within the Madang (North Coast of Mainland) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. A Japanese submarine chaser (15-20 m), a cargo vessel (20-30 m), and a B-25 Mitchell bomber (5-12 m, shallow, intact), all coral-encrusted with resident batfish and morays. Geographically the site features wreck and hull and plane formations built from metal and coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 18 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 8 to 22 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Batfish (Platax sp.), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus sp.), Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), 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 The Wrecks of Hansa Bay one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. The Wrecks of Hansa Bay is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Madang, 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.