Kieta Harbour Dive Site

Site Overview

Kieta Harbour, within the Bougainville & Solomon Sea (Remote) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. Remnants of sunken WWII aircraft and landing barges, coral-encrusted and rich in macro life. Geographically the site features wreck and plane and hull formations built from metal and coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 6 metres to a maximum depth of about 22 metres, with an average working depth near 14 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 8 to 18 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.), Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus 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 Kieta Harbour one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Kieta Harbour is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Buka, 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.