Loloata Island Reefs Dive Site

Site Overview

Loloata Island Reefs, within the Port Moresby & Loloata Island (Central Province) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. The House Reef (shallow coral, good for training and night dives) and End Bommie (large gorgonians, macro, turtles). Geographically the site features reef and bommie and plateau formations built from coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 3 metres to a maximum depth of about 20 metres, with an average working depth near 12 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 10 to 25 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Gorgonian Fan (Gorgonacea), Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Parrotfish (Scaridae), Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes 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 Loloata Island Reefs one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Loloata Island Reefs is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Port Moresby, 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.