North Cape (New Ireland) Dive Site

Site Overview

North Cape (New Ireland), within the Kavieng & New Ireland – Pelagic & Walls of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. A sheer wall dropping to 1000 m with pelagic sharks, dolphins, and seasonal whale sharks in the blue. Geographically the site features wall and drop-off and ledge formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 15 metres to a maximum depth of about 60 metres, with an average working depth near 30 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 15 to 35 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), Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Dolphin (Delphinidae), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), 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 North Cape (New Ireland) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. North Cape (New Ireland) is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Kavieng, 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.