Planet Rock (off Tsoilaunung Island) Dive Site

Site Overview

Planet Rock (off Tsoilaunung Island), 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 spectacular pinnacle with swirling vortexes of jacks, barracuda, tuna, grey reef sharks, and the occasional hammerhead. Geographically the site features pinnacle and seamount and drop-off formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 12 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 35 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini), Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), 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 Planet Rock (off Tsoilaunung Island) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Planet Rock (off Tsoilaunung Island) 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.