Rakua Reef (Duke of York Islands) Dive Site

Site Overview

Rakua Reef (Duke of York Islands), within the Rabaul & East New Britain (Volcanic & Wrecks) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. A sloping coral wall with turtles, reef sharks, and schooling barracuda, a relaxed reef dive in the Duke of York Islands. Geographically the site features wall and slope and reef formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 16 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 12 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), Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.), 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 Rakua Reef (Duke of York Islands) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Rakua Reef (Duke of York Islands) is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Rabaul, 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.