Simpson Harbour Wrecks Dive Site

Site Overview

Simpson Harbour Wrecks, 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. Dozens of WWII Japanese ships including the Kenshin Maru, Manko Maru, Yamagiri Maru, and Nanshin Maru, coral-encrusted homes for giant groupers, batfish, and lionfish. Geographically the site features wreck and hull and deck formations built from metal and coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 12 metres to a maximum depth of about 40 metres, with an average working depth near 25 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 8 to 20 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Giant Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus), Batfish (Platax sp.), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus 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 Simpson Harbour Wrecks one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Simpson Harbour Wrecks 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.