Submarine Base Wrecks Dive Site

Site Overview

Submarine Base 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. The Amagisan Maru (huge cargo ship), Komaki Maru (tugboat), and several seaplane wrecks, rich in macro life among the coral. Geographically the site features wreck and hull and seaplane formations built from metal and coral and sand substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 10 metres to a maximum depth of about 36 metres, with an average working depth near 22 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 Batfish (Platax sp.), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), Ghost Pipefish (Solenostomus 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 Submarine Base Wrecks one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Submarine Base 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.