The Cathedral (Kimbe) Dive Site

Site Overview

The Cathedral (Kimbe), within the Kimbe Bay (New Britain – Coral Hotspot) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. An underwater cavern swim-through filled with glassfish, batfish, and moray eels, a dramatic change of pace from the open reefs. Geographically the site features cavern and swim-through and wall formations built from rock and coral substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 8 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 18 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 12 to 28 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Glassfish (Parapriacanthus sp.), Batfish (Platax sp.), Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Bigeye (Priacanthus sp.), Soldierfish (Myripristis sp.), Clownfish (Amphiprion 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 The Cathedral (Kimbe) one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. The Cathedral (Kimbe) is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Kimbe, 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.