Tufi Fjords Dive Site

Site Overview

Tufi Fjords, within the Tufi (Cape Nelson, Oro Province – Fjords & Reefs) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. Flooded river valleys with vertical walls descending to 60 m, crystal-clear water, huge sea fans, black coral, and nudibranchs, with schooling barracuda, mackerel, reef sharks, and manta rays at the outer mouths. Geographically the site features wall and drop-off and fjord formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 8 metres to a maximum depth of about 60 metres, with an average working depth near 30 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 Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus sp.), Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi), Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Black Coral (Antipatharia), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), 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 Tufi Fjords one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Tufi Fjords is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Tufi, 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.