Tulun (Carteret) Atoll Dive Site

Site Overview

Tulun (Carteret) Atoll, within the Bougainville & Solomon Sea (Remote) of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. An extremely remote, untouched coral atoll with sharks, manta rays, and massive schools of pelagic fish, reachable only by expedition liveaboard. Geographically the site features atoll and reef and drop-off formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 8 metres to a maximum depth of about 35 metres, with an average working depth near 18 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 Grey Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Manta Ray (Mobula alfredi), Bigeye Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), Dogtooth Tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), 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 Tulun (Carteret) Atoll one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Tulun (Carteret) Atoll is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Buka, 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.