Star Dancer
Boat
The 120-foot mono-hulled Star Dancer is so exceptionally luxurious, with service so far superior to most liveaboards in the Pacific that you’ll want to come back for your next vacation. Offering seven to ten night charters with up to five dives a day, the Star Dancer maximizes your time under water, then treats you to first class accommodations onboard.
From January to March Star Dancer leaves from Rabaul for the South Coast of New Britain Island where divers enjoy some of the best critter diving available along with an exciting up-the-river trip to a fresh water blue hole for more diving. In July and August, the diving around Rabaul offers great variety from lovely fans and whips to sharks to frogfish and much more.
The rest of the year, Star Dancer embarks from Walindi Plantation located on West New Britain Island on the east side of the Willaumez Peninsula, offering a variety of itineraries which include Kimbe Bay, Father's Reef, Lolabau Island and the Witu Islands. On certain special itineraries Star Dancer also visits Kavieng on the northern tip of New Ireland. With many different itineraries, Star Dancer offers divers the opportunity to visit many times without ever repeating the dive itinerary!
Amenities
Star Dancer is one of the most beautiful and spacious vessels in Papua New Guinea. With tastefully appointed and professionally decorated salons and staterooms - most featuring picture windows - you are assured of enjoying an unforgettable diving adventure in the lap of luxury. Star Dancer can accommodate up to sixteen passengers. All eight staterooms include independent air-conditioning and volume controls, toiletries, hairdryer, bathrobes, ample storage space, and a fresh supply of towels delivered daily. Three of the staterooms are fitted with queen beds, two staterooms can be configured with one large or two separate beds for double or twin occupancy, and two staterooms for just twin occupancy only. The Owner Suite is located in the bow of the lower deck with a queen-size bed and two small porthole windows.
The service is top-rate and starts as soon as you’re off the plane when you’ll be greeted with a cool drink. After your dives, the crew provides you with a warm towel, rinses your dive gear, hangs up your wetsuit, and handles your valuable camera equipment with care. Steaming hot chocolate is passed around after each night dive, and nightly turndown service is provided in your stateroom with a mint on your pillow. Even your laundry is done for you.
Dinner is a fine dining experience with plated meals served to the table and a choice of entrees several nights per week. The open bar includes locally available beer, wines, liquor, and soft drinks. Morning beverages are served to your stateroom.
Activities
Star Dancer’s primary focus is on the diving experience, but time is spent on shore excursions as well. The topside beauty of the islands of Papua New Guinea is equally as beautiful as the undersea splendor, and Star Dancer’s crew provides you the opportunity to see it for yourself. Lunches are packed prior to the shore excursions to maximize your time spent taking in the sights.
Diving
Dives are prioritized for quality rather than quantity. The diving crew gives detailed briefings, checks currents and temperatures beforehand, and is in the water on every dive. Every opportunity is taken to ensure that your diving experience is trouble-free and unforgettable.
The waters of Papua New Guinea are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals. Recent marine surveys in Kimbe Bay have recorded over 350 species of reef building corals, and over 900 species of fish. The reefs are a photographer's paradise. Pristine and colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have resident schools of barracuda, tuna and jacks. A range of shark species are regularly sighted, including hammerheads and silvertips, particularly at the outer reefs of Fathers and Witu. Visibility ranges from 80 to 150 feet, depending on the season, and water temperatures range between 85°F and 90°F. Weather is tropical with little seasonal variation.
A tender is available if need be, but most diving is from Star Dancer's spacious dive deck with easy access via the water level dive platform. Some of the reefs are current washed; without current the spectacular marine life would not be there, however, the wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at a site if currents are unmanageable at the time.
Every dive in Papua New Guinea is an exciting new experience, highlighted by encounters with dogtooth tuna, sharks, vast schools of pelagics such as barracuda, trevally and others.
General
In August and September the highland tribes gather at Mt. Hagen & Goroka for two days of traditional dancing and singing. Many thousands of tribespeople take part in the celebrations. If you plan to attend, book well in advance since accommodations are difficult to come by for this time period.
Spirits are prohibitively expensive in Papua New Guinea. It is best to bring your own scotch, gin, vodka, rum, or whatever you prefer to drink from Brisbane or Sydney. Any spirits purchased for the boat will be reimbursed.
Certification classes are provided for Enriched Air full certification, and Nitrox facilities are available onboard. Certifications may be PADI or TDI depending on which instructor gives the course.
The 120-foot mono-hulled Star Dancer is so exceptionally luxurious, with service so far superior to most liveaboards in the Pacific that you’ll want to come back for your next vacation. Offering seven to ten night charters with up to five dives a day, the Star Dancer maximizes your time under water, then treats you to first class accommodations onboard.
From January to March Star Dancer leaves from Rabaul for the South Coast of New Britain Island where divers enjoy some of the best critter diving available along with an exciting up-the-river trip to a fresh water blue hole for more diving. In July and August, the diving around Rabaul offers great variety from lovely fans and whips to sharks to frogfish and much more.
The rest of the year, Star Dancer embarks from Walindi Plantation located on West New Britain Island on the east side of the Willaumez Peninsula, offering a variety of itineraries which include Kimbe Bay, Father's Reef, Lolabau Island and the Witu Islands. On certain special itineraries Star Dancer also visits Kavieng on the northern tip of New Ireland. With many different itineraries, Star Dancer offers divers the opportunity to visit many times without ever repeating the dive itinerary!
Amenities
Star Dancer is one of the most beautiful and spacious vessels in Papua New Guinea. With tastefully appointed and professionally decorated salons and staterooms - most featuring picture windows - you are assured of enjoying an unforgettable diving adventure in the lap of luxury. Star Dancer can accommodate up to sixteen passengers. All eight staterooms include independent air-conditioning and volume controls, toiletries, hairdryer, bathrobes, ample storage space, and a fresh supply of towels delivered daily. Three of the staterooms are fitted with queen beds, two staterooms can be configured with one large or two separate beds for double or twin occupancy, and two staterooms for just twin occupancy only. The Owner Suite is located in the bow of the lower deck with a queen-size bed and two small porthole windows.
The service is top-rate and starts as soon as you’re off the plane when you’ll be greeted with a cool drink. After your dives, the crew provides you with a warm towel, rinses your dive gear, hangs up your wetsuit, and handles your valuable camera equipment with care. Steaming hot chocolate is passed around after each night dive, and nightly turndown service is provided in your stateroom with a mint on your pillow. Even your laundry is done for you.
Dinner is a fine dining experience with plated meals served to the table and a choice of entrees several nights per week. The open bar includes locally available beer, wines, liquor, and soft drinks. Morning beverages are served to your stateroom.
Activities
Star Dancer’s primary focus is on the diving experience, but time is spent on shore excursions as well. The topside beauty of the islands of Papua New Guinea is equally as beautiful as the undersea splendor, and Star Dancer’s crew provides you the opportunity to see it for yourself. Lunches are packed prior to the shore excursions to maximize your time spent taking in the sights.
Diving
Dives are prioritized for quality rather than quantity. The diving crew gives detailed briefings, checks currents and temperatures beforehand, and is in the water on every dive. Every opportunity is taken to ensure that your diving experience is trouble-free and unforgettable.
The waters of Papua New Guinea are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals. Recent marine surveys in Kimbe Bay have recorded over 350 species of reef building corals, and over 900 species of fish. The reefs are a photographer's paradise. Pristine and colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean and invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have resident schools of barracuda, tuna and jacks. A range of shark species are regularly sighted, including hammerheads and silvertips, particularly at the outer reefs of Fathers and Witu. Visibility ranges from 80 to 150 feet, depending on the season, and water temperatures range between 85°F and 90°F. Weather is tropical with little seasonal variation.
A tender is available if need be, but most diving is from Star Dancer's spacious dive deck with easy access via the water level dive platform. Some of the reefs are current washed; without current the spectacular marine life would not be there, however, the wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at a site if currents are unmanageable at the time.
Every dive in Papua New Guinea is an exciting new experience, highlighted by encounters with dogtooth tuna, sharks, vast schools of pelagics such as barracuda, trevally and others.
General
In August and September the highland tribes gather at Mt. Hagen & Goroka for two days of traditional dancing and singing. Many thousands of tribespeople take part in the celebrations. If you plan to attend, book well in advance since accommodations are difficult to come by for this time period.
Spirits are prohibitively expensive in Papua New Guinea. It is best to bring your own scotch, gin, vodka, rum, or whatever you prefer to drink from Brisbane or Sydney. Any spirits purchased for the boat will be reimbursed.
Certification classes are provided for Enriched Air full certification, and Nitrox facilities are available onboard. Certifications may be PADI or TDI depending on which instructor gives the course.
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