FeBrina
The MV FeBrina is fast becoming one of the world's best-known liveaboard dive boats. Given a five star rating in all categories in a leading dive guide and highly recommended in the prestigious Harper & Queen, FeBrina is a 72-foot long vessel, fully air-conditioned and fitted with every convenience to make your trip one of the most enjoyable you will ever experience.
FeBrina cruises from Walindi, the world-renowned dive resort located on the North Coast of New Britain. Diving Kimbe Bay and all the offshore reefs outside the Bay including the Witu Islands and North Coast "Fathers" reefs, FeBrina is your sea borne platform that provides easy access to spectacular dive areas, offering 5 dives per day. The reefs offer superb visibility and prolific fish life.
Amenities
FeBrina is an extremely comfortable boat in all ways, with a friendly and experienced crew providing top class service. Seaworthy and stable, FeBrina’s seven twin-share cabins with ample storage space are more than enough to comfortably accommodate 12 passengers. All cabins are fitted with individual air-conditioning, vanity basins and porthole views. Cabins 5, 6 and 7 have ensuite bathroom facilities. Twin Cabins 3 and 4 and single cabins 1 and 2 have shared bathroom facilities with two bathrooms situated on the same level as the cabins and shared between maximum of 6 guests.
Meals provided by a top class chef are plentiful and fresh - consisting mainly of Western style meals - with lots of fruit between dive snacks (a glass of complimentary Australian wine or other beverage of your choice will be served with dinner). Linens, towels and daily laundry service are included, and bathrobes are available for your use on board. FeBrina has a multi-system TV/video unit for videotape and camera playback, compact disc player and cassette deck. The electrical current on FeBrina is 240Volts. North American travelers may wish to bring a voltage converter with them for the use of small appliances. There is however a 110V charging station for cameras and photography equipment located on the back dive deck.
Activities
Although shore excursions are possible from time top time, Febrina is a dive-dedicated boat run by the renowned Captain, Alan Raabe.
Diving
FeBrina dives the areas of Kimbe Bay and surrounding waters along the northern coast of New Britain, such as the Witu Islands to the northwest and Fathers Reefs to the northeast of Kavieng. FeBrina’s six to ten night itineraries vary to best suit the weather conditions at that particular time of year, and the number of dives per day can be as many as five. Also each itinerary suits different divers and photographers.
FeBrina’s signature itinerary is Walindi-Fathers Reefs-Witu Islands-Walindi, which is scheduled during months when the weather (traditionally) is at its optimum for the Witu area; April-May-till mid June; Sept-October-November-mid December. During these periods schools of pelagic fish abound and on the reefs you will find a great diversity of fish and invertebrates.
July-August is traditionally when Papua New Guinea experiences their dry season and the South East Trades. At this time of year FeBrina is relocated to Rabaul to dive the protected Gazelle Peninsula and Duke of York Islands.
In June, itineraries are expanded to include running from Walindi to Rabaul and Rabaul to Walindi. This itinerary includes the best of both worlds, spectacular Kimbe Bay, the Fathers Reef system and also the Duke of York area, with a very special critter dive right on the doorstep of Rabaul that will knock your socks off. There is also a smattering of this itinerary throughout the year, taking advantage of the diversity of diving this itinerary has to offer.
On the North Coast of New Britain, the wet season is January-February, with March being the shoulder season on the North Coast. At this time, FeBrina relocates to Milne Bay, world renowned for its critter diving and diversity of marine life.
Most diving is from FeBrina's spacious dive deck, with easy access via the water level dive platform, but an 18 foot fiberglass hulled tender is available should the need arise. 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.
Water temperature rarely goes below 85 degrees (20 C degrees) during the winter (June to August) at which time a dive skin or 3mm wetsuit should be sufficient for most divers.
FeBrina ties up to permanent moorings on top of the reef thereby eliminating any damage to the delicate substrate. Ample back deck area provides easy access to your dive gear and plenty of room to kit up, and attentive dive crew are on hand to assist divers with camera gear... the next thing you know you are in the water.
General
August & September are when the highland tribes gather at Mt. Hagen & Goroka for two days of traditional dancing and singing. Many thousands of tribespeople take part. Accommodations are almost impossible during this time period, so book well in advance.
Spirits are prohibitively expensive in Papua New Guinea. It is best to bring your own scotch, gin, vodka, rum, whatever you refer to drink, from Brisbane or Sydney. Any spirits purchased for the boat will be reimbursed.
FeBrina's selection of beverages includes fruit juices, soft drinks, plenty of iced water (not bottled), tea and coffee and Australian wines at dinner. Fresh milk is not available in PNG, although UHT long life milk is readily available and provided on board. Herbal teas are not always available. We encourage you to consume lots of liquids during the week to avoid dehydration. The water on board is a mixture of desalinated water and spring water from Walindi.