Papua New Guinea Liveaboards
The 80-foot luxury liveaboard Golden Dawn offers ten to fourteen day itineraries for a maximum of twelve divers in six cabins. The master cabin has a double bed and a private bathroom. The two double cabins have a double or, by request, two single beds and private bathrooms. The remaining three cabins share two bathrooms. They have different configurations: one has two single lower beds, one has a lower full bed and an upper single and one has two single beds, upper and lower. All cabins all have individual climate controls. Onboard, life is comfortable with fully appointed dive and relaxation areas.
Golden Dawn’s schedule of destinations features different locations to take advantage of the best weather conditions of the regions. The Eastern Fields itineraries operate from November to December and from April to May. These waters of the barrier reef system teem with beautiful flora and fauna, including mantas, sharks and turtles. Visibility is moderate but the exquisite and exotic dwellers – such as lacy scorpion fish, leaf scorpion fish and pygmy sea horse – give you fantastic photo opportunities. During June to September the itinerary takes in Madang and Wewak. Common sightings here are a variety of big animals including sharks, rays, dolphins and thousands of pelagic fish. This area also has two WWII shipwrecks that may be explored if the conditions are right. During March, June and October Golden Dawn travels to Milne Bay. This area is known for its mantas and varied dives, from strong currents to muck diving. In addition to these itineraries, Golden Dawn frequently offers new exploratory destinations. Two tenders carry you to dive spots and the boat offers both Nitrox and Rebreather.
FeBrina is a comfortable 72-foot air-conditioned liveaboard diving the prolific and diverse reefs of Kimbe Bay and beyond. The seven cabins accommodate a maximum of twelve guests. Retrofitted in March 2010, all cabins now feature private bathrooms. There is one double cabin with a double bed, two double or twin cabins with a lower double bed and a lower single bed, two double or twin cabins with a lower double bed and an upper single bunk, and two single cabins with a large single bed - the single cabins are a great deal as they do not require a single supplement. All cabins have individual climate controls, sinks, portholes, bathrobes and hair dryers.
FeBrina cruises from Walindi Dive Resort, and the six to ten night itineraries vary to best suit the conditions at that particular time of year and offer up to five dives per day. April to June and September to December, FeBrina’s itinerary includes Fathers Reef and Witu Islands. During the dry season from July to August, FeBrina relocates to Rabaul to dive the protected Gazelle Peninsula and Duke of York Islands. During the wet season from January to March, FeBrina dives Milne Bay, world famous for its critter diving and diversity of marine life. Most of the diving is from FeBrina's spacious dive deck with easy access via the water level dive platform, but an 18-foot tender is also available. FeBrina offers Nitrox.
Star Dancer is 120-foot luxurious liveaboard with plenty of space and comfort for discerning divers. Itineraries follow the best dive season around the islands. From January to March and July to August, the boat embarks from Rabaul for critter diving. Rest of the year departures are from Walindi Plantation and offer a variety of itineraries including Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reef and Witu Islands.
There are eight cabins for a maximum of 16 guests. All cabins feature private bathrooms, independent air-conditioning, hairdryers, bathrobes, toiletries and plenty of storage space. Three of the cabins have queen-size beds, two cabins have two single beds (or queen if requested) and two single beds only. The spacious dive deck has a water level dive platform where most of the diving is done. A tender will whisk you to shore excursions, or if needed, to dive sites that are not moored. Star Dancer offers Nitrox.