Papua New Guinea is located in the South Pacific, just north of the equator. It is a vastly diverse country, with dense tropical rainforests, rugged mountains, low lying swamps, pristine coral atolls, and steaming volcanoes. Star Dancer is based in West New Britain (WNB), one of PNG’s 20 provinces. The birthplace of maritime trade 20,000 years ago, WNB is virtually untouched, unexplored and unknown in the 21st century. It offers unlimited opportunities for experiencing traditional cultures and unspoiled natural environments.

Papua New Guinea is an independent country, comprised of an island group situated to the north of Australia. Mainland Papua New Guinea is a large island consisting of Papua New Guinea to the east, and Irian Jaya to the west. The large islands of New Britain and New Ireland lie off the mainland's eastern shores, and there are a myriad of smaller island groups within Papua New Guinea's waters. Currents from three seas meet around Papua New Guinea; the Bismarck Sea, the Solomon Sea and the Coral Sea, bringing diverse nutrients to feed the remarkable variety of marine life living in these waters.

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.

We highly recommend extending your Star Dancer vacation to experience the land-based wonders and adventures of PNG. Visit World War II relic museums, experience pulsating white water rafting, trek to the highlands to encounter fascinating tribal cultures, go birdwatching, or relax and enjoy stunning vistas spotted with scenes of active volcanoes. Contact Adventure Travels for details.

The Wildest Edge
" If you could only dive one destination for the rest of your life, this should be it. Papua New Guinea sits smack in the middle of the world's hottest spot for undersea biodiversity. There is a raw pageantry on the reefs here that simply doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. I've spent hours diving just one patch of a reef on one site in one small part of this island nation, and the divemaster had to tear me away to show me another site that I wanted to camp on. Both above and under the water, PNG exists in a primal state. Most villages on this island still exist in that strong interval between the Stone Age and the modern world. Underwater, even if you just explore under a pier, you're alomost guaranteed to encounter some strange and wonderful creature like a ghost pipefish, or rare shrimp. It's difficult to pick my favorite region, but I would be quite happy to explore Milne Bay or Kimbe or Kavieng for the next 20 years. Still, new regions are being explored every day. Big, small, rare, wrecked or unknown, you'll find it all here. And between dives, you'll get to discover one of the world's last remaining authentic places. People here headhunted until the 1960's. The jungles are full of incredible birds, such as several species of birds of paradise, and ritual dances are played out in costume as they have been for centuries."

Ty Sawyer
Editor - Sport Diver Magazine Jan/Feb 2008
World Dive Guide - 100 Incredible Dive Destinations