Best Pelagic Action in the Pacific

[scubajunky17]

HI,
I have dived Rangiroa,Fakarava, Palau and the Galapagos in the Pacific region and loved all places. Apart from Cocos where else should be on this list and how good is the Palegic action ? I'm considering Figi but I don't know where to go or how good the action is compared to Fakarava / Rangiroa.
Any help appreciated.
Cheers

 

[Wingy]

After FP why not try Papua New Guinea - Milne Bay area blew me away as did Rangi. Its as good but different..Diving Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea - YouTube or try further up north Papua New Guinea Diving - YouTube

You get the giant schools of various barracudas, giant trevally, napoleans and stupid amounts of bumpheads, hammerheads, reef sharks and oceanics but not as many in my experience as Rangi..on the flip side you get some amazing reefs with smaller but not necessarily confined to ''macro'' only species - the clouds of anthias are sometimes just breathtaking. Lots of cephalapod action too, the odd whale shark and Orcas have been known to visit.

 

[Christopher_B]

In PNG - Witu islands for schooling fish and Fathers Reefs for sharks, both in the Bismarck Sea, on board the MV Febrina MV FeBrina liveaboard, Papua New Guinea - Best of PNG. Go to the 5th minute of the first video and check out the jacks at Krakafat reef.... FeBrina video, Papua New Guinea - Best of PNG

also sites like Planet Channel, Albatross Passage, and Chapman's Reef in New Ireland and New Hanover from Lissenung island Lissenung Island, Papua New Guinea - Best of PNG. Lissenung is also great for plane wrecks.

 

[iDreamOfBubbles]

Wingy, how'd you do Milne Bay, from Tawali or Chertan, or some combination of both?

I'd absolutely LOVE to dive MB, especially from a liveaboard where it's possible to hit some of the more distant sites, but there don't seem to be any reviews of Chertan on the web.

 

[Wingy]

I was on a private LOB - winning!! I did see Chertan in Milne Bay at the dock while we were loading our gear onto the boat and she looked great - we only crossed paths once at sea in the 17 days and I think that was around Deacons Reef from memory. I believe the owners of Tawali operate the Chertan.

 

[scubajunky17]

Is the diving and accommodation really expensive in PNG ? can somebody please give me an idea of prices please ?

 

[Wingy]

Yes apparently - these rates are pretty current PNG DIVE - Diving in Papua New Guinea plus there is the expense of getting there. Flights ex Cairns are probably your best bet. So you need to get to Aus first. Cant comment on accomodation but you will probably need a day either side transfer from MB or where ever you go in Port Moresby and hotels there are apparently fairly good at charging for not much.

 

[iDreamOfBubbles]

Thanks for the info, Wingy. I think I may have a look at the Chertan for June/July 2014.

Did you actually see many pelagics in MB? I imagine there must be some good sites if you can get to the outermost reefs on an extended liveaboard trip, but no one ever talks about them...

 

[Christopher_B]

Milne Bay is more about the small stuff and that's what the Chertan specialises in. The Febrina in up in New Britain has great pelagic action at Father's Reefs and the Witus, and the Kimbe Bay sites aren't bad for schooling fish and some sharks either. Lissenung Island Resort has good pelagic action too. Have a look Home - Best of PNG

 

[Wingy]

Some Pelagics around Deacons reef area - anywhere theres deep drop offs you tend to find a half dozen white tips and a half dozen blacktips of decent size cruising around, the odd hammerhead and the lovely giant baracuda but nothing compared to Rangiroa. Did see a lot of big bumphead wrasses and napoleans even tho not pelagic were spectacular in size and number. Also enjoyed school of giant trevallys. You wont find Rangiroa style sharky passes there unfortunately. Still, amazing diving.