Rapopo Dive Centre
To experience Rabaul’s wreck diving, unrivalled in Papua New Guinea and, indeed, the Southern Hemisphere, Rapopo Plantation Resort’s internationally qualified scuba diver experts, can escort you on an introductory “resort” dive or teach you to become an SSI qualified open water diver.
Owner/operator, Gerry Byrne and his professional team, have over ten years diving experience. Gerry is a qualified SSI dive control specialist and dive instructor. He holds Diplomas in Outdoor Adventure Education and is a First Aid and Risk Management Instructor.
Beneath the warm, crystal waters, is a treasure of marine life, schools of brilliant tropical fish, coral and rare shells. And the tropical waters of Simpson Harbour belie the eerie war museum on the ocean bed – some 65 Japanese warships sunk by allied bombing in World War II. A must for scuba divers!
Bi Plane Pete
Mitsubishi World War II Japanese spotter aircraft, situated in 27 metres, it stands upright, in excellent condition. View colourful and beautiful corals above with a wealth of marine life including moray eels, featherstars and puffer fish.
George’s Wreck
Named after George Tyers who discovered this Japanese mine layer in the 1980’s. Lying upright against a reef, it rests with its bow at 10 metres and stern at 55 metres depth.
Italy Maru
An 8,000 tonne armed freighter lying to starboard at 46 metres, torpedo holes at midships and aft. Not for the feint-hearted, it offers exciting swim-throughs in the holds and engine room.
Submarine Base
Used as a Japanese submarine haven in World War II, its vertical wall plunges 300 metres into waters abounding with myriad schools of tropical fish, pelagics, sharks and dugongs, nudibranches, shrimps, eels and many hued corals. Select from a variety of wall and drift dives.
Rapopo House Reef
Boasts pretty reefs in depths from 2 to 40 metres featuring a submerged tug boat at 14 metres.
Mitsubishi Zero Fighter Aircraft
Shot down by allied forces in World War II, still intact at 40 metres, if offers corals and marine life and shallow depths featuring eels, puffer fish, shells and crabs.