Rapopo Diving

A Beautifully Landscaped Tropical Dive Resort is Rapopo Plantation Resort which is conveniently near Kokopo Airport and is part of a working coconut plantation. We are about 5 minutes drive to Kokopo and 10 minutes to Tokua (Rabaul) Airport. We are set right on the beach with views to Pigeon Island and the active volcanoes on the horizon. Sunsets are particularly spectacular from here and our ocean waters a pleasant 27-30C.

The Rapopo Plantation Resort is built around the old plantation managers residence, converted into a beautiful restaurant/bar while preserving the intimate feel. Your hosts are Brian and Bev Martin, who are more than willing to share their many years of intimate local knowledge. While the on-site dive shop offers daily dives and dive instruction upon request.

Rabaul has long been known for its spectacular fish life and WWII shipwrecks and planes that litter the coastline. Many documentaries have been filmed in and around Rabaul and the gazelle peninsular region. It has a history of strategic battles and volcanic eruptions, creating both amazing scenery and world-class diving. Sitting at the gates to both the Bismarck sea and the Solomon Sea. Rabaul offers a special alternative to the adventurous diver with visibility 20+ meters in the harbour and 40+ outside, you will see the difference.

We have a restaurant to tempt you with delicious meals. Make sure you do not miss out on the lobster - it is excellent ! The bar is a great spot for a sundowner. At dusk some of the worlds most beautiful sunsets can be seen from here, adding to the exotic experience.

For those who are fascinated by volcanoes, Rabaul is the place to watch the active volcanoes, "Tarvuvur" and "Vulcan". There are guided tours to the craters or you can just watch the craters glowing at nights. Take time to visit the famous Japanese Tunnels, hundreds of kilometres were dug durin WWII and most still remain today. A visit to the local marketas is always a must for visitors where tropical fruits and local artifacts are well displayed.

Rabaul's surrounds are as tropically lush and as dramatic as ever. The whole area boasts scenic views and historical artifacts of WWII . There is so much to see underwater and on land, a few days up to a week can be easily spent in Rabaul.

Diving

The surrounding reefs and islands offer excellent diving. Many of these dive sites are located in the Bismarck Sea close to the coastline which is less than 15 minutes drive North of Rabaul. Very few of these sites require more than a 20-minute boat trip.

George's Wreck
Just a 30 min boat ride and less than 50 metres from the mainland coast line is "George's Wreck", a Japanese cable layer converted to a mine sweeper. The vessel is upright, with the bow at 12m & the stern at 60m and an abundance of resident marine life around the bridge at 35 metres. This wreck is very well preserved & encrusted in vibrantly coloured coral throughout....a sensational dive. The macro life in 6-8m at the end of the dive leaves the underwater photographers with a difficult choice...to take the macro or wide-angled lens?

Submarine Base
An exceptional wall dive dropping near vertically to greater than 275m

Pete's Bi Plane
Is a Japanese Mitsubishi Bi-Plane, which lies in 30 metres and is frequented by curious moray eel amongst other marine life

The Hump
Is a plateau on the summit of a huge underwater volcano forming part of the caldera with gardens of pristine gigantic gorgonian fans and plenty of pelagic life

The Duke Of York Islands
World famous for its amazing reefs and scattering of scuttled tanks in excellent condition.

This is just a small selection of the dives available, all of which are easily accessible in clear tropical waters. Such is the abundance of pristine and healthy marine life that new spectacular dive sites are constantly being discovered throughout the area.

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