Tufi Diving

Tufi offers a boutique resort, nestled on top of a Fiord with 180-degree panoramic views of the sea and the Fjord in the only fjords in Papua New Guinea. Tufi is located at Cape Nelson in Oro Province some 80 miles due east of Kokoda and not too far from the Milne Bay and Oro Province border. Tufi offers 24 hour reticulated power, all air-conditioned bungalows. Tufi not only offers pristine reefs and amazing underwater macro but we also offer a range of exciting adventure activities, with everything from bat caving to deep sea fishing, bush and nature walks where many species of birds are seen, kayaking as well as snorkeling trips for non-divers and overnight village stays.


You will find perfect peace, no traffic, no television, no newspapers, no pollution. A holiday that makes the outside world and all the daily stresses seem a million miles away in another time. Local tribal villages give visitors an insight into indigenous culture, through a range of specially designed cultural activities. Tufi offers a truly cultural experience that no other resort has to offer from outrigger safaris, treks to remote locations, to cultural shows and overnight stays in village guesthouses.

The orchids, birds and butterflies of the rainforest and lowland areas through guided bushwalks and overnight treks that are as outrageously beautiful as the underwater scenery enjoyed by divers.

Tufi Resort

is located on the northeastern coast of Papua New Guinea, 250 kilometers northeast of Port Moresby, Tufi Resort is perched on the flanking slopes of Mount Trafalgar overlooking sheer rock faces that plunge into an enclosed picturesque fjord draped in exotic rainforest to the waters edge. The resort is boutique and up market with bungalows nestled among the only fjords in Papua New Guinea. Tufi not only offers pristine reefs and amazing muck dives but offers visitors the chance to experience the vibrant culture of the local villages through a range of specially designed cultural activities. We also offer a range of exciting adventure activities, with everything from bat caving to deep sea fishing and can cater to most individual needs. At Tufi, experience sun-filled days and air conditioned comfort, magnificent views and the creature comforts you would expect from a truly memorable holiday.

Meals

All meals are included in the package, unless otherwise stated. In cases where food is not included in the package, you will be required to purchase a meals package, as all meals are eaten together.

Facilities

The resort offers fifteen air-conditioned bungalows ranging from standard to deluxe, and a limited number of budget fan-only rooms with shared bathroom facilities. These 8 rooms are to cater for the backpacker market. All bungalows have stunning views either of the fjords or the ocean. All meals, accommodation and transfers are included in the tariff. Drinks are available from the licensed bar at extra cost, along with bottled water and soft drinks. The resort operates all year round and can also cater for conferences, meetings and exhibitions. We will also accept bookings for the whole resort, subject to sufficient notice. Our deluxe bungalows have tea and coffee making facilities including a fridge, a writing desk and outdoor setting overlooking the fjords. Power supply is 24 hours (240v Australian standard). We offer guests a laundry service for additional cost. We have a range of activities available and can provide child minding services. The resort has a dive shop, a gift shop and can provide some basic items like sunscreen and insect repellant for sale. There is also a trade store close by that sells very basic items. We can provide for special needs, if adequate notice is given. The resort is serviced by Airlines PNG. Our Port Moresby office will arrange all flights to the resort, or you can arrange this through your preferred travel agent. We offer a range of activities including diving, snorkeling, trekking, caving, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, outrigger safaris, cultural activities, village tours, bird watching, beach families days or can arrange an activity to suit your needs.

Diving

We can arrange dives in the morning, afternoon or early evening all year round. Typically our dive boat departs each morning at 8:30am to the outer reefs. Our dive shop can provide all equipment rentals for divers, snorkellers, kayakers and canoers. We have limited gear available for sale and can do basic repairs if required. We have film for sale but it is best if you bring along all your own photography gear. We do have wash tanks on the boats and on shore and our staff will wash down all your dive and photography gear, storing it for next use.

Tufi offers some of the most superb year round diving and snorkelling in the world. We have pristine off-shore reefs available for most of the year. We have the world’s most accessible muck dive available all year round, where you can find the most diverse range of macro life, from mating Mandarin fish to Moray eels to the tiniest, microscopic nudibranchs. We are also the only location in PNG, and the southern hemisphere that can offer year-round dives in the unspoiled waters of the fjords. We also have a fabulous range of WWII wrecks, from the easily accessible PT boats of the Tufi Wharf to the Black Jack and S Jacob which require a special charter but are two stunningly intact WWII wrecks.

The visibility at Tufi is generally 30m + all year round with a temperature averaging 26ºC - 29 ºC. The resort has a 30 foot high speed purpose built dive boat that can access even the furtherest reefs. We also have a smaller dive vessel for closer reefs and accessing the fjords.

Night fjord dives are available on request. For dive trips to S Jacob and Black Jack, please see example of costs below. These dives would only be done during the months of November through April and entirely dependant upon sea conditions. Due to fuel costs and distance this is not covered under normal dive prices and must be arranged privately with the resort. A suggested itinerary for these wreck dives is outlined below.

Tufi Resort and Regional Center is located at tthe former Tufi PT Boat Base. Off the wharf there is a large amount of wreckage and debris, including a PT Boat. As well as these items, there is a large concrete boat, empty 200 litre drums and anti-tank barriers. A very interesting dive of almost 50m just a short swim from the wharf. Two PT Boat Propellers we recovered from SS Masaya in 1997. The top prop has two bullet holes near the tip of one blade. These holes were made by Japanese bullets when the ship was under attack and being strafed and bombed. This holed prop was cleaned and donated to the Tufi Dive Resort at Tufi Harbor. which was the advanced PT Base that Masaya had sailed from carrying material for a new advanced PT Base at Cape Ward Hunt.

WWII wrecks near Tufi

PT Boats
Two PT boats (PT 67 and PT 119), burned and sunk in a fueling accident at Tufi on March 17, 1943. After the accident, Ensign Donald F. Galloway, USNR headed the naval detachment on SS Masaya.

S'Jacobs Wreck
Jacob was part of an allied convoy called Lilliput, bringing supplies from Milne Bay to Oro Bay when at 1300 hrs she was attacked by 12 Japanese aircraft. Major damage was caused when a bomb dropped on number 3 hatch causing major structural damage and causing the vessel to sink. Of the 158 crew members 153 were picked up by the RAN Corvette H.M.A.S Bendigo. Five died in the sinking.

B-17F "Black Jack" Serial Number 41-24521
This bomber was built in Seattle July 1942, six week later joined 43rd BG, based in northern Australia. Nicknamed "Black Jack" because the serial number ended in "21".

On July 11, 1943 after midnight, the bomber took off from Port Moresby to attack Rabaul. Problems developed with two engines, but the bombs were dropped over target. On the return home, the plane was caught in a violent storm, with two engines on one side malfunctioning, they could not hold a straight course and got lost, tried to set down in shallow coral reef, but missed and ended up in deep water, ditching near Kakau or Makau Mission. Off the beach near Boga Boga, near Tufi.

P-38F Serial Number 42-12649
Assigned into 35th FG September 17, 1942. The 17th Provisional Pursuit Squadron was re-formed (the original 17PS served in the Philippines) by General Kenney at Amberley in November 1942. On November 4th 1942, Captain Porter took off, suffered engine failure, failed to drop his tanks and ditched. He was picked up by a launch. The location of the field/ditching was not given. Now it can not be a coincidence that 42-12649 has been found intact, ditched. That Captain Porter ditched a P-38F on the 4th of Nov.1942. 42-12649's history card says that it was written off on November 4, 1942.

New Deluxe Units
airconditioned & fans, bar fridges with private bathroom & deck, tea/coffeee facilities, hairdryers

Standard Air Conditioned Bungalows
airconditioned & fans, with private bathroom & deck, tea/coffeee facilities, hairdryers

Double Family Bungalows
airconditioned, 2 bungalows adjoined by common bathroom, fans, screens, tea/coffee facilities, hairdryers

Backpacker Facilities
single fanned basic rooms with shared bathroom facilities including hot and cold showers

Overnight Village Stays (Including all transfers)
village huts & transfers outside toilet and wash facilities, includes mattress, sheets and mossie nets

Room Faciliites

• 1 queen bed and 1single bed in
• bar fridge-stocked on request with customers preference
• hairdryers foc
• hot and cold showers
• air-conditioning
• includes all meals
• children up to 5 years FOC
• transfers
  
  
  

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