Oceania | Papua New Guinea

Boat

Oceania is a 27 metre catamaran that set to begin operation in April 2019 out of Walindi Plantation Resort with itineraries including Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reefs and the Witu Islands. Its focus will be on scuba diving charters within the Bismarck Sea initially, as well as some other areas within Papua New Guinean waters.

Oceania boat features a large saloon and dining area on the bridge deck, and a sun deck above. There is a spacious dive deck on the main deck with individual storage areas, camera work area and a dive deck bathroom and shower.

Oceania provide meals with a blend of Western and Asian cuisines, with healthy portions for divers. Seafood, beef, fruits, and vegetables are sourced locally. Dietary requests are accommodated wherever possible.

Cabin

Oceania has 8 air-conditioned guest cabins, accommodating up to 16 guests per trip.

All cabins have ensuite bathroom facilities, fresh towels daily, hairdryers and daily laundry service included.

3 Deluxe Double Cabins:
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with one queen size bed, seaview windows.

5 Deluxe Twin Cabins:
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with two single beds (Not in bunk style), seaview windows.

Diving

• Up to 4 dives per day, include sunset / night dives.

• No dive provided on the day of arrival or departure.

• Only 2 dives will be provided on the day before departure.

• All diving will provide expericed guide to lead the dive.

Other Information

• Nitrox：Available with additional cost
• 15L Tanks： Not available at the moment
• REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
• Technical Dive：Not available at the moment
• Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional charge
• Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Not available at the moment
• Laundry Service：light laundry daily is included.
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：By cash Only (USD)
• Crew Number：Unknow, include 2 dive guides

MV Oceania will run a few different kinds of itineraries during the year to suit the weather patterns of each season.

Signature Itinerary

Oceania's Signature Itinerary covers three areas of diving on the Northern Coast of New Britain Island. Working out of Walindi Resort in April, May, June, September, October and November, Oceania visits the "must dive" sites in Kimbe Bay, at Witu Islands and also the Fathers Reefs area. Signature Itineraries are typically 9 and 10 nights.

With an eight to ten hour steam between all three areas, you will be truly "getting away from it all" on a Signature Itinerary departure. Very rarely will you see another diver on a reef while at Witu islands or Fathers Reefs, other than your fellow Oceania guests.

This itinerary gives a fantastic cross-section of many different dive types, from coral gardens, seamounts, reef walls, arches and overhanging ledges, to muck diving in rubbly black sand bays. Experience shark life up close with a shark attraction dive, watch from the water as dolphins play in the Oceania bow wave or interact with the ever curious turtles at Fathers.

Mid Year Itinerary

Oceania operates several 8 and 9 night Mid Year Itineraries during the year. During July and August, Oceania operates itineraries from Walindi Resort to Rabaul and then from Rabaul to Walindi. These trips include diving at the Fathers Reefs area, in Kimbe Bay, around the Bainings area and in Rabaul Harbour.

Rabaul is well known for it's wreck dives, however Oceania doesn't do the wrecks as they are specialty dives best covered by the local Rabaul dive operators. If you are particularly interested in exploring these wrecks, we recommend you stay a few days in Rabaul before or after your Oceania trip and the dive operators at Rabaul-Kokopo Dive will be able to give you the full wreck experience.

Rabaul Mask Festival is held in July each year. Oceania endeavours to operate two trips to coincide with this festival. One trip departs Walindi and finishes in Rabaul, arriving at the start of the festival. And the second trip departs from Rabaul at the end of the festival and returns to Walindi. As we schedule our trips many years in advance, sometimes the trip dates work and sometimes they don't. Contact our reservations staff for more information on whether our July trips will work for the festival in any given year.

During late November and early December Oceania offer a Witu Islands Itinerary, visiting Kimbe Bay Reefs and the pretty coral reefs and black sand bays of the Witu Islands.

Throughout the year MV Oceania will offer occasional specialist itineraries within the Bismarck sea and further afield. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reservations staff to find an itinerary that suits you.