CRUISING PAPUA NEW GUINEA
I was asked by Aurora Expeditions to cover their inaugral voyage through the waters of PNG during April of 2008.

Our departure point was to be Rabaul, so I arrived a few days early to dive some of the World War II wrecks in the area, a legacy of the Japanese occupation in the '40s. I chose to dive with the folksÊ from Kabaira Dive and they were fantastic. With local divemaster Richard I dove a Japanese Zero plane wreck and the water carrier Iwate Maru in Simpson Harbour; George's wreckÊ and a drop on sponge Wonderland outside the harbour, close to Kabaira.

Tavurvur volcano, part of the Rabaul caldera, decided to put on a show during the days I was in town.ÊThe expedition staff arrived just in time for all the excitment, but alas the eruption put paid to the arrival of the passengers, as volcanic ash closed the airport.

So with a lot of phone calls and emails from Expedition Leader Greg Mortimer and his staff, and much patience from the passengers stuck in the four corners of PNG by rescheduled flights, the decison was made to meet the group in Kavieng.

From Kavieng, our ship Marina Svetaeva headed across the Bismark Sea to the Sepik River, then down the northern coast of PNG to our final port, Alotau.

Along the way we snorkelled abundant reefs, visited remote island villages, met beautiful people, and made lasting friendships.

Stay tuned for some more images from this wonderful trip