Walindi Plantation Resort

There is little doubt that the scuba diving in Kimbe Bay is some of the best tropical diving on earth. We will go out on a limb here and say that diving in the Witu Islands, the Fathers Reefs and Kimbe Bay are probably the best tropical dives in the World. New Guinea (PNG) is a must visit dive destination for every certified diver. Diving tours in New Guinea (PNG) are surprisingly good value.

Your New Guinea dive holiday starts with a short flight on an Airnuigini dash 8 which takes you from Port Moresby to Hoskins Aerodrome. Hoskins, which is the airport that serves Walindi Plantation Resort is located on the island of New Britain; which in itself is absolutely enchanting. From the first moment you step into your air conditioned minivan, you know you are in a different world. The car drives along a small road through plantations and trees. Beyond the plantations lie a string of dormant volcanoes that dominate the skyline. Every now and then you see people walk on either side of the road, going about their business, and then you are are back in the countryside with the cows and oil palm trees.

After 45 minutes or so you will arrive at the Walindi Plantation Resort. Much of the wealth of New Guinea comes from Palm Oil. Many years ago, the Benjamin family decided to start an oil palm plantation, which ran successfully until Max Benjamin, a keen diver, went to the red sea on holiday. As soon as he got back on the boat he realised that the diving in Kimbe Bay was easily as impressive. He flew home with his family, built two bungalows and opened the Walindi Plantation Resort. (Successive ecological surveys show that the Very impressive Red Sea, has 350 Species of Fish, and the Bismarck Sea has 1050).

The Walindi Dive Resort maintains its plantation heritage, with colonial style bungalows raised off the ground, overlooking the sea. These stand alone deluxe bungalows are the premium product of the resort. Behind them lie the Plantation House Rooms, smaller attached rooms in blocks of four, facing towards the sea within the garden. All rooms at the Walindi Plantation Resort are Self contained.

The Restaurant at Walindi serves an array of healthy wholesome dishes, with many vegetarian options.

Walindi Dive Centre, Kimbe Bay

The diving in Kimbe bay is diverse with excellent visibility. On some sites, 30m visibility or much greater visibility is normal every day.

The marine life in Kimbe varies from minute to massive. Grey Reef, White Tip and Silver-tip Sharks abound. Yes, this is one of those places where you often see sharks on every dive. Schools of barracuda swirl on many dive sites. I have seen Dolphins underwater here. The fish life is rich and the large game fish are always around. Giant Trevally, Kingfish, Queenfish, horse-eyed jacks Spanish mackerel, bullet mackerel and tuna populate the blue while the reef fish dominate the walls and reefs behind you. Mind-blowing macro dives are also found in the mangroves, on the coasts and in specific locations. The choice of dive sites varies from underwater Japanese planes to pinnacles and long reef systems. The diving is extremely varied.

Kimbe Bay and the Walindi Dive centre have all aspects of the underwater world covered.

The Diving Centre in Walindi is a professional affair with four excellent metal boats, all equipped with Oxygen, VHF radio, cellphones and twin engines. The dive boat skippers have decades of experience, and the dive guides know the reefs like the back of their hand.