DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA FEB 2026

Tufi: A dream world in the South Pacific

text by Armin Merkel and photos by Armin and by Mike Scotland

This portrait of a Lace Rhinopias camouflaged close to a Feather Star as it waits in ambush photo by M.Scotland

T ufi Resort – ‘Incredible!’ That was my first thought, flying over the fjords of Tufi, Oro Province. Even though I had been to Papua New Guinea (or, as the locals lovingly call it, ‘PNG’) before, this was my first time in the South of the country. Quite a contrast to the flat sand island of Lissenung in the far North, which I had just been to – you may have read about my experience in the August issue.

Only about 45 minutes from the capital, Port Moresby, the flight to Tufi Resort is truly scenic. I had always imagined the area to be mostly flat, so needless to say that I was rather surprised to see mountains reaching higher than the 4,000ft we were flying at, covered in lush green rainforest, contrasted by the deep blue of the South Pacific to the East. This was a pretty good start for my South-PNG trip. Critters for everyone Well known for its abundant offshore reefs, Tufi offers not only white hammerheads, turtles and wrecks – as covered comprehensively in the April issue of this magazine – but also, of course, lots of small stuff! And that is what I came for.

Starry Sea Slug, Doriprismatica stellata photo by M.Scotland

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DIVE LOG Australasia #416- February’ 26

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