DIVE LOG AUSTRALASIA ISSUE 413 AUGUST 25

was exhausted and my buddy and I both felt cold, despite the 31 °C so we eventually headed back to shore to end this very memorable dive, happy as a clam. A holiday home not only for divers Diving is only one part of life on this particular Island. Ange and Dietmar have been successfully running a turtle conservation project for over a decade now. Each year from around September through March, green and hawksbill turtles come to the beaches on the neighbouring islands to lay their eggs. After around 60 days the little turtles hatch and make their way down the beaches. Unfortunately, turtle eggs are still widely seen as a free source of food and so Ange and Dietmar decided to take care of as many eggs as possible and make sure the nests can’t get poached. Thanks to their efforts, over the last 12 years several thousand turtle hatchlings made it into the open ocean without running into human trouble early on. I was lucky enough myself on my trip, to see a nest of hawksbill turtles hatch and start their great journey across our beloved oceans. For those who don’t dive or who would like to get out and do something on the last day before flying out, a trip down the Boluminski Highway, the main road connecting New Ireland Province, can be arranged. The main destination, Fissoa, is about 100km down the road and offers an incredibly beautiful freshwater river experience. The water there is as clear as it gets and a swim in it will definitely refresh everyone who feels the 27°C warm air is too hot for them. It is an adventure for sure and if you have a

Pygmy Squid

waterproof camera, you should definitely bring it. On the way back you can then stop at a little village which is known for its freshwater eels. But don’t get me wrong, you’re not supposed to eat but to feed and pet them! They are like funny giant puppies, you know?! Getting there Daily flights from Cairns to Port Moresby. Then fly to Kavieng, New Ireland from Port Moresby, taking 1.5 to 2.5 hours. It’s worth noting that PNG’s national airline, Air Niugini, offers an additional 15kg of dive gear free of charge, so this would be my go-to airline. Once in Kavieng, guests will be picked up and taken to Lissenung Island by a twenty minute boat ride, passing many tropical islands.

Armin on the wreck of the Sanko Maru. photo by Mike Scotland

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Dive Log Australasia #413 August‘25

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