Barbarian II and her skipper Rod Pearce have been cruising and diving Morobe Province for many years. You can rest assured when planning an expedition with Niugini Diving that your trip will be guided by great experience and knowledge of this region.
Cruises in Morobe Province centre around two beautiful island groups - the Fly Islands and the Tami Islands. Recommended cruises spend a minimum of four days in either island group, or seven days taking in both groups.

The Fly Islands are situated in the Royal Channel - Morobe Province, some 40 miles south of Lae. This group of 20 islands stretch for approximately twenty miles and are largely unexplored except by a few local inhabitants. The islands are the tops of a flooded mountain range formed thousands of years ago and surrounding them are coral reefs and white sandy beaches. These islands are covered with dense, tropical jungle and make an excellent cruising ground for a few days before going onto the Tami Islands.

The largest island in the group is Lasanga, which rises to a height of 1640 feet with a natural moon shaped deep-water harbor and fresh running water. Lasanga is great to explore and the views overlooking the Royal Channel are truly spectacular.

When cruising these islands, Barbarian II overnights at several islands and bays where the steep slopes of the jungle covered mountains meet the sea. It is in these secluded anchorages that one can relax and listen to the wildlife at dusk and dawn. Brunswick Harbour is a truly idyllic getaway to overnight in. This steep sided, natural deep-water inlet is impossible to see from the sea yet its beauty is unbelievable. Take a picnic lunch and walk through the rainforest to a freshwater creek, then have a swim and relax for a few hours before returning to Barbarian II.

Aquatic past times such as swimming, diving, snorkeling and fishing are all encouraged around these islands as the water is a deep blue and the reefs abound with sea life of many varieties. The bottom fishing and trawling are particularly good.

The Tami Island group is situated at the extreme eastern end of the Huon Gulf in Morobe Province and is home to approximately four hundred inhabitants.

A deep-water lagoon with the two largest islands of the group on either side is the central feature of the Tami Islands. There are two passages into the lagoon, one from the north and the other from the south.

Once through one of the passages and into the lagoon, you enter a magnificent tropical setting with flat calm waters, even if the sea outside the lagoon is rough.

Local inhabitants live on both of the larger islands and guests are welcome ashore to visit their villages and barter for their wares. The people are renowned for their crafts and artwork - carvings, salad bowls, flat fish bowls, salad servers and other useful items that make excellent table decorations or gifts. Bartering is encouraged and some great bargains can be had.

The fishing in this particular area is excellent, with both game and bottom fishing abundant. Over the years, the Tami area has proven to be one of the best. The snorkeling and scuba diving are also excellent with drift diving, wall diving, wreck and general reef diving. The currents in this particular area are very strong but this makes for exciting drift diving and seeing the large pelagics.

There are a number of wrecks in the area. One such wreck is a Japanese single engine fighter plane called Tony which is in excellent condition after 50 or so years in the ocean. Other wrecks include a number of landing craft and a small freighter complete with her cargo of ammunition.

A seven day diving expedition in Morobe Province features both wreck and reef diving, abundant pelagic life, current dives, and drop offs as we travel from Lae to the Fly and Tami Islands.

The voyage entertains the coral diver while those interested in WWII can dive Japanese shipwrecks and fighter planes. Dive some of our locally named reefs, such as Shielers, Linders, and Karmond's Passage.

Guests also visit the islands and experience the local culture. You can even explore some of our smaller rivers by canoe, drifting under the canopy of the rainforest. Three local wrecks are Yokohoma Maru, Tenyo Maru and Kotoko Maru - all Japanese transport vessels lost in the Second World War. Whatever your interests, be it wrecks, reefs, or a relaxing diving holiday, this seven day package offers a little piece of everything.

• Avid divers: have a look at Niugini Diving's Wreck Diving Special Programme
• Do you want more information about diving and snorkeling in PNG?
• Find out about fishing around the Tami Islands