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Dive sites along the Uepi Island passage and barrier reef drop-offs and bays are on the coral reef ecosystem. The diving is extraordinarily varied with over 10 main dive sites of differing structure and bio-assemblage; including coral gardens with magnificent drop-offs, ledges and gutters, featuring sharks, all manner of light game fish and an enormous diversity of reef fish. Turtles, mantas and eagle rays are fairly common sights, together with the (friendly) Uepi hammerheads seen throughout the year.
Because of the location of Uepi Island, a barrier reef on the edge of a large volcanic (extinct) landmass, the clarity of water is usually good and water temperature is about 28−30 °C. Wetsuits are not essential.
Swim with Minke Whale programs are available during June and July each year. Taka Dive passengers travelling during this time have the opportunity to contribute to the research of these whales. They team up with the James Cook University researchers, and record all sightings of these fantastic mammals. All passengers who have had interaction with the Minkes fill in a questionnaire, which helps to further research. Diving with these majestic creatures will be the most exciting and momentous experience of your life.
MV Chertan is based in Milne Bay in the south east of PNG, and has a sense of isolation and tranquillity, a time-free zone separate from the rest of the world. Milne Bay is an area that is considered one of the last untouched dive destinations in the world and as far as exotic marine life goes, is the most exciting in PNG and some would say the world. It is special not only for the extraordinary riches of its classic tropical reefs which are packed with all the usual creatures that divers would expect to find but also for all the uncommon marine animals, including one of the most fantastic scorpionfish in the world, the Rhinopia Aphanes.
Raja Ampat, or Four Kings, refers to the four main islands in this group: Batanta, Misool, Salawati, and Waigeo. The island group is off the Bird's Head Peninsula of New Guinea. The coastal town of Sorong is the gateway to the Four Kings.
Except for one small resort, diving in these islands is possible only from liveaboards. We generally leave from Sorong and head north toward Waigeo or south toward Misool. The diving is exceptional. The islands are sparsely populated. Destructive fishing methods aren't a major problem here so most reefs are thriving.
The Republic of Palau is Micronesia's western most island chain. The tightly clustered Palau archipelago consists of over 200 islands covering a distance of around 125 miles. Palau is home to one of the world's unique geographical phenomena, and its crowning glory, the Rock Islands. More than 200 of these jungle-topped knobs of limestone dot the waters for a 20 mile (35km) stretch south of Koror. Their bases, having been worn away by tidal action and grazing sea creatures, are narrower than their tops, causing them to look like emerald-hued mushrooms rising from the turquoise sea.
Taveuni has an unspoiled quality that is hard to find in today's world. The rugged mountains, verdant rainforest, exotic flora & fauna, lakes, plus the surrounding sea with its colourful reefs and multitudes of tropical fish make up an ecosystem of incredible diversity. It's nickname "Garden Island" applies not only to the landscape, but also to the underwater coral gardens.
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