Diving Papua New Guinea: Scuba Diving at Tufi – Overview
Tufi offers a pretty unique combination of diving which ranges from critter hunting in the accumulated flotsam & jetsam around the main wharf, to pristine offshore reefs that are rarely visited by anybody other than the resort’s guests. With some WWII wrecks & fiord sponge gardens in between, plus the superb above water scenery & interesting local village culture, it’s easy to understand why Tufi is such a special place…
Tufi’s location at the eastern tip of Cape Nelson puts it right in the path of the New Guinea Coastal Undercurrent, which sweeps up the north-west coast of New Guinea during the southeast monsoon season, and the Northwest Monsoon Current that flows down the coast when the seasons reverse.
Both currents do the same thing – they bring cold-water rich in organic nutrients from the deep-water basins to the north and east of Papua New Guinea, which are the catalyst for the vibrant marine ecosystems in the area.
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Seasonal Current Pattern Maps – Courtesy of the Australian Insitute of Marine Science (AIMS)
Diving Papua New Guinea: Scuba Diving Logistics at Tufi
All diving at Tufi begins & ends at the dive shop on the eastern side of the small bay that the dive resort and village overlooks. The bay is the main point of entry to Tufi for the local villagers and from dawn you will see dug-out canoes paddling down the main fiord as people make their way there.
The dive shop has it’s own dedicated dive jetty next to the main public wharf and you can either walk down the rather steep hill, or catch a lift from the resort’s Toyota Troop Carrier, which is the only vehicle in town…
Everything is typically well organized and the dive crew will have all your gear ready & loaded on the dive boat to be used that day.
A typical dive-day begins with breakfast around seven in the main lodge and the boat departs at about 8.30 and it takes between 30 to 50 minutes to get to the offshore dive sites, which vary in distance from 5 to 10 nautical miles offshore. Two reef dives are the norm, but if everybody is in agreement and the weather conditions allow it – the crew will bring extra cylinders for a third dive.
Afternoon and night dives are usually conducted directly in front of the dive shop jetty in the fiord.
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Diving Papua New Guinea: Best Time to Dive Tufi
The very best time to dive Tufi is in October & November during the doldrum period between the trade wind seasons when the diving conditions both offshore & onshore are optimum – calm & flat with great visibility and cooler water that brings out the critters.
During the dry south-west monsoon season from May through to September the water in also clear due to the reduction in run-off but the winds can be strong, meaning it’s not always possible to get out to the offshore reefs.
The wet north-west monsoon from December to March brings calmer seas and means all the offshore reefs can be accessed – but the significant river run-off from the rains impact the visibility both on the offshore reefs and in the fiords, plus the rain increases the water temperature in the fiords which drives some of the critters deeper looking for cooler water.
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