Emperor shrimp hitching a ride on a sea cucumber
Schools of blue-lined snapper and Priacanthus bigeyes on the Papuan Barrier Reef
Suzie ’ s Bommie is one of the area ’ s signature dives , thanks to the abundance of corals and fish life . You start exploring the bottom of the bommie at 35m where you may spot the resident leopard and grey reef sharks resting at the sandy bottom . Then you gradually ascend , passing shoals of juvenile striped snappers , batfish and anthias . You should meet the banded sweetlips and a family of Napoleon wrasse at the top of the bommie at 10m .
Wrecks from the Pacific war
It ’ s not all about the near-pristine coral reefs ; there ’ s plenty in PNG to keep wreck divers entertained . This region was one of the main theatres of the Pacific battles of the Second World War , attested to by the abundance of relics beneath the sea .
Just within proximity of Port Moresby , there ’ s at least eight wartime wrecks at a diveable depth – most were discovered by POMSAC members over the years . Though
some of these wrecks are about to reach their centenary , most have remained largely intact . Notable among these is the A21 Havoc ‘ Strawberry Roan ’ aircraft , discovered by the former owner of Loloata resort , Dick Knight , while snorkelling on the fringing reefs around the island .
Justin Taylin , the curator of the web resource Pacific Wrecks , visited POM recently , where he managed to get in contact with the grandson of the gunner on
Oriental sweetlips massive above Suzie ’ s Bommie
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