PAPUAN EXPLORER

Protected Area

Vanua Rakiraki, Ra

Why dive here

With 382+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, eagle rays, giant moray eels, humpback whales and sperm whales - PAPUAN EXPLORER offers some of Kadavu & Great Astrolabe Reef's richest wreck diving.

Marine lifeBlue Sharks, Eagle Rays, Giant Moray Eels, Humpback Whales and Sperm Whales · 382+ species recorded

CharacterWreck dive · max 22m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Papuan Explorer, sitting upright in a modest 22 metres, is one of our favourites in Kadavu, especially if you appreciate a wreck with a bit of character. This 40.5-metre motor vessel was scuttled back in 1990, and three decades on, it's completely encrusted. We love dropping down to the bridge, often finding school after school of yellowfin goatfish streaming through the doorways, their barbels sweeping the silty decks. You can nose your way around the holds, which are surprisingly open and bright, making it an ideal wreck for those still building their confidence with overhead environments. Look for the resident moray eels peeking from beneath corroded plating. The stern is always buzzing with anthias, and sometimes we've even spotted a reef shark circling wide. It’s not a deep dive, meaning plenty of bottom time to really soak it all in. If you want a wreck that feels like a living reef, this is your spot.