Bradford Shoals - Kimbe Bay
Bradford Shoals sits out in the deeper waters of Kimbe Bay, a reliable spot for pelagics. We've often encountered various reef sharks patrolling the drop-off, and the occasional silvertip comes in for a look. It’s a site for divers comfortable in open water, looking for those bigger encounters rather than macro details. Currents can be present here, so some experience helps.
- Location
- Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -5.450000, 150.183000
Best Time to Dive in Kimbe Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Kimbe Bay occur in January, averaging 30.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- February: 30.9°C (air: 25.7°C)
- March: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- April: 30.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- May: 30.9°C (air: 26.3°C)
- June: 30.9°C (air: 26.1°C)
- July: 30.9°C (air: 26.6°C)
- August: 30.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
- September: 30.9°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 30.9°C (air: 26.3°C)
- November: 30.9°C (air: 26.2°C)
- December: 30.9°C (air: 26.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Kimbe Bay
- Agu Reef (reef)
- Albatross Muck (muck)
- Big Bank
- Bradford & Inglis Shoals
- Christine’s Reef (reef)
- Fathers reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Fathers Reefs - 5-30m
- Grabo Reef (reef)
- Heckford Bank
- Inglis Shoals
- Josie’s Reef - 10-30m (reef)
- Kimbe Bay (reef)
- Kimbe Island Bommie (reef)
- Mowen Reef (reef)
- North Emma
Nearest Dive Centres to Bradford Shoals
Marine Life in Kimbe Bay
Home to 375 recorded species including 317 reef fish, 41 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Staghorn coral (Acropora millepora) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora valida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora jacquelineae) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora paniculata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora longicyathus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora plumosa) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora selago) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora aculeus) - Hard Corals
- Table coral (Acropora clathrata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora solitaryensis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora humilis) - Hard Corals
- Branch coral (Acropora florida) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora echinata) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora cerealis) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora nasuta) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora secale) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora caroliniana) - Hard Corals
- Staghorn coral (Acropora tenuis) - Hard Corals
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Bradford Shoals
Based on average water temperature of 30.9°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 31°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories