Rabaul Dive Centre - Kimbe Bay
Rabaul Dive Centre, operating out of Kimbe Bay aboard the MV *Manta*, is a solid choice for those who appreciate dedicated boat diving. This custom-built 50-foot cruiser takes up to ten divers out for three dives daily, offering plenty of space and freshwater showers for comfort between drops. We’ve found their trips often hit a nice mix of sites, from a few interesting wreck dives to healthy coral walls and current-swept pinnacles. If you’re looking for a focused dive safari experience with a crew that knows the local sites well, and you prefer the rhythm of eating, sleeping, and diving all from one boat, the *Manta* provides a reliable base for exploring Kimbe Bay.
- Location
- Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -5.550000, 150.140000
- Phone
- 983 5441
- Address
- PO Box 4, Kimbe 621 West New Britain Province
Dive Sites Near Rabaul Dive Centre
Rabaul Dive Centre provides access to 15 dive sites in Kimbe Bay.
- Agu Reef (reef)
- Albatross Muck (muck)
- Big Bank
- Bradford & Inglis Shoals
- Bradford 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)
Other Dive Centres in Kimbe Bay
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)
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 Marine Life
- 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
Recommended Packing List for Kimbe Bay
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