American PT Cruisers - Milne Bay
Milne Bay, a place synonymous with WWII wrecks, holds a few deeper secrets, and the American PT Cruisers are certainly among them. Sunk in 1942 near Tufi, these two patrol torpedo boats offer a truly unique, albeit challenging, dive. We’re talking about very complete wrecks, not just scattered fragments, which makes them incredibly evocative. This is a decompression dive for seasoned wreck enthusiasts, divers who understand the nuances of planning and execution when conditions align. If you've got the training and the urge to connect with history in a very profound way, these PT boats are an incredible expedition.
- Location
- Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -10.316000, 150.450000
Best Time to Dive in Milne Bay
The warmest water temperatures in Milne Bay occur in January, averaging 31.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 31.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 31.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- February: 31.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- March: 31.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- April: 31.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- May: 31.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- June: 31.0°C (air: 27.1°C)
- July: 31.0°C (air: 26.8°C)
- August: 31.0°C (air: 26.6°C)
- September: 31.0°C (air: 26.8°C)
- October: 31.0°C (air: 27.4°C)
- November: 31.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- December: 31.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Milne Bay
- ADMIRAL WILEY - 0m (wreck)
- Banana Bommie (reef)
- BlackJack
- Dart Reefs (reef)
- Dinah’s Beach
- Dorasi Shoal (pinnacle)
- Lauadi
- Milne Bay - 5-20m (reef)
- Paradise Point (cenote)
- Pocklington Reef (reef)
- The Joelle
Nearest Dive Centres to American PT Cruisers
Marine Life in Milne Bay
Home to 254 recorded species including 208 reef fish, 12 sea cucumbers, 8 hard corals, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 sharks & rays, 5 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
- Black Marlin (Istiompax indica) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Bear Paw Clam (Hippopus hippopus) - Clams & Mussels
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Saddled Parrotfish (Scarus dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) - Reef Fish
- Banded-tail Coral-cod (Cephalopholis urodeta) - Reef Fish
- Banded maori wrasse (Cheilinus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for American PT Cruisers
Based on average water temperature of 31.0°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