Catalina Wreck - Rabaul & New Britain
The Catalina Wreck in Rabaul offers a compelling, if sombre, dive. This American reconnaissance plane met an abrupt end shortly after takeoff, scattering its remains across the seabed at 20 metres. We often spend time in the cockpit, a surprisingly intact section that still gives you a sense of its original layout. Look closely among the debris for resident lionfish and schools of snapper that have made homes in the twisted metal. It’s a site for divers who appreciate history and don't mind a scattered wreck, rather than one perfectly preserved.
- Location
- Rabaul & New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -2.578000, 150.795000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Best Time to Dive in Rabaul & New Britain
The warmest water temperatures in Rabaul & New Britain occur in January, averaging 30.6°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 30.6°C (air: 27.1°C)
- February: 30.6°C (air: 26.9°C)
- March: 30.6°C (air: 26.8°C)
- April: 30.6°C (air: 26.7°C)
- May: 30.6°C (air: 27.0°C)
- June: 30.6°C (air: 26.8°C)
- July: 30.6°C (air: 26.8°C)
- August: 30.6°C (air: 26.8°C)
- September: 30.6°C (air: 27.1°C)
- October: 30.6°C (air: 27.2°C)
- November: 30.6°C (air: 27.2°C)
- December: 30.6°C (air: 26.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Rabaul & New Britain
- Albatross Passage - 15-30m (drift)
- Baudisson Bay (reef)
- Bermuda Drop - 3-25m
- Byron Strait
- Echuca Patch - 12-31m (reef)
- Ecucha Patch - 15m+ (reef)
- Japanese bi-plane
- Kaplaman
- Kulau Wrecks (wreck)
- Lissenung Island House reef (reef)
- Lissenung Island Reef - 2-10m (reef)
- Matrix - 15-30m (reef)
- Mitsubishi Zero
- Pete Floatplanes - 18 & 40m
- Pete’s Bi-plane - 30m
Nearest Dive Centres to Catalina Wreck
Marine Life in Rabaul & New Britain
Home to 203 recorded species including 176 reef fish, 17 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sharks & rays, 2 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Species
- Bloodspot pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Ehrenberg's snapper (Lutjanus ehrenbergii) - Reef Fish
- Marbled Cone (Conus marmoreus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- cloth-of-gold cone snail (Conus textile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Humpbacked conch (Gibberulus gibberulus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Messmate Pipefish; (Corythoichthys intestinalis) - Reef Fish
- Dog conch (Laevistrombus canarium) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Sponsal Cone (Conus sponsalis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Dashed-line Blenny (Blenniella interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Triton's trumpet (Charonia tritonis) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- cowry (Monetaria moneta) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Flea Cone (Conus pulicarius) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Hound Needlefish (Tylosurus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfish (Scatophagus argus) - Reef Fish
- Bear Paw Clam (Hippopus hippopus) - Clams & Mussels
Recommended Packing List for Catalina Wreck
Based on average water temperature of 30.6°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