Ral Island - Rabaul & New Britain
Ral Island is a good choice for a third dive, especially after something like Deep Pete, or if you're just after an easier afternoon. The coral garden surrounding the island stays shallow, mostly between 5 and 15 metres, which keeps things relaxed and light. We often find ourselves cruising over healthy corals, but the real fun here is poking around the sandy slopes. Keep your eyes peeled for decorator crabs, maybe a seahorse or pipefish tucked into the seagrass, and plenty of nudibranchs. We’ve even spotted a mimic octopus here once, so it pays to take your time and look closely.
- Location
- Rabaul & New Britain, Papua New Guinea, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -2.570000, 150.800000
- Maximum Depth
- 5-15m
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
- Catalina Wreck - 20m (wreck)
- 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
Nearest Dive Centres to Ral Island
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 Ral Island
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