Instant Reader Report
on Chertan / [same] in
Papua New Guinea / Milne Bay on
2002/09
by
Jim Jenkins , C, USA
Report Number 021009152757613

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Send an email to the author of this report

 Other PNG, Fiji, Solomons, Sipadan, Palau, Truk, Galapagos, Cocos, Hawaii,
California, Carribean 

Dive Conditions

 Common sense.  Divers treated like adults; e.g., OK to dive after a single
beer.
  

[None]  

Overall Rating

(Scale 1-10)  Overall 10 for muck lovers; 7 for big fish lovers.   75F to
77 F.  Visibility good to very good.  Muck dives had 40’ or better.  

Go for the macro critters and the smaller, more intimate boat.  There is
plenty of large fish life, this trip is for muck divers who also want some
variety.  

Sea life – pelagics and large fish 7.  About 50% of our diving was muck
diving or on reef tops looking for critters.  Dives on reefs in open-ocean
produced a few sharks, schools of barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, schools
of bump-head parrots, and healthy fish life.  From the boat, we saw
dolphins, a whale shark, a dugong, a swordfish, and mola molas. 

Sea life – reef corals, fish 8.  Some coral bleaching; the reefs are
recovering nicely with large fans, sea whips, abundant black corals, soft
corals, etc.  Reef-fish are healthy and diverse.

Sea life – critters 10.   Perhaps Indonesia is better (I haven’t been
there).  While we didn’t see everything (no leaf scorpion or lacy scorpion
fish), we saw a great variety of exotic nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, snake
eels, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, lion fish, blue-ribbon eels, numerous
small shrimps and crabs, etc.  Surprises like the Wondrous Melibe
nudibranchs (3 of them feeding, one nearly 12” long) occurred on nearly
every muck dive.  If you love macro stuff, this is the place.

Dive briefings and guides 9.  Rob knows the sites intimately and excels at
finding things.  He dives most dives and is happy to guide you.  The
briefings were good.

Food 8.  Generally good food with some delicious meals.

Cabins 6.  Cabin space was adequate and similar to most, smaller boats. 
Two heads (with showers) on the main deck, shared by all guests.  A/C is a
single unit under the stairs for all 6 units.  

Boat layout 8.  Nice lounge area, adequate space for sunning and shade
above decks.  The boat is very wide for its size.

Boat layout for diving and photography 9.   80% of the diving is from the
stern with side and up two sets of steps in the rear.  No crowding and
easy entries and exits.  This is the most relaxed type of “unlimited”
diving since you go in when you want, and come back to the boat when you
want (although the crew keeps watch and will pick you up in the tender if
you want.  A few current dives on reefs were from the zodiac.  No EAN. 
There is a very large table above decks for cameras.  The crew carries
cameras up to the table after rinsing, and will fetch them back down for
you if you’re lazy.  

Crew and service 8.  Rob makes the trip fun and very “productive.”  Rooms
are not made up daily.  

 

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