Dive Review of
Walindi Plantation Resort in
Papua New Guinea/New Britain, Kimbe Bay

Bimini and Freeport Bahamas, Jamaica, Cozumel, Akumal, Palau, California
Channel Islands

Dive Conditions

common sense  

A seperate camera rinse tank is available on the boat.  There is limited
working area and film changes can be challenging.  Divemasters were
exceptional at finding small critters and very careful in handling cameras.
 Outlets in rooms are Australian 3 prong.  Make sure to bring adaptors for
battery chargers etc.  

There is an onsite photo pro and E-6 processing lab at Walindi.    

Overall Rating

This is part two of our trip report for PNG (also see part one PNG report
for Star Dancer Liveaboard dated 07/02).  

We stayed at the Walindi Plantation Resort before boarding Star Dancer and
for several days after disembarking.

Upon arriving at Hoskins airport we were picked up by Freddie from Walindi
who drove us through jungle, coconut palm plantations and the bustling town
of Kimbe.  After a half hour we turned off the main road and passed through
Walindi's gates, entering an eden of, tropical plants and the fabled shores
of Kimbe Bay.  Walindi must mean "paradise found" in PNG pidgin. 
Walindi consists of an open air bar, central lounge/TV/reading area with
swimming pool, deck, tennis court and gift shop/artifact store.  Surround
by lush tropical landscaping are oceanfront bure style, thatched roof
bungalows and lodge.  Our bungalow contained queen and twin beds, kitchen,
bath and porch overlooking Kimbe Bay.  The walls are covered with
beautifully woven native woods.  There are no glass windows or air
conditioning.  Instead, the windows are screened, allowing air flow and
sounds of nature to permeate.  Nothing sounded nor smelled as sweet as the
rain and birds while lying in bed. A ceiling fan kept the room comfortable
even in the tropical heat. Bring adaptors for the Australian 3 prong
outlets, repellent and consider an anti Malarial. More mosquitoes are on
land than sea and I was on the menu!

3 buffet style meals are served daily. At least one vegetarian dish is
available.  Owners Max and Cecile dined with guests and shared interesting
stories. They also have an extensive library of reference books, most
signed by the authors.  Photos on the walls were signed by names familiar
to every dive publication.

Diving is from small boats which hold around 12 people comfortably.  Though
there are no gear stations, entry into the water was orderly off of the
back of the boat.  Cameras were handed down with care and the divemasters
were outstanding, helping find unusual critters.  Lunch is provided on the
boat and some of the best critter spotting came during lunchtime snorkeling
(how about a pair of double ended pipefish, one male with babies among the
sea grass in 2 feet of water?).  These reefs near Walindi were as alive and
pristine as those we visited on Star Dancer.

During our stay, dormant volcano Mt. Pago erupted and closed the airport.
Terri and Jeff from Peter Hughes took care of rerouting our flights through
Rabaul and Star Dancer came back and picked us up!   We dived off Star
Dancer for another 3 days and also got to tour the historic town of Rabaul.
The Airport in Telesea will replace Hoskins by Sept. 23.

Must do's: Visit the hot river, Kimbe market and Mahonia Na Dari Research
Centre (next door to Walindi).  Make sure to try garlip nuts, they're
great! 

See our website www.descentline.com for photos and complete travel report. 

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