Papua New Guinea has a range of land-based hotels to suit every taste and budget. Depending on whether you are a fan of World War II wrecks, stunning coral reefs, big fish action or a combination of all three, there is a resort in Papua New Guinea that will cater to your needs!

Just a short boat ride from Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby, lies the little island of Loloata. Here, bungalows with wonderful sea views, quiet island walks, empty beaches and a dedicated dive operation are an ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of a busy working life! Loloata Island Resort caters for enthusiastic divers admirably - the wrecks of the Pacific Gas and the Paii, fish-packed Suzie's Bommie and the finest location in the world to see the rare Merlot's scorpionfish, End Bommie. When not diving, the opportunity to relax on a sandy beach, enjoy a spot of bush-walking or water-skiing make Loloata a fantastic destination for anybody.

On the north coast of the mainland, Madang Resort Hotel, in the charming town of Madang, provides easy access to the dive sites of the Madang Barrier Reef, including wall dives and fast flowing channels, the famous pinnacle of Planet Rock, a B25 bomber and the most exciting night dive in the world, the flashlight-filled wreck of the Coral Queen. Attractive bungalows set by the sea, and overlooking the islands that dot the barrier reef provide a romantic and comfortable setting. At Alexishafen there are aircraft wrecks in the forest, and the remains of gun emplacements and other military paraphernalia keeping timeless guard for an unseen enemy.

At the northern most tip of New Ireland, the second largest of the outlying islands, is the small town of Kavieng. An important outpost for the Japanese during World War II, the town sits atop a limestone bluff into which the Japanese built gun emplacements that can still be explored today. The inlet leading from the open sea past Kavieng enters a maze of islands, deep-water channels and shallow lagoons - an ideal location for a safe anchorage. Allied air strikes in 1944 resulted in the loss of much Japanese shipping -the seas around Kavieng are littered with wrecks! The myriad islands that dot the sea between Kavieng and the mountainous island of New Hanover are low-lying and studded with palm trees, surrounded by coral reefs of limitless beauty. The channels that run between the islands provide the perfect conduit for a surging tide, and wonderful opportunities for divers to see sharks, rays and other pelagics in vast numbers. Albatross and Eagle Ray Passages are the finest examples of the genre. Silvertip Reef, off the west coast of New Hanover, is a coral bank to which numerous silvertips are attracted. To interact with these beautiful creatures is an experience not to be missed! On land military equipment is constantly being unearthed in the rainforest; at Panapae, looking east into the open Pacific, trenches, anti-aircraft batteries and encampments have been excavated, and on the beach the remains of five tanks lie where they were abandoned during the Japanese retreat. Treehouse Village Resort lies 30 minutes by road south of Kavieng, offering access to rainforests and a round of golf at Kavieng’s very own course if you fancy a swing! For the Robinson Crusoe wannabes, their is idyllic and rustic Lissenung Island Resort tucked away on its own private island.

Some of the finest reef diving in the world can be found at Walindi Plantation Resort, located on the north coast of New Britain. Set on the western shores of Kimbe Bay, the resort’s comfortable beachfront bungalows look east towards the volcanoes of the Gazelle Peninsula; behind the palm plantation, in which the gardens and resort are built, rainforest clad mountains rise sharply. In Kimbe Bay volcanic activity in the distant past has formed massive underwater pinnacles that rise from incredible depths to the surface. Coral growth in the warm shallows is fast and furious; black corals, normally associated with deep water, can be found floating on the surface at low tide; sea fans, soft corals and sponges of infinite size and variety thrust out from the reef, each vying for the best position. Huge schools of basslets, butterfly fish and other reef dwellers bustle to and fro across the reef; barracuda, jacks, bass and other fish school on the deep drop-offs, spiralling around a diver’s bubbles; sharks feed on the endless supply of fish, and orcas, dominating the food chain, provide the ultimate thrill. Kimbe Bay in all likelihood boasts more species of fish and coral than anywhere else on earth; strict controls will ensure this will remain the case.

New on the scene is the recently rennovated and reopened Tufi Dive Resort on PNG's north coast opposite Port Moresby. Wonderful chalets nestle on a hillside overlooking the "fjords" of Cape Nelson.This is a reef and muck diver's dream come true, with a huge variety of macro critters to be found under the pier or amongst the two WWII PT boats sunk just off shore, among the mangroves and along the shoreline, or even mantas on the outer reef systems. The nearby wreck of the S'Jacob is one of the finest artificial reefs in the world!