Tucked away, only accessible by boat, sits what may be Papua New Guinea’s best kept scuba diving secret – Tawali Resort. Welcome to the exotic culture of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and to Tawali Resort. Located on a volcanic bluff overlooking the clear protected waters of Milne Bay, Tawali offers travelers a unique location to dive, relax and enjoy the unspoiled wonders of this magnificent part of the world.
Tawali is located in a secluded area of Milne Bay amongst local fishing villages and accessible only by boat. Built on a limestone bluff eighty feet above the water, Tawali offers guests a private retreat in which to enjoy the wonders of PNG. Tawali was constructed by local craftsmen and you will find beautifully carved totems and woodwork in the spacious main lodge and throughout the resort.
Some of these works of art took two years to complete and are unique to the Milne Bay culture. Covered walkways connect guest bungalows, which are complete with private balconies overlooking Hoia Bay. The air-conditioned bungalows are spacious with two queen beds and rosewood interiors that include desks, closets and lounge areas. Each room has a personal safe and coffee making facilities. Bathrooms are modern, completely tiled and have solar heated water.
Since there never has been electricity in this remote location until Tawali was completed, all the woodwork from framing to finished wood floors was done completely with out the help of power tools. Every board that needed to be cut, every carving and most of the furniture was built on sight by hand. This project has been a great boost for the local workers. Villagers who had never before been able to have jobs were trained by more experienced carpenters so that when Tawali was completed they had new skills to help them get better paying jobs.
RESORT PACKAGE FOR DIVERS
Package includes deluxe accommodation with balcony, ocean view, all meals including coffee, tea, fruit juices, lunch and snacks on dive boats, daily boat dives and shore diving on the house reef, tanks, weights, air fills, round trip transfers, reef and chamber fees and fuel surcharges.
DINING
Papua New Guinea is very diverse in its cuisine, from fresh barramundi cod cooked in a wrapping of banana leaves, boiled and roasted chestnuts and fresh fruit that would make any mouth water. Great care has been taken to make sure that the food is abundant and good. Local villagers have been taught the art of bread making and food presentation by several visiting chefs.
Besides the beautiful main dining room guests are able to dine outside on the veranda overlooking the rainforest. The dining room features 18 foot carved totems, beautiful hand-crafted wood details and a spectacular wall containing a collection of rare bottles found on dives in Samurai Bay.
Three buffet style meals are served daily. Snacks, juices, coffee and tea throughout the day are included. Canned sodas and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase at the Tawali bar.
DIVING
The diving from Tawali resort is both amazing and convenient with the best diving of Milne Bay just minutes away. Some of the favourite dive sites are listed below.
TANIA’S REEF
A large coral mount coming from 140 ft to just 8 ft from the surface. Divers are able to dive around the full circumference of the reef with a single tank. The South side of the reef is littered with soft corals of all descriptions. Large schools of fish feed off this face. The reef also plays host to giant clams and turtles.
COBB’S CLIFF
Steep drop off on one side down to 150+’ rising to just 20′ below the surface and dropping back in the center to a sandy lagoon to 60′. This site is frequently visited by large pelagics such as Manta Rays and Hammerhead Sharks. The reef also hosts a variety of macro subjects such as leaf scorpion fish, Rhinopious, Blue Ribbon Eels, Elegant Fire Gobys, and so much more.
WAHOO POINT
A small point located on the North side of the mainland with a shelf from 15′ to 50′ in depth and dropping with a sheer wall down to 200+’. This site is frequently visited by Hammerheads, Manta Rays, occasionally Whale Sharks, Minki Whales and on two occasions, Orcas. The site also hosts a variety of anenomies, a school of Barracuda and very large Elephant ear sponges. A great place for wide angle photography.
LAUADI
This dive site you could spend a number of days doing, this location actually has two separate dives, straight off the boat, no deeper than 25′ of water you have an incredible collection of cleaning stations, divers are able to get their teeth cleaned if they wish. The site has a variety of octopuses and on occasions, the Mimic has appeared.
CHERIE’S REEF
This is a beautiful drift dive along a slope that’s covered with large Gorgonians and littered with large schools of fish. Particular Gorgonians host the infamous Pigmy Sea Horse.
OBSERVATION POINT
A true rubble dive. Sand slopes going down 100′ host snake eels, Star Gazers, Pipe fish, Flamboyant cuttle fish, Mimic Octopus, Spanish Dancers, Cuttle fish, Fire urchins with Coleman shrimp and the Bugs Bunny Scorpion fish.
SPONGE HEAVEN
A sheer wall starting at 2′ below the surface dropping to 200+’ Honey combed with small caves. Huge variety of sponges and home to a variety of Nudibranchs, including the large Spanish Dancer. Beautiful night dive.
JASON’S REEF
A small coral mound located in 150 feet of water. This mound has large schools of Banner fish and Fusiliers as well as many pelagics. Also on this mound is the sought after Rhinopious or Weedy Scorpion fish.
LITTLE CHINA
A coral mound coming out of 150 feet of water. Typical of over 30 dive sites in close proximity. Large schools of fish over the front face, soft coral gardens where both macro and wide angle photographers can be more than satisfied.
MICHELLE’S REEF
Located on the North Coast, this dive site provides both macro and wide angle. A shallow wall dropping off to 25 feet. Beautiful swim-through with gorgonians growing off the wall and sea bed. Able to shoot up into the jungle canopy from 20 feet of water. Also ideal for macro, a large variety of nudibranchs, Pegasus fish and on occasions Mimic octopus.
CRINOID CITY
Coral mound coming up from 120 feet of water. As it’s name suggests, it plays host to a variety of crinoids. The front slope of this reef is covered with a variety of black coral trees. Off the slope, huge schools of fusiliers, anthias and jacks circle. Excellent for wide angle.
PELAGIC POINT
This dive site has relatively strong current and because of this there are large quantities of fish patrolling a steep wall dropping off to 130 feet. Sharks are often sighted on this site. The top of the reef which is approximately 215 feet, has a large number of bommies hosting a magnificent variety of sea life, ie: crabs, rays, rays not to mention all the fish.
FACES OF THE SEA SCUBA HOLIDAYS 