Divesites Discovered
CLICKING ANY IMAGE WILL DISPLAY LARGER IMAGE
The Greater Siassi Islands and Borgen Bay
Always searching for new sites to add to the already diverse palate of our known locations, the FeBrina/OE Team has begun a new series of exploratory itineraries to the remote waters of far western New Britain and the islands of the Vitiaz and Dampier Straits. The following are brief descriptions of a few new sites recently discovered in the Greater Siassi Islands and Borgen Bay by the FeBrina/OE Team.
The Greater Siassi Islands
This island group is comprised of the large home island of the Siassi people, Umboi and the smaller islands of Tolokiwa (Northwest), and Sakar (Northeast). All the islands are located in the straits between New Britain and the large main body of New Guineas Huon Peninsula. The waters, which surround these islands, contain some of the last truly unexplored reefs on the planet. These volcanic islands rise from extreme depth and the luxuriant reefs are washed in nutrient rich currents that rush through the straits and result in an explosion of marine life. Vast shoals of oceanic fish abound in these remote seas, and on the bountiful reefs you will discover an unparalleled diversity of fish and invertebrate life. These reefs remain almost completely unexplored, and being so lend them to discovery on virtually every dive.
Tolokiwa
This most remote of the Siassi’s is the location of one of the planets True jewels, tiny Midi Island and the recently discovered reef system “Chelsea’s Place”. This exposed reef juts out northwest of Midi Island into the deep waters of the Bismarck Sea, and is swept by a constant current. Shoals of Anthias, Fusiliers and Surgeonfish, fill the water column along the reef face. Rockcod and Sweetlips prowl among crevices and ledges of the reef. Bigeye Trevally, Chevron Barracuda, and Rainbow Runners swirl in the current just off the wall, and beyond Grey Reef Sharks patrol. A group of inquisitive Silvertip Sharks rises from deep water to inspect the strange bubble blowing interlopers of their liquid world.
Umboi
Umboi is the Home Island of the Siassi people, and the largest island in the group. Here you will find picturesque Luther Anchorage, and offshore the idyllic islet of Hein. The reefs along the north and west side of Hein rise steeply from deep water and form a crescent reef wall rich in marine life.
Sakar
Mysterious Sakar with its summit always cloaked by clouds, smoke, and steam. Sakar is northeast of Umboi and is situated as a virtual cork in the bottle at the northern approaches of the Dampier Straits. The reefs located along the northern shore of the island are a massive coralline labyrinth thrusting out into abyssal depths of the Bismarck Sea. The FeBrina/OE Team recently discovered this impressive system known as “Glen’s Place”. This reef is formed by a series of stacked honeycombed structures running parallel to each other and separated by irregular sand channels. Shoals of Angelfish, Anthias, and Butterflyfish swarm in masses along the reef crest. Down along the wall you will see a large swirling school of Chevron Barracuda off the reef, and parading by a group of six Batfish.
Borgen Bay & Gloucester
This, the western most region of New Britain, is centered on the predominant geographic features of Cape Gloucester & Borgen Bay. The outer reef along this portion of west New Britain is a virtually uninterrupted 120 nautical mile barrier reef system stretching from Cape Gloucester in the west to the Willaumez Peninsula in the east. The waters of Borgen Bay contain the most historically significant aviation and naval wreckage yet to be discovered from the Pacific Theater of Operations during WWII. The seas here are truly rich and varied from inner patch reefs, and small popcorn bommies, to deep undercut abyssal walls. Pelagic fish shoal in large pulsating masses on these virgin reefs, and unusual invertebrates fill every crevice and hole along the rich coralline reef structure. These reefs remain unexplored and new sites promise exciting discoveries yet to be seen and shared with those who chose to explore these vibrant seas.
Outer exposed reef on the east side of the deep water bight outer Borgen Bay. This relatively large deep-water bight is flanked on each side of its seaward mouth by large undercut reef structure. This eastern reef starts in shallow water and drops off precipitously to abyssal depths. The fish life along these outer reefs of Borgen Bay is truly spectacular. This structure is steeply undercut and segmented with deep channels. On these remote reefs are found amazingly vast shoals of pelagic fish. Trevallies, Dogtooth Tuna, Spanish Mackerel, Barracuda, and Oceanic sharks abound in this water wonderland.
Outer exposed reef on the west side of the deep water bight outer Borgen Bay. This structure is a virtual carbon copy of “Gabby’s”. It is connected to the following sites by a series of underwater saddle structures, which form the outer barrier reef that extends to the terminate of New Britain in the west. This system is extremely healthy and rich in all forms of tropical marine life. Numerous oceanic sharks frequent these waters and large schools of Mackerel and tuna are present. The sponge life on the wall is astounding, and soft corals and other invertebrates appear in breath-taking numbers.
Kenney’s Korna
Outer exposed reef with a series of pinnacles leading to three large connected saddles
BACKHANDER Bommie
Outer exposed reef with a single large bommie cut with deep current channels
“Here be Dragons”
This is New Britain
This is Adventure
This is Exploration