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Buddy Dive Dominica Update

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After two years of successfully running, Buddy Dive Dominica was hit by Hurricane Maria. Unfortunately the dive centre will not reopen its doors for at least another year.

Buddy Dive started doing business in Dominica late 2014 with signing the partnership between Buddy Dive and the Fort Young Hotel, followed by the official opening of the dive operation in August 2015. In the two years that followed Buddy Dive Dominica has grown into a full-service dive operation with three boats and eleven staff members and the journey has been great.

Unfortunately, Dominica saw a direct landfall from Category 5 Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017. With the devastating effect of Hurricane Maria, Buddy Dive Dominica has lost all three dive boats and has been closed ever since.

In the face of all that has happened over the last couple of months Buddy Dive has been looking into the opportunities to rebuild what was lost. There will be a number of construction sites on the hotel premises throughout the whole year in order to restore all rooms and facilities, as well as the dive shop. As a result of that, unfortunately the team is not able to give a guarantee as yet to offer their continuous level of service that guests are used to and should expect from Buddy Dive. They have therefore decided not to re-open the dive shop in 2018.

“We value you as our guest and do not want to provide you with a service that is below Buddy Dive’s standards. This is an emotional time for us and our employees, who have been such a big part of what has made Buddy Dive Dominica successful”, CEO Van der Valk said. “However we are hopeful for the future and in the meantime, we are hoping to host you on Bonaire.”

For more information visit www.buddydive.com

News

Discover the diving Papua New Guinea has to offer in 2025 with Indigo Safaris

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papua new guinea

MV FeBrina Escorted Photography Trip

Dates: 5-15 September 2025
Itinerary: 10-night trip to Kimbe Bay, the Witu Islands, and Fathers Reefs. This is widely considered the best diving itinerary in Papua New Guinea.
Capacity: Only 10 spots available.
Cost: $4990 USD per person sharing.

  • Two small single occupancy cabins available for $4990.
  • Two large single occupancy cabins available for $5990.

papua new guinea

Why Choose This Trip?

This trip offers what is likely to be some of the best reef diving you’ll ever experience. The itinerary has been chosen for its extraordinary variety, abundance of marine life, and the fact that you’ll encounter very few (if any) other divers. With 75% of the world’s hard coral species and thousands of documented fish and invertebrate species, including some yet to be described, this area is truly special. Pelagic fish are abundant, and highlights include species like horse-eye jacks, pickhandle barracuda, and mega-rarities like Coleman’s pygmy seahorse. The corals remain in pristine condition, and the diversity of marine life is unparalleled.

papua new guinea

Photography Coaching

This trip includes photography coaching by Christopher Bartlett, founder of Best of PNG and a renowned underwater photographer. Christopher has had over 100 articles published and a dozen dive magazine cover shots to his name. He will cover everything from basic to advanced lighting techniques for macro and wide-angle photography, using clear examples to help you enhance your skills. From setting up gear to processing images in Lightroom, Christopher’s coaching will cater to all skill levels.

papua new guinea

The Diving Itinerary

This signature itinerary will take you to the spectacular reefs of Kimbe Bay, the volcanic Witu Islands, and the offshore Fathers Reefs.

  • Kimbe Bay: Known for its stunning coral formations, vibrant sea mounts, coral walls, and lush coral gardens. The area boasts more than 40 reef dive sites, including a beautifully preserved WWII Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane.
  • Witu Islands: This volcanic island group offers diverse diving experiences, from sea mounts like Lama Shoals to coral arches and exciting night dives in black sand bays. You’ll also interact with local villagers trading fresh fruit from canoes, with a planned village visit during the trip.
  • Fathers Reefs: These offshore, volcanic reefs feature dramatic underwater topography, including arches and swim-throughs. The pelagic activity here is remarkable, with sightings of sharks, rays, barracudas, jacks, and turtles. A baited dive for Silvertip sharks is included.

The experienced dive guides of MV FeBrina know the sites extremely well and are skilled at spotting marine life. You can provide a wishlist of critters, and they will work hard to find them.

papua new guinea

Getting There

The trip starts with a one-hour domestic flight from Port Moresby to Hoskins Airport in West New Britain. The flight over mountain ranges and diverse landscapes offers a stunning preview of the adventure ahead. Regaldive will book the domestic flights for you, with an estimated cost of $360 USD for a return ticket.

As described by Professor J.E.N. Veron, former Chief Scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science:

The coral reefs of Kimbe Bay take me back forty years, to a time when corals grew in lush profusion, untroubled by the problems that beset them today… I am hard pressed to think of anywhere on earth that has this combination of vibrant health, diversity, and beauty.”

papua new guinea

Inclusions

  • 10 nights of ensuite accommodation on MV FeBrina
  • All meals, snacks, unlimited tea and coffee
  • Final night dinner at Walindi Plantation Resort
  • 8.5 days of diving (4-5 dives per day)
  • Filled tanks, weight belt, and weights
  • Return transfers to and from Hoskins Airport/Walindi
  • Light daily laundry service

Exclusions

  • Flights
  • Bar expenses and soft drinks
  • Nitrox
  • Dive equipment rental
  • Meals at Walindi prior to or after the liveaboard
  • Souvenirs, personal items, and gratuities
  • 10% GST on purchases in Papua New Guinea

Additional Costs

  • Environmental and Safety Fees: $90 per person, payable in advance.
  • Nitrox: $270 for all dives or $10 per fill.
  • Equipment Hire: Available with prior arrangement.
  • Alcohol/Bar: Local beers, soft drinks, and wine available at varying costs. It is recommended to bring your preferred spirits duty-free.

Payment

Payments can be made via credit card (MasterCard/Visa/Amex) or cash in AUD, USD, PGK, or Euros. Prices for bar items and additional purchases are subject to change.

papua new guinea

Extensions

Regaldive offers pre- or post-liveaboard extensions, including trips around PNG. From 15 to 22 September 2025, Christopher Bartlett will lead a Highlands Tribes Tour, featuring bird-watching, village visits, private Sing-Sings, and the Goroka Highlands Cultural Festival. The full tour costs $3240 USD. Alternatively, a four-night option for the Goroka festival from 17-21 September starts at $1260 USD. Additional extension options include extra diving at Walindi Resort, volcano treks, WWII plane wreck tours, or diving near Port Moresby. Post-festival, Christopher will also lead a five-night Sepik River tour, exploring ancient customs and Spirit Houses deep in the jungle.

papua new guinea

For more information or to book, contact Indigo Safaris:

Email: safariexperts@indigosafaris.com
UK: +44 771 334 27 29
USA: +1 718 312 8777
France: +33 668 74 97 05
Skype: christopherbartlett

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Gear News

OrcaTorch D710 Dive Light now available in pink

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d710 pink

Already available in Black, Green, Red and Blue, the D710 Dive Light from Orcatorch is now available in Pink too.

Whether you’re a recreational or a professional diver, you’ll find the OrcaTorch D710 dive light useful in your underwater activities.

With max 3,000 lumens, the D710 is one of the strongest torches in its class. You also have plenty of brightness settings to choose from if you prefer less power.

It runs on one OrcaTorch 21700 5000mAh rechargeable battery with a Type-C charging port, easier for you to charge it anywhere. Now it offers five exterior colour options: Black, Green, Red, Blue, and Pink, to satisfy your diverse needs.

d710 pink

Featuring:

* Uses Luminous LED, max 3000 lumens

* Uses 1 * 21700 Li-ion battery

* 6° beam angle

* Offers four exterior colour options: Black, Red, Green and Blue

* Easy operation with side titanium alloy push-button switch

* Safe lock function, prevents mis-operation

* Intelligent Over-Heat protection

* Battery indicator

* Water pressure resistant construction, depth rated to 150 meters

* Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation

* Over-discharge protection function

* Constructed from high-strength A6061-T6 aluminum

* Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized finish for durability and corrosion resistance

* Two sides coated toughened glass with high water pressure resistance under deep water

www.orcatorch.com

Sea & Sea is the home of OrcaTorch and other leading diving brands in the UK.

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