( All photos © Copyright The Dancer Fleet. & owners of STAR DANCER. )

© Copyright 1995 - 2012 / U.S. Dive Travel Network.

Wild & Wonderful PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
U.S. DIVE TRAVEL proudly offers the PEARL of PNG --
The DANCER FLEET's -- magnificent M/V STAR DANCER

For the next several seasons, Star Dancer will cruise in pristine Milne Bay
of SE Papua New Guinea, an area with spectacular coral 'n critter abundance.
In future years, we may return to wonderful past itineraries up in the far north,
such as the beautifully coral-rich & remote northern coast of New Britain island,
in the Bismark Sea, starting near the remote seaside villages of Kimbe or Rabaul.

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PAPUA NEW GUINEA DIVING --

Our Top Dive Sites in MILNE BAY,

& they are STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL !!

Most of our dive sites will be in the Milne Bay sector of SE Papua New Guinea. Some seasons down the road, we may return to the northern isles of New Britain & New Ireland, but for now we are having enormous fun exploring the endless color-rich & specie-rich possibilities of Milne Bay. (Please see the new itinerary map above …)

 

Every dive in Papua New Guinea is an open door to an exciting new experience, highlighted by encounters with fish species that include dog-tooth tuna, sharks, vast schools of pelagics such as barracuda trevally & others. Most diving is from Star Dancer's spacious dive deck, with easy access via the water level dive platform. Some of the reefs are current-washed. Without pretty brisk currents, the spectacular marine life would not be there. But no worries, mates. The wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at any specific site if currents are unmanageable at the time. We simply find another more sheltered site.

Visibility ranges from 80 to 150 ft., depending on the season, & water temperatures range between 85 & 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather is tropical, with little seasonal variation.

PNG is a destination that offers year round diving. Papua New Guinea’s climate is generally warm with definite wet & dry seasons. 

In the Milne Bay Province, the visibility increases substantially during the wet season due to the prevailing currents.  While July & August are the wettest months, visibility remains high from June into October. The rain tends to fall mainly in the evenings & rarely disrupts daily activities. 

November through May marks the drier season – in a normal non-El Nino year.   Over this period visibility will drop, however a different variety of macro subjects seems to appear, which keeps the day’s diving superior at all times.

Water temperatures range from 84 degrees in the summer months to 77 degrees in the winter months. A light wetsuit is necessary, though most people choose more thermal protection (a 3mm suit minimum) to ensure continued core temperature warmth throughout their visit.

Each cruise of the Star Dancer will be slightly different & unique.  Using his knowledge of the area along with current environmental conditions & weather forecast your Captain will plan a route that will provide you with the best available diving for the duration of your cruise.   Below are some of the best known sites in our area of operations & an illustrative example of one potential route our Captain could create. 

At the Samurai Island pier we will typically spend the full day exploring the area due the sheer diversity of the marine life found at this location.  Samarai Pier is located in only 25 feet of water, there are several species of batfish & catfish, & schools of baitfish that part & coalesce around the cathedral like pilings.   Also near here is the 8 knot drift dive "The Washing Machine". 

In the same area is the famous “Giants At Home” dive.  This wonderful manta cleaning station is in only 25ft of water.   On a relatively plain sandy bottom rises a magnificent coral bommie, covered in soft corals. A large number of cleaner wrasse make their home on the bommie, which in turn attracts the mantas for cleaning visits so that they can get rid of the parasites that itch & scratch all day long! There can be as many as 15 mantas at one time at the cleaning station, swooping in like stealth bombers, one after the other. & you can get very close - in fact they seem to enjoy the sensation of divers' bubbles on their underside & often swim over the top of you so this can happen.  This is one of the world's great manta dives!

Heading east, the passage between Baslilaki & Sideia Island makes for a stunning cruise & is home to the wreck of a P38 Lightning aircraft near Baslilaki Island.

As the voyage turns north, there are a number of great dive sites around Nuakata Island including Black & Silver, Trish's Bommie, Bob's Bommie, Tunnel Reef, Jason's Reef, Peer's Reef & Boirama Reef.  Nuakata is known as a jewel of Milne Bay diving because it is a beautiful island surrounded by multiple dive sites.  The area features lots of pristine reefs & abundant fish life.  Here you’re you may see schools of fish in shallow waters interspersed with pelagic sightings such as grey sharks, tuna, & Spanish mackerel.  Boirama Reef, in the passage between Nuakata Island & Boirama Island also attracts large fish.

Along the northern edge of Milne Bay sites such as & the wonderful black sand dives at Observation Point can be found.  There is also the Wreck of Blackjack, the B17 bomber.   

To exemplify the diversity of the area, two dive sites very close to each other offer a huge contrast.  Dinah’s Beach is very much a black sand dive, where Blue Ribbon Eels, Seahorses, flamboyant Cuttlefish, Ghost Pipe Fish, Leaf Scorpion Fish, mantis Shrimp & Mimic Octopus are just some of the exotic marine life that can been seen.  Whereas nearby Deacon’s offers superb coral gardens with a series of coral towers where Hammerhead Sharks & Whale Sharks are sometimes encountered is simply amazing. The fact that these two completely different sites are located so close reinforces the amazing diversity of Milne Bay Province.

Your Star Dancer cruise will conclude on your final day with a stop at the Tawali resort for some off gassing time.  Here you can explore the area or join a land tour that will explore ancient skull caves or visit a wonderful waterfall.  Dinner will be served at the resort that last night.  Star Dancer will then depart mid evening for the return voyage to the Driftwood Resort in Alotau. (This text block courtesy of Dancer Fleet & STAR DANCER.)

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NITROX is available for certified divers on all PNG diving charters; & it makes a wonderful difference!

DANCER FLEET - STAR DANCER -- Papua New Guinea: Lido Deck Plan.

DANCER FLEET - STAR DANCER -- Papua New Guinea: Main Deck Plan.

DANCER FLEET - STAR DANCER -- Papua New Guinea: Sky Deck & Dolphin Deck Plans.

* Port of Registry: Papua New Guinea
* Construction: Aluminum
* Type: Mono Hull
* Length: 120 feet
* Beam: 23 feet
* Number of Passengers: 16
* Accommodation: 8 cabins
* Number of Crew: 8
* Number of Tenders: 1 for emergency transport
* Fuel Capacity: 3800 gallons
* Fresh Water Capacity: 2200 gallons
* Desalination Production: 3200 gallons per day
* Cruising Speed: 11.5 knots
* Range: 1000 nautical miles
* Navigation Aids: VHF, SSB, Radar, echo sounder, GPS, weather fax.
* Oxygen On Board: Yes
* Compressor: 2 K-14 Bauer
* Nitrox Facilities: Yes
* Voltage: 110 volts
* Air-conditioning: To all areas indoors
* Length of Charters: 7 & 10 night itineraries
* Dives Per Day: Up to 5 tanks of superb scuba!
* Photographic Services: E6 processing, Camera rental
* Photo instruction, Video rental, Video instruction

( All photos © Copyright The Dancer Fleet. & owners of STAR DANCER. )

Star Dancer: Papua New Guinea diving yacht.
Photos & text blocks courtesy of Dancer Fleet.

HOW do I GET to PAPUA NEW GUINEA ?
Papua New Guinea is an independent country, comprised of an island group situated to the north of Australia. Mainland Papua New Guinea is a large island consisting of Papua New Guinea to the east, & Irian Jaya to the west. The large islands of New Britain & New Ireland lie off the mainland's eastern shores, & there are a myriad of smaller island groups within Papua New Guinea's waters. Currents from three seas meet around Papua New Guinea; the Bismarck Sea, the Solomon Sea & the Coral Sea, bringing diverse nutrients to feed the remarkable variety of marine life living in these waters. Papua New Guinea is accessible from Cairns (CNS) in Australia on Air Niugini.

The port of entry for all flights into PNG is Port Moresby (POM). You must then fly onward to Rabaul (RAB) or Hoskins/Walindi Resort (HKN) depending on your charter itinerary to meet the Star Dancer. Flying time from Cairns (CNS) to Port Moresby (POM) is approx. 1.5 hrs. The domestic flight from Port Moresby (POM) to Rabaul (RAB) or Hoskins (HKN) is approx. 1.5 hrs. Our U.S. Dive Travel specialist can show you how to secure your own specially discounted fares on Qantas or American Airlines into Cairns (CNS) via Guam (GUM) from most of their US gateway cities. Flights to Cairns (CNS) on Continental Airlines are not daily & may require pre & post overnight hotel stays in Australia which our Dive Easy Travel specialist will be happy to reserve for you.

IMPORTANT NOTE !!   Australian transit visas are required for any stop-overs in Australia & your Qantas AL specialist will likely arrange for an electronic visa on your behalf at a small additional charge. Qantas Airways also services both Cairns (CNS) & Port Moresby (POM) via Sydney (SYD), however, guests who enter PNG on a Qantas flights instead of an Air Niugini flight will not be entitled to Air Niugini's "dive allowance" for excess baggage weight on their domestic flight. If the domestic flight is full, then luggage from Air Niugini's international flight will be given priority over that transferred from Qantas, therefore, we strongly recommend that all guests enter PNG on an Air Niugini international flight. Air Niugini operates an international flight to Port Moresby (POM) from Singapore (SIN), so any international carrier with service to Singapore (SIN) is also an option.

Saturday: Arrive Hoskins or Tokua Airport near Rabaul (according to itinerary) after clearing customs & immigration in Port Moresby. Transfer via air-conditioned bus to Walindi Wharf (45 min. drive) or Rabaul's commercial dock (according to itinerary). Board M/V Star Dancer after 4:00 pm. Enjoy pre-dinner snack & welcome drink. At approx. 6:00 pm M/V Star Dancer leaves port & cruises for several hours to the Witu Islands or Duke of York Islands (according to itinerary). Orientation will be given after dinner. M/V Star Dancer arrives at her destination in the early hours of the following morning.

Sunday to Thursday: 5 full dive days with up to 5 dives per day, including a night dive each night. A dive bell is rung to signal the start of a dive briefing on the Main Deck. The vessel will usually move two or three times per day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner & after-dive snacks are provided each day. Slide presentations are shown several evenings. Lunches may be packed for shore excursions on one day. Dives sites will depend on weather conditions, but guest feedback is welcome.

Friday: 2 to 3 dives will be scheduled in the morning before M/V Star Dancer returns to port between noon & 2:00 pm. An informal dinner is prepared on board at approx. 6:30 pm or when returning to Walindi we offer a festive BBQ buffet at the resort. Dress is casual/tropical. Help yourself to a Hibiscus flower straight off the bush, but remember bug spray or lotion for the short walk to the resort dining & bar area.

Saturday: Continental breakfast is available from 7:00 am prior to departure at approx. 8:15 am for the Hoskins or Rabaul airport.

January to March -- Air temperatures in PNG are fairly consistent year round with highs in the low 90° F & lows of approx. 80° F. Traditionally these are the "wet" months (monsoon season). Rainfall varies year to year, but is high compared to regions outside of the tropics. Water temperature is 83° F to 88° F.

April to June -- These are some of the peak months commonly called the doldrums. Good weather, lots of sunshine, not much wind, calm seas, visibility at 80 ft. to 150 ft. There have been occasional Orca sightings & Whale Sharks. Regular visits by dolphins.

July to August -- This is winter. Water temperature is only slightly cooler at 85° F to 87° F. Visibility is usually excellent at 80 ft. to 150 ft. The Southeast Trades come in & water can get a little choppy. Rain is rare. There are occasional Orcas, dolphins, turtles, giant clams

September to November -- The ideal months. Water temperature is 87° F to 90° F. Little wind, lots of sunshine, with an occasional afternoon or overnight shower. Visibility is 80 ft. to 130 ft., however at any given time, plankton blooms might occur bringing in more fish life.

December -- Same as November, rains may start towards the end of the month.

ANSWERS to KEY CLIENT QUESTIONS about the brilliant yacht Star Dancer & Papua New Guinea:

WHERE is PAPUA NEW GUINEA on the PACIFIC MAP?
Papua New Guinea is an independent country, comprised of a group of islands situated to the north of Australia . Mainland Papua New Guinea is the eastern part of a large island shared with Irian Jaya to the west. The islands of New Britain & New Ireland lie off the mainland's eastern shores, & there is a myriad of smaller island groups within Papua New Guinea 's waters. Currents from three seas meet around Papua New Guinea; the Bismarck Sea, the Solomon Sea & the Coral Sea, bringing diverse nutrients to feed the remarkable variety of marine life living in these waters.

WHAT is PNG SCUBA DIVING LIKE in the BISMARK SEA?
M/V Star Dancer itineraries are varied to optimize diving in areas where the diving conditions are best throughout the year. The schedule may include areas of Kimbe Bay , & surrounding waters along the northern coast of New Britain, such as Witu Islands to the North West , & the Willaumez Peninsula . These waters are home to prolific & diverse marine creatures & corals. Recent marine surveys in Kimbe Bay have recorded over 350 species of reef building corals, & over 900 species of fish. M/V Star Dancer also operates from the port of Rabaul on the east end of New Britain Island diving the Gazelle Peninsula . When you arrive consider yourself as an explorer discovering the new world. As you forage your way through reefs teaming with life, you will discover that there are more varieties of fish than you could believe. The diving conditions will range from quiet mill pond dives to drift dives along spectacular walls, but the majority of diving is on sea mounts (or "bommies") so there is something for everyone. The reefs are a photographer's paradise. Pristine & colorful corals are home to a variety of fish, crustacean & invertebrate life. Many of the reefs have resident schools of barracuda, tuna & jacks. A range of shark species are regularly sighted, particularly at the outer reefs of Fathers, Witu Islands & the Binnings. Visibility ranges from 80 to 150 ft., depending on the season, & water temperatures range between 84 & 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Most diving is from M/V Star Dancer's spacious dive deck, with easy access via the water level dive platform. Some of the reefs are current washed; without current the spectacular marine life would not be there, however, the wide range of dive sites means that it is not necessary to dive at a site if currents are unmanageable at the time.

Please be advised that due to frequently strong currents it is MANDATORY for each diver to carry an emergency SMB (safety sausage), Dive Alert (personal air horn), & mini-strobe light on all dives.

A Mini-B (personal locator beacon) also is highly recommended. If you do not bring any one of these devices with you they can be provided for your use while on board the M/V Star Dancer, however, quantities may be limited. If you do not possess these items, please notify our office prior to departure.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW about the LIVING CONDITIONS IN RABAUL?
The city of Rabaul was devastated by volcanic erruption in 1994 & its effects are still evident today. Although the airport & much of the infrastructure has been re-built, there is a great deal of ash settled in the town & more ash continues to fall occasionally.

WILL WE VISIT any VILLAGES ASHORE DURING the CRUISE?
On many weeks, it is possible for our Star Dancer captain to arrange with a local village to perform a "sing sing" or cultural celebration to which our guests will be invited. Guests are reminded that they should be dressed conservatively (in a sarong or long shorts) while within view of the villages. Do not take photographs without first asking permission to do so. If you care to bring along small gifts for the children we will likely encounter, may we recommend that you offer them books, paper, pens, pencils, rulers, & they also appreciate clothing. Do not give them food, candies or money.

WHAT DOES MY STAR DANCER PACKAGE INCLUDE?
All staterooms are fitted with private heads & showers (Master Staterooms have bathtubs), individual air-conditioning units & volume controls, vanity basins, & picture windows (except the Owner's Suite which has four porthole views). Breakfast cooked to order, buffet lunch, & gourmet dinners are served daily in addition to fresh mid-morning & mid-afternoon snacks. Beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) are complimentary while on board. Bathrobes & some toiletries are available for your use on board. The M/V Star Dancer is equipped with hairdryers in each stateroom. Linens are changed mid-week & fresh towels are placed in each stateroom daily. Light laundry service is offered. 10% government VAT tax is included. Guests have the opportunity to dive between four & five times a day. Seven night charters include 5.5 dive days (approx. 26 dives) & ten night charters include 8.5 dive days (approx 41 dives). Filled tanks, weights & weightbelt are included.

For what ADDITIONAL EXPENSES WILL I BE RESPONSIBLE?
A fee is charged on your invoice for payment on your behalf to the local recompression chamber (US$15.00 for 7 night cruise or US$25.00 for 10 night cruise). No air transportation is included in the M/V Star Dancer package. The PNG Tourist Visa is 25 Kina (or US$15). This visa may be obtained in advance from the PNG Embassy in Washington , DC or upon arrival in PNG. Additionally, upon departure from Port Moresby prior to your international flight home, an "Airport Maintenance Fee" of approx. 30 Kina is charged. Instruction, dive & photo equipment rentals & "Boatique" purchases must be settled on board prior to departure. No meals or beverages on shore are included (except when the charter ends at Walindi Resort, then the final night BBQ dinner is included, but the beverages on shore are not included). Crew tips are not included. Divers Alert Network (DAN) membership is required & not included in your package price.

HOW WILL I GET from the AIRPORT to the STAR DANCER?
Round-trip transfers are provided from & to Hoskins (for Walindi departures & arrivals) or Tokua (for Rabaul departures & arrivals) depending on your itinerary if you arrive & depart on M/V Star Dancer's charter schedule. In Rabaul transfers can also be arranged from local hotels. Guest who arrive before 3:30 will be taken to the Kaivuna Hotel where day rooms may be available on a share basis at additional charge. You may wish to bring you bathing suit to take a dip in the pool. Your luggage will be waiting for you aboard the M/V Star Dancer. Meals on land are not part of your package, but are available in the restaurant of the hotel. Transfer to the M/V Star Dancer is approx. 3:30 pm . If you for any reason cannot make the collection points please contact Star Dancer's local agent Wanda at (675) 982-7160 & we will do everything possible to get you to the boat. The M/V Star Dancer usually departs the dock at approx. 5:00 pm depending on flight schedules & other conditions.

IS IT CUSTOMARY TO OFFER a TIP to the CREW?
Aboard the M/V Star Dancer gratuities are not included. We prefer that our guests reward our crew based on their performance. If the crew performs to your expectations, may we suggest that a gratuity of approximately 10% of your published package price would be considered normal aboard a liveaboard dive boat. Payment of gratuities is entirely at the discretion of the guest. It is the policy on Dancer Fleet vessels to pool any collected gratuities & divide these among the crew, since we believe no one crew member has the opportunity to give exceptional service without the assistance & support of all other crew members.

HOW IS the M/V STAR DANCER DIVE SCHEDULE PLANNED?
While we strive to offer our guests up to 5 dives per day & at least two dives on the day we return to port, there may be situations, such as sea conditions or tide changes which will prevent us from doing so. Sometimes we are restricted from leaving port until Sunday morning due to tides which may prevent us from offering five dives on that day. Sometimes we are only able to offer one dive on Friday mornings in order to enter the marina safely with the high tide. We are unable to offer diving on Friday afternoon since most guests are flying home Saturday morning & the crew need this time to attend to administrative responsibilities & provisioning. We usually offer between 25 to 27 dives per charter, but the exact number may vary. We appreciate your patience & understanding about this situation over which we have no control.

IF I AM TRAVELING as a SINGLE, WILL I HAVE A ROOMMATE?
All rates are quoted on a share basis, so unless you require a guaranteed single room & pay an additional 65% supplement, you will very likely be sharing your stateroom with one other guest of the same gender.

HOW DO I GET to NEW BRITAIN ISLAND ?
M/V Star Dancer departs from & returns to Walindi Resort or Rabaul Slipways (according to your chosen itinerary). You will need to fly into Hoskins Airport from which transfers are arranged to Walindi or you will fly into Tokua Airport near Rabaul. Commercial airlines with service to Papua New Guinea include Air Nuigini & Qantas, sometimes connecting from Sydney , Brisbane , Cairns , Manila or Singapore . When your travel itinerary requires an overnight stay in Port Moresby , may we suggest that the Loloata Resort is a safe & comfortable facility with excellent dive & snorkeling opportunities. We easily can arrange for your accommodations at Loloata Resort. In fact, Loloata Resort is a lovely experience!

WHAT LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS DO I NEED to be WATCHING?
For international flights, please check with your carrier about weight restrictions & any other restrictions on the content of your luggage. International arrivals from airlines other than Air Nuigini are limited to 35 lbs on Air Nuigini's domestic service. For scuba divers only, for arrivals in Port Moresby on Air Nuigini from any international gateway city (as long as the flight number is an Air Nuigini (PX) flight number not a code share flight with Qantas), guests are allowed 2 pieces of luggage with weight not to exceed 68 lbs TOTAL (not per piece). One (1) carry on piece of weight not to exceed 10 lbs is permitted. Overweight penalties will be charged on each sector flown as follows:

• Hoskins - 6 Kina per Kg which is approx 2.2 lbs
• Rabaul - 7 Kina per Kg which is approx 2.2 lbs

For example, fly 4 sectors or 4 flights, & they will pay these charges 4 times.

When guests arrive in Port Moresby , they should do their transfer to their domestic flight all in the PNG Customs area & not to take luggage out of PNG Customs to re-check in the domestic terminal. Guests should clear PNG Customs & re-check baggage all in the Customs area before proceeding to board their domestic flight.

DO I NEED a PASSPORT or VISA for PNG?
North American citizens must carry a PASSPORT & obtain a TOURIST VISA (25 Kina or US$15.00 on arrival). If you want to purchase your Tourist Visa in advance you may do so directly from the Papua New Guinea Embassy 202-745-3680. Guests of all other nationalities should check if further documentation is required. For assistance you may choose to contact a travel documentation company which will charge additional fees for their services. One firm that handles these chores is: Travel Document Systems, Inc. 734 Fifteenth St. NW., Suite 400 Washington, DC 20005. Phone 202-638-3800 or 800-424-8472. Guests in transit to Papua New Guinea through Australia must also obtain an Australian Visa which can be done electronically by the travel agent who arranges for your air ticket.

SHOULD I BUY TRIP INSURANCE?
We strongly recommend that each guest purchase comprehensive accident, medical, baggage & trip cancellation & interruption insurance when space is reserved. Trip insurance will protect you from financial disappointment in the event unforeseen circumstances prevent the vessel from making its scheduled trip. In the event it is necessary to cancel or interrupt a charter due to weather or any matter beyond the control of DANCER FLEET, there will be no refund or credit issued. We also recommend diving accident insurance. Please inquire with our reservation office for assistance.

WHAT SCUBA DIVING PAPERWORK WILL I NEED to DIVE?
Please bring your certification card & log book(s) for verification of your dive training/experience. You will be required to complete & sign a standard release & waiver form prior to your arrival. Please remember that you alone are responsible for determining your medical & physical fitness to dive or to take part in any other activities during this trip. DIVING ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED at your OWN RISK. We take no responsibility with respect to your determination. If you have any questions concerning your medical or physical fitness to dive or take part in any such activities, please consult your personal physician.

HOW MUCH SHALL I PACK for the STAR DANCER?
Please plan to travel light, as on all liveaboards space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as duffel bags for easy stowage & leave those large, rigid suitcases at home which will add to your comfort in your cabin. For guests on a longer itinerary, it is advised to pack separately the gear you will require on board. M/V Star Dancer has storage facilities on shore at Walindi or in Rabaul (depending on itinerary) for items you will not require on board, or for those larger suitcases once you have removed the necessary items for your trip. Clothing should be lightweight, comfortable sportswear & bathing suits are a must. A light sweater or throw-over is ideal for evening - especially during the months of June through August. Dress aboard M/V Star Dancer is always casual, however, it should be noted that Papua New Guineans in New Britain will be offended by ladies with uncovered upper thighs. Please bring a sarong to cover up with when in sight of shore. Additional items you may want to bring are sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat or visor & BUG SPRAY OR LOTION IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR TIME ON SHORE. Hairdryers are provided in each cabin. You may wish to pack your regulator, dive computer, mask, bathing suit, & change of clothes & essential items in your carry-on bag. This will make it easier in the event your luggage is delayed. Pony bottles, Spare Air cylinders, etc. should NOT be packed inside your luggage.

WHAT if I am PRONE to SEA SICKNESS on STAR DANCER?
Strong currents & winds may cause moderate movement of the vessel at times. If you have a tendency toward seasickness we strongly urge you to bring some sort of over the counter motion medication or consult your doctor about prescription brands like the Transderm Patch. Chewable ginger tablets or capsules of powdered ginger have also proven to be a very effective natural alternative.

WHAT IF THERE IS a MEDICAL PROBLEM on BOARD?
The M/V Star Dancer crew is trained in first aid & diving accident management. The boat is equipped with a complete first aid kit & a high capacity oxygen system. Since emergency transportation & treatment cost is the responsibility of each guest, we strongly recommend that you obtain special insurance for divers such as DAN or PADI Accident Insurance.

WHERE is the NEAREST RECOMPRESSION CHAMBER?
Melanesian Hyperbaric Services is a facility in Port Moresby established & maintained with your diving safety in mind. Not too long ago, divers were evacuated to Australia for treatment since no chamber existed in PNG. Dive accident insurance covers the cost of your treatment in a recompression facility, but your contribution to MHS supports the existence of that facility. In the event air evacuation is required this must be arranged during daylight hours from Tokua or Hoskins airports. If this chamber is unavailable or if more comprehensive treatment is required, air evacuation will be made to Townsville , Australia . Due to the delays which have been encountered in the process of securing air evacuation through other insurance companies from this remote destination, DIVERS ALERT NETWORK (DAN) MEMBERSHIP IS MANDATORY FOR ALL STAR DANCER GUESTS.

HOW CAN MY FAMILY CONTACT ME IN CASE of an EMERGENCY at HOME? Your family may contact you in the case of a medical emergency by calling the Miami office at 305-669-9391 during business hours or by using the emergency pager number (954-209-8538) after hours. The M/V Star Dancer is equipped with satellite communications, however, the cost of both incoming & outgoing calls is very expensive (USD $7 - $10 /minute). The satellite phone number should be dialed as you would to call Australia, at this number: 011- 61-145-126-033.

ARE ANY IMMUNIZATIONS REQUIRED?
As Malaria is prevalent in Papua New Guinea , you should consult your personal physician in reference to anti-malarial preventative medication and/or the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta . N.B. Unconfirmed reports that a certain, often prescribed anti-malarial drug can, in some instances, cause DCS-like symptoms should be discussed with your personal physician and/or the CDC in Atlanta (404-639-3311). Ask your diving MD re' the comparitive risks v. benefits of these anti-malarial medicines -- Malarone, doxycycline & be VERY careful about Larium (mefloquin) or artemisine, which can bring serious health-threatening side effects to some chemically-sensitive travelers. Further information is available at the CDC website (http://www.cdc.gov/).

WHAT TYPE of FOOD IS PREPARED on the SKY DANCER?
Meals prepared by your on-board chef consists mainly of a Western style menu, but some dishes will incorporate local specialties. If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise our Miami office as soon as possible so we can adequately prepare to meet your needs. Please understand that certain special dietary & beverage requests may not be available on a consistent basis in Papua New Guinea due to the remote nature of this location.

WHAT KINDS of BEVERAGES are AVAILABLE?
M/V Star Dancer's selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, plenty of iced water (not bottled), tea & coffee, & a limited selection of beer, wine & alcoholic beverages. Fresh milk is not available in PNG, although UHT long life milk is provided on board. Herbal teas are not always available. We encourage you to consume lots of non-alcoholic liquids during the week to avoid dehydration. If you have a favorite libation you cannot do without we suggest you purchase this at a Duty Free shop & bring it with you as our selection is sometimes limited by the nature of our location. REMEMBER: Alcohol & diving DO NOT MIX. For your safety, we recommend that the consumption of any alcoholic beverage be delayed until your dive day is complete. FRIENDS DON'T LET FRIENDS DRINK & DIVE!

IS SMOKING ALLOWED on SKY DANCER?
One word: NOPE! No cigarette, cigar or smoking of any kind is permitted on the M/V Star Dancer, except in the designated outdoors smoking area of the Lido Deck. Smoking is not permitted in any area where all guests must be assembled for any reason, for example, at dive briefings.

IS THERE ENTERTAINMENT on BOARD?
M/V Star Dancer has a multi-system TV/video unit for video tape & video camera playback, a compact disc player & cassette deck. There is a slide projector & viewer on board. If you have a favorite movie, a slide show or a video to share, we encourage you to bring it along! You may also bring your own favorite musical tapes, CD's, etc.

WHAT WEATHER PATTERNS are TYPICAL in PNG?
Papua New Guinea 's climate is generally warm with definite wet & dry seasons, the timings of which vary from one place to another. The wettest months for most regions are November to March, but the rain falls mainly in the evenings & rarely disrupts daily activities. Temperatures in the Highlands region fall quite dramatically at night.

WHAT is the LOCAL CURRENCY in PAPUA NEW GUINEA?
The local currency is the Papua New Guinea Kina. The Kina exchange is floating so you may want to research the rate at the time of your departure. Both Kina & US Dollars are accepted on board, but we recommend that guests exchange at least a small amount of money into Kina if they intend to make any purchases on land.

HOW CAN I PAY for MY PURCHASES on BOARD?
The M/V Star Dancer has a small on-board "boatique" which sells a selection of logo clothing, sundries, diving accessories, film, batteries, logbooks, etc. Prices are quoted in US Dollars, but charges will be expressed in Kina at a fair market rate of exchange. A 10% Government VAT tax will be added to all on-board purchases. A crew member will gladly assist you with your "boutique" purchases at any time during the week. The method of payment for these items may be in US dollars, PNG Kina, Traveler's Checks or credit cards (American Express, MasterCard or Visa are accepted). NO PERSONAL CHECKS ARE ACCEPTED.

HOW CAN I CELEBRATE a SPECIAL OCCASION on STAR DANCER?
Our crew members are delighted to help you celebrate any special occasion on board including birthdays, honeymoons, anniversaries or weddings. Kindly advise our US Dive Travel office at least 30 days prior to departure so that we can adequately prepare.

CAN I EARN ADVANCED DIVING CERTIFICATIONS OR SPECIALTIES on BOARD?
Several diving specialty courses are offered on Star Dancer, but it is necessary to give at least one month notice to DANCER FLEET in advance of your charter date to ensure that an instructor will have the time available & that all required paperwork is complete. VERY IMPORTANT: IF YOU INTEND TO RECEIVE DIVING INSTRUCTION ON BOARD, YOU MUST COMPLETE A MEDICAL STATEMENT IN ADVANCE & RETURN IT to DANCER FLEET PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A doctor's note may be required if you answer yes to any of the questions on the medical statement. A list of available courses & prices is located in our color brochure or website. Non-Crew Instructors are permitted to give instruction on board if they are in current teaching status with their certifying agency & if they maintain underwater liability insurance. They must obtain a list of companies from Dancer Fleet Inc. to be additionally insured on their Certificate of Insurance. Payment for instruction will only be accepted on board, not in advance.

IN WHAT TIME ZONE IS PNG LOCATED?
PNG is (+10 GMT). Daylight savings time is not observed.

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN ON BOARD?
Papua New Guinea boasts 862 distinctly different languages although most locals speak a dialect called Pidgin. Our crew will converse in English with the guests.

WHAT PRE- & POST-CRUISE TOURS ARE AVAILABLE?
Your last day with us has been organized to give you time to off gas & enjoy the land sites Rabaul or Walindi have to offer. In Rabaul you have the option of a land tour of the Museum, Japanese tunnels, the Traditional Market, or tour the active volcano by helicopter. All tours are at additional charge, but are highly recommended. If you care to extend your stay in Papua New Guinea for a few days or more, please consult with our reservations staff for some suggestions on the best places to see.

ARE MY VALUABLES SAFE on the STAR DANCER?
We recommend that you leave all valuables at home as they are not appropriate for an adventure cruise. Stateroom keys are available if you choose to use one, but there is no official safety box.

IS the WATER on BOARD SAFE to DRINK?
All water on the Star Dancer is a mixture of desalinated water & PNG spring water from shore. Both are suitable for drinking.

ARE NITROX FILLS AVAILABLE on BOARD the STAR DANCER?
The M/V Star Dancer is equipped with Enriched Air facilities. Nitrox fills of up to 32% are normally available to all CERTIFIED Nitrox divers. Nitrox certifications are also available on board to all certified divers. All diving must be conducted using compressed air tables or compressed air computers regardless of whether your tank is filled with compressed air or Nitrox. Our purpose in providing enriched air Nitrox for the use of our guests is to give those who are unfamiliar with this new technology an opportunity to become certified Nitrox divers, also to give those already certified a greatly enhanced safety factor in the face of extensive, repetitive dive profiles in remote regions of the world. Nitrox is not offered for extended range diving.

WHAT DIVE EQUIPMENT SHALL I BRING to the M/V STAR DANCER?
Equipment provided aboard the M/V Star Dancer includes tanks, (80 or 63 psi aluminum with yoke style "K" valves), weights & weightbelts. The basic diving equipment required is a regulator, depth & pressure gauge, watch or bottom timer, buoyancy compensation device (BCD), mask, fins & snorkel. A SAFETY SAUSAGE, DIVE ALERT & MINI-STROBE ARE MANDATORY FOR EACH DIVER. We suggest that you bring your own since the M/V Star Dancer has only a limited supply available for the use of our guests. BE ADVISED THAT WE REQUIRE AT LEAST TWO LIGHT SOURCES FOR ALL NIGHT DIVES. We strongly recommend the use of chemical (Cyalume) light sticks. You may bring your own or purchase them on board. Additional recommended equipment: dive computer, dive light (with extra batteries or charging unit) & a dive skin and/or wetsuit. Water temperature rarely goes below 85 F. degrees (20 C. degrees) during the winter (June to August) at which time a dive skin or 3mm wetsuit should be sufficient for most divers.

ARE DIVE GEAR & PHOTO/VIDEO GEAR AVAILABLE to RENT?
M/V Star Dancer has a limited number of diving equipment sets available for rent. We offer Uuwatec dive computers, ScubaPro BCDs with Dive Alerts, regulators with gauges, masks, fins, snorkels. The Photo Shop offers Nikonos V bodies, SB-105 strobes, lenses from 15 to 35 mm, macro tube close-up kits, Sony digital cameras & housings. Photo opportunities are abundant. No matter what system you have, you will probably experience excellent results. Be sure to pack your photo equipment carefully in a durable carrying case & bring any unique spare parts & back-up equipment with you.

CAN I FISH OR SPEARFISH while on BOARD the STAR DANCER?
Nosiree! Guests are prohibited from bringing game-taking equipment -- such as fishing tackle or spearguns -- on board the M/V Star Dancer. Guests may remove nothing from the sea.

WHAT is the ELECTRICAL CURRENT on BOARD?
The electrical current on M/V Star Dancer is 110 volts. However, the voltage in all of Papua New Guinea is 240 volts/50 hz, so guests who extend their visit on land may wish to bring a converter with them for the use of small appliances.

MIGHT I BE REFUSED SERVICE on the SKY DANCER?
Dancer Fleet, its owners & employees reserve the right to refuse service to any diver whose behavior is believed to be a danger to the safe operation of the vessel. Divers who exhibit objectionable personal conduct, excessive alcohol use or lack of sufficient diving skills or knowledge can be refused air fills at the Captain's discretion. Any illicit drug use will result in immediately being turned over to the local authorities. The company hereby reserves the right to request such other, further & different medical information, documentation and/or authorization(s) as the company may, in its sole & unfettered discretion, deem appropriate. The company further hereby reserves the right in its sole & unfettered discretion, to decline to allow any Guest to participate in certain diving activities based on medical information, documentation and/or authorization(s), or the lack thereof.

WHAT if the SKY DANCER ITINERARY CHANGES?
Itineraries are always weather permitting & are conducted at the sole discretion of the Captain with consideration to the safety of the guests, crew & the vessel. No refunds will be issued or trips re-booked for itineraries that are canceled due to weather.

Colorful native dancers greet STAR DANCER guests on one remote island.
( All photos © Copyright The Dancer Fleet. & owners of STAR DANCER. )

WHAT OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION SHOULD I KNOW?
Nix on Drugs, Amigos. ZERO TOLERANCE ! We are absolutely serious as a heart attack ! Controlled substances & illegal drugs are strictly prohibited aboard M/V Star Dancer. Penalties for the sale, use or possession of controlled substances in Papua New Guinea are extremely SEVERE & M/V Star Dancer, Walindi Dive Cruises Pty. Ltd., Sun Dancer, Ltd., plus U.S. DIVE TRAVEL NETWORK, & all of their respective officers, agents or staff will accept NO responsibility for any client(s) encountering difficulties with local authorities due to that vacation client's involvement with the sale, use or possession of controlled or illegal drugs. M/V Star Dancer's crew & Dancer Fleet subscribe to the ZERO TOLERANCE policy of the US Coast Guard. Prior to any diving from the M/V Star Dancer, you will be required to provide us with acceptable evidence of your diving certification & your level of experience. You will also be required to execute a legally binding release of M/V Star Dancer, Walindi Dive Cruises Pty., Ltd., Sun Dancer, Ltd., their officers, directors, employees & agents from any claims, causes of action, damages or liabilities which may arise from or in connection with your diving activities & to acknowledge that you understand the risks attendant with diving & to personally assume all such risks. If you are unwilling to personally assume all such risks, known or otherwise, DO NOT PURCHASE PASSAGE ABOARD THE M/V STAR DANCER. While we provide dive briefings prior to dives & limit our diving to no-decompression sport diving, each diver is responsible for his or her individual profile consistent with the standards & limitations of his or her certifying organization.

• Advise your travel agent to send the Air Niugini sector information to Air Niugini Tours, email: so that your record is noted that you are a priority passenger.
• For same day connections from overseas through Port Moresby to Hoskins or Rabaul:

• The Domestic terminal is a separate building from the International terminal. You must exit the International Terminal & walk a short distance to the Domestic Terminal to check-in for your Air Nuigini flight. Proceed immediately to the departure lounge for your flight. The speaker system is very quiet, so listen carefully for your information about when your flight is boarding. There is only one exit door to board all flights.
• If you overnight in Port Moresby , please check in 2 hours before departure.
• For Assistance in POM contact Nori of Air Nuigini Tourse (office immediately on your left after passing through the entrance doors of the International terminal. On the door of her office is a notice "STAFF ONLY.") This is only good 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.

Expect the (pleasantly fun) unexpected! Please be patient & calm. Flight times & schedules can change with little notice & delays are not uncommon.

When the M/V Star Dancer embarks or disembarks at the port of Rabaul on the Gazelle Peninsula, guest may enjoy an extended stay at the Kaivuna Resort or the Hamamas Hotel.

KAIVUNA HOTEL: Since commencing operations from Rabaul in 1998, crew & guests of the M/V Star Dancer have enjoyed the welcome atmosphere of the Kaivuna Hotel. Our friendly staff & excellent Dining Room have made the Hotel a welcome place to stay . Comfortable & well appointed rooms all have direct dial international access, air conditioning, cable television & room service facilities. Packages include accommodations, breakfast, airport transfers & 10% VAT tax. Email & Fax services are also available. The hotel has recently opened a professional land based Diving Operation & offers daily dives on both wrecks & reefs. Guests choosing to arrive early or extend their stay can be assured of the same 5 star service that you would expect from Peter Hughes Diving with special attention to airport transfers. For further information regarding accommodations and/or diving please contact your U.S. Dive Travel planner.

HAMAMAS HOTEL: Located beneath the hills of Rabaul that surround Simpson Harbour, the Hamamas Hotel has been hosting visitors to the area since 1952. Formerly known as the Ascot, it was renamed the Hamamas (meaning "happy" in Pidgin English) when purchased by the Chan family in the 1970's. After being severely damaged by fire in 1984, the hotel was rebuilt by the McGrade family in partnership with Sir Julius Chan, then Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Hamamas is now fully owned & operated by the McGrade family.

The Hamamas Hotel is situated 45 minutes from the Rabaul / Kokopo Tokua Airport. Featuring 34 hotel rooms which cater for all budgets, the hotel's atmosphere reflects a blend of the culture of Rabaul's people (the Tolais) & it's more recent Chinese & Australian influences. Hamamas is perfectly situated for visitors wanting to discover Rabaul's many unique experiences. It lies within walking distance of the markets & historic sites, & is just 20 metres from the bus stop & direct access to the surrounding attractions. Catering for business travellers or visitors with a special interest in war history, volcanoes, indigenous culture, the islands, diving, fishing, trekking or golf, Hamamas is the perfect base to discover a town shaped by an amazing & dramatic natural & social history.

· Phoenix Restaurant
Specialising in Asian cuisine.
Fancy Western menu also available.

· Lounge Bar with billiard table

· Casino machines

· 20m all weather swimming pool

· Budget Car Hire
Discounts available to in house guests.

· Local Tours catering for all budgets

· Conference facilities for 150 people

· Telephone & email

Do you want to know more about Melanesia diving? First let's get to the soul of the matter. Melanesia diving, Papua New Guinea diving, it's all a kind of maritime poetry. Here's one way to try grasping the depth of Papua New Guinea diving. Even Yeats & Frost, if their eyes ever had rested on the extraterrestrial wolf's-eye blue of these lagoons, would have laughed at using ordinary words to capture how Papua New Guinea made them feel. They would have just sat down on a vessel deck & absorbed the shifting, dancing colors. Then they'd have grabbed a tank & slid under the waves to wander among the energetic fish battalions & the waving rainbow corals. Later they'd have surfaced, satisfied, a little dazed maybe, content just to sit topside & sip a drink, sifting the day's experience quietly with a half-grin of grade-school-kid pleasure. But that's it. That's how far they would have gone with Melanesia diving.

They'd have thrown in the towel on trying a poem, afraid that any attempt at clutching the ineffable would produce words so lame they'd inspire eye-rolling. Kind of like these words do right now. Smiling yet? Here is the lowdown on the monarch of Melanesia live-aboards: the Star Dancer.

So where do we start? We're trying here to talk about the strange things that Papua New Guinea diving does to the souls of a lot of men & women. Forever. Sure, there are some folks who are impervious to beauty; & Papua New Guinea might never touch them. But we don't have a lot of time for them. We're interested in connecting with curious, vigorous people like you, who really live life with brio, who grab it hard & don't let go. Here's what's at the root of this enchantment in Papua New Guinea. Here's a rough & ready attempt to write it down; & it will fail in some way.

That is because some places on Earth are so powerful, so singular in their beauty, that no symbol can touch them. They are their own symbols, standing alone against the dross of ordinary life. They are beyond writers, beyond cameras. These power spots are like Aldous Huxley's visions of the gems we all carry subconsciously, buried in the collective human memory, gems tucked way back inside the brain like iridescent iris bulbs waiting for blooming time -- a foretaste of eternity, maybe a hint of heaven. So when you first come face to face, in the here & now, with a subconscious archetype of heaven, while it's something you've carried inside your head all your life & never witnessed, the impact is astonishing. That's Papua New Guinea. That's the mission of U.S. DIVE TRAVEL & the Dancer Fleet's M/V Star Dancer. Pure & simple.

Yeats & Frost would have been smart enough to leave their word games alone. They would have given up. Yeats & Frost would have thought: "To sod with the poems, I'm going diving again before the sun sets." Leave the poems for everybody's own minds & memories. No pens, no lenses can ever capture the blue of Papua New Guinea diving in Melanesia, nor the life that infuses that blue, beneath the Ur-blue. So what about the M/V Star Dancer? We're getting there. Enjoy a chill & please don't gnaw your reg, amigos del mar.

Papua New Guinea of Melanesia is where you come to recharge & renew. And no way is better than on a majestic scuba diving vessel of the famed Dancer Fleet. The Dancer Fleet's Star Dancer -- foremost of the Papua New Guinea live-aboards many critics claim -- will take you to places so dramatic in their beauty that you'll be searching far & wide to find an adventure buzz that tops it. One of our Pacific agents has been to Papua New Guinea a dozen times & he still struggles to find any half-reason imaginable to justify another business trip to the mellow blue universe of Papua New Guinea. He's beyond obsession, beyond definable habit. He's a certifiable flaming goner. So that's why we issue this Dutch Uncle warning about Papua New Guinea live-aboards in general. And about the Big Daddy of Papua New Guinea live-aboards specifically -- the Star Dancer.

Here, therefore, are the two serious risks you take when diving from the Star Dancer in Papua New Guinea. First, you might get swept away, too, by the indefinable Blue. Then you might not want to return home to your job. Your friends & family would blame us & we'd feel guilty. But whoa Nelly, there's even one more risk; & we feel ethically bound to reveal it.

These 5-star Dancer Fleet's vessels are so exceptionally luxurious, with service so far superior to most live-aboards in the Pacific, that you'll likely be jaded to the quick when the next vacation bug bites you. Then the Big Question looms overhead, like a Great Dane with halitosis -- "Where do I go from here?" Don't worry; it's not an issue yet. You're here & Papua New Guinea is over there. So just go for it. Book a trip on a stellar Peter Hughes Diving live-aboard yacht, the Star Dancer in Papua New Guinea. Sort out all the spiritual fallout later. If you need a deeper experience, there's always the hidden atolls of New Caledonia, or Fiji -- or Venus. Do I hear Neptune, anyone?

Here's what's in store for you as you relish Papua New Guinea diving on the wonderful Peter Hughes Star Dancer. On any Papua New Guinea diving day you're likely to see a broad spectrum of the 700 coral species & more than 1,000 species of reef & pelagic fish, that wrap around Papua New Guinea the way electromagnetic fields wrap around livewires. These countless teeming little modules of multi-colored life are flitting & bipping & bopping every which way with their riotous tints flashing in the sunlight. And where they live is amazing, too. There are deep, plunging walls everywhere to explore, most of them carpeted in sweeping fields of visually delicious corals, hard & soft, in scores of colors.

Ever wonder what it feels like to be floating calmly, sipping air in maybe 25 feet of water, right on the clean edge of a cliff that plows down vertically a few thousand feet -- just like that! -- & you're perfectly buoyant above it all looking down into the floorless Void, while thousands of living creatures drift past you, this way & that, up & down, swimming circles around you, all of them serene, oblivious, electrically alive? Try Papua New Guinea diving.

What's more, Papua New Guinea diving offers divers warm water, even as high as the mid-80s in the shallows, plus ultra-clear viz, abundant big fish life, too, & dazzling corals everywhere you turn. Way out on the outer reefs, the dramatic walls are alive with large pelagics.

There are mushroom-like rock islands jutting out of turquoise seas, with a universe of life seething just below the surface under their rocky bulbous bulks. There's even more to Papua New Guinea diving. In some places you'll find awesome schools, legions of wiry wary gleaming barracudas. These barracuda schools are so vast that when you swim through one of them it instantly forms a seething spiraling silver funnel around you, & wraps you up in living glitter like the Time Tunnel, or like something from the CAD screens of Industrial Light & Magic.

Hey, enough's enough. We got carried away. Just try Papua New Guinea. Because it's there. Papua New Guinea live-aboards are the way to go, most assuredly, the local dive experts affirm, because who wants to bake in the searing sun for 2 hours each way riding in a gut-churning sixpack runabout out to dive sites that the Star Dancer can just anchor at for days, if her skipper feels like it?

Now back to planet Earth. Each & every one of the Dancer Fleet's 5-star luxury live-aboard yachts provides clients with turndown bed service every day, morning coffee served in your stateroom, bathrobes, sit-down dining with a choice of two entrees every supper, snacks every morning & afternoon, clean towels every day in your stateroom, removal of your tank as you stand at the diving platform after surfacing, & around-the-clock hands-on service from a crew that will treat you like royalty.

The Dancer Fleet vessels are equipped with air-conditioning in all staterooms & common areas such as salon & lounge (except the Sea Dancer, which has A/C in the cabins only). All Dancer Fleet vessels offer private en-suite bathrooms, hot freshwater showers, audio & video entertainment centers, nightly entertainment, light tables for slides, excellent photo & video labs, open-air sundecks with some covered areas for sun protection, lockers for your dive gear, spacious stern jumpoff areas with 2 exit ladders & showers right there waiting when you surface, camera work tables conveniently on the dive deck, & rigid decompression bars underwater, to increase your profile safety (except Star Dancer).

Every Dancer Fleet live-aboard is also equipped with twin Diesel engines, plus two 110/208-volt & 60-cycle generators, ultra-modern navigation gear, radar, depth finders, GPS & Weather-Fax systems, VHF & SSB radios, desalination plants that pump out from 2,400 to 3,600 gallons of fresh water each day, rescue & chase craft ready at all times & powerful dual air compressors, so you never have to deal with an empty tank.

These splendid scuba diving vessels, of the incomparable Dancer Fleet, are the creme de la creme of world live-aboards, & their prices are just plain affordable. All Papua New Guinea live-aboards, & Melanesia live-aboards, look to the Star Dancer with a meld of envy & admiration. That's because Star Dancer is where the Papua New Guinea diving action is. Papua New Guinea live-aboards have a standard to meet, & that standard is the Star Dancer, amigos del mar.

Remember, if you have any questions at all about any of these following web-travel topics -- U.S. Dive Travel, dive travel, live-aboards, live-aboard, liveaboard, Star Dancer, Papua New Guinea live-aboards, Papua New Guinea live-aboard, PNG live-aboards, PNG live-aboard, PNG diving, Papua New Guinea diving-- please feel free to phone us any time at 952-953-4124. We are always happy to call back same day.

All Papua New Guinea scuba diving package prices listed here, for all Papua New Guinea live-aboards, are subject to possible change in this steadily evolving travel market. Lodging, side tour & diving prices are traditionally stable, as are live-aboard package prices; however air prices can fluctuate daily. Until air tickets are issued, all airlines reserve the right to change airfares without notice -- an industry standard per FAA rules. We at U.S. Dive Travel will price-protect you to the utmost of our professional ability on your PNG diving tour; & that has been our pledge for one decade now. Our PNG diving vacation experts normally secure excellent wholesale discount air tickets for our clients who book early enough to secure limited seats in the best price categories. Remember please, the federal government has deregulated all U.S.-based airlines, so only they control their pricing -- not any travel professionals. Early is good when seeking the best air ticket rates to connect with your Papua New Guinea live-aboard diving tours.

Unless specifically noted, these above Papua New Guinea scuba diving packages are prices for only the live-aboard portion of your dive trip, in most cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. On no Papua New Guinea live-aboards, will there be no triple-occupancy staterooms offered. International air tickets & commuter "island-hopper" seats are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are also extra for air tickets & the dive vessel + side tour components. The baseline tariffs for all clients start at $55 per person for the live-aboard package portion + $55 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients on our Papua New Guinea live-aboards may receive slightly higher tariffs. Solo scuba diving clients on our Papua New Guinea live-aboards always will pay a single supplement to secure a private stateroom -- normally 65% or more than the standard double-occupancy rate for the live-aboard of your choice, unless you are willing to twin-share. This is pretty well SOP among all quality PNG live-aboards.

The preferred payment mode for all of our Papua New Guinea live-aboards, Papua New Guinea dive resorts, side tours & air ticket specials is by cashier's check or wire transfer in U.S. dollars. All clients living outside the USA or Canada will need to pay for their dive vacations via direct wire transfer only. No personal checks will be accepted for any reservation. Thank you for your gracious understanding. Our service level is the highest & our prices the lowest in this industry, & thus we need to preserve a reasonable margin.

Remember, all Papua New Guinea diving vacation clients to all foreign destinations will be asked by local officials overseas, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $35 - $40 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away a little cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your Papua New Guinea diving plans. We hope your Papua New Guinea scuba diving vacation is a safe & satisfying adventure. Blessings & best wishes with ALL your Papua New Guinea live-aboard dive vacations.

Best fishes too!

>////*>   <*\\\\<

John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg, Mgrs.
U.S. Dive Travel Network.