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.

Learn what it really means to step back in time where the worries of the world fade and the magic of nature unfolds.

Accommodations

Covered walkways link the main reception and dining areas with the rooms themselves, which are huge. Two Queen size beds, air conditioning, ceiling fan, minibar, fridge, safe, a well-appointed modern bathroom, and what may be the ultimate private balcony.

Overlooking the bay of reef-fringed, deep blue water, and framed by stands of tall tropical trees and the occassional fruit tree, is an outdoor setting that begs to be used to read, sip afternoon post-dive drinks or watch the resident pod of dolphins that seem to visit the bay every day.

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.

Our new chefs have been able to bring their own unique list of ingredients and recipes to the table at Tawali. Local farmers raise the fruits and vegetables served at Tawali and we take great pride in the freshness and variety of the foods we serve. Breads are fresh made as well as desserts and snacks and beverages are easily available.

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.

Diving

The diving from Tawali resort is both amazing and convenient with the best diving of Milne Bay just minutes away.

COASTAL DAY DIVES
Our amazing Coastal Day Dives include the best Milne Bay muck diving as well as wonderful walls with an abundance of soft corals, large sea fans, anemones with clown fish and large pelagic, such as hammerheads and whale sharks. Trips are scheduled for mornings and afternoons with two dives per trip. Book both the morning and afternoon charter (4 dives) and get a free night dive. Diving on coastal sites is done from two 22-foot boats with twin 50 Honda engines with a maximum of six divers per boat.

OUTER REEF DIVES
Outer reef dives in Milne Bay offer divers a chance to dive on beautiful pinnacles with abundant and varied marine life as well as walls with anemones, sea fans, sharks and other large pelagics. All dives are within a 25 to 40 minute boat ride from Tawali and include three tank dives with lunch served on the boat or on nearby islands where guests can explore on their own. Outer reef diving is done from the comfort of a 37-foot Catamaran with a maximum of 12 divers.

MV Chertan Live Aboard
Tawali is the home base for the MV Chertan Live Aboard. Board the Chertan for 2 or 3 days of diving remote locations outside Milne Bay.

Other Activities

Skull caves, bat caves, orchids, birds, and dugout canoes. Diving is really just part of the Tawali experience. Immerse yourself in the culture of Papua New Guinea by exploring all that Tawali has to offer. All land excursions are included in our Unlimited Resort Package.

Hiking Tawali
Take guided bush walks into the rainforest or walk along the coast through local villages. There is even an extended day hike across the mountain ridge rising behind the resort, where you can view the entire coastline and the dense rainforest canopy. Take a pair of binoculars to view the cockatoos, hornbills and parrots along the way.

Skull Caves
Skull caves are a mostly forgotten reminder of PNGs history. Usually discovered by villagers looking for new garden land many skull caves in PNG have yet to be discovered and have long been grown over by the forest. Start your hike at the base of a steep cliff over a shallow reef and with help of ropes and guides hike your way up into the rain forest learning about the different trees and plants along the way. Return again to the boats and enjoy a snack or go on to hike to a waterfall for a cool dip.

Waterfall Hike
Guides will take you on a forty minute hike up through the lush forest to beautiful waterfalls where guests can take a break for a snack and dip in the pool before heading down.

Orchid and Botanical Walks
Starting in the local villages guests can walk into areas dense with beautiful orchids and lush vegetation. Don’t be surprised to see some amazing birds also since there are 269 species of birds in Milne Bay alone.

All top-side activities are scheduled weekly with experienced local guides.