Dive Review of Chertan in
Papua New Guinea/Milne Bay

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Chertan, Sep, 2002, by Jim Jenkins, C, USA . Report 222.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	(Scale 1-10) Overall 10 for muck lovers; 7 for big fish lovers. 75F to 77 F. Visibility good to very good. Muck dives had 40’ or better. Go for the macro critters and the smaller, more intimate boat. There is plenty of large fish life, this trip is for muck divers who also want some variety. Sea life – pelagics and large fish 7. About 50% of our diving was muck diving or on reef tops looking for critters. Dives on reefs in open-ocean produced a few sharks, schools of barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, schools of bump-head parrots, and healthy fish life. From the boat, we saw dolphins, a whale shark, a dugong, a swordfish, and mola molas. Sea life – reef corals, fish 8. Some coral bleaching; the reefs are recovering nicely with large fans, sea whips, abundant black corals, soft corals, etc. Reef-fish are healthy and diverse. Sea life – critters 10. Perhaps Indonesia is better (I haven’t been there). While we didn’t see everything (no leaf scorpion or lacy scorpion fish), we saw a great variety of exotic nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, snake eels, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, lion fish, blue-ribbon eels, numerous small shrimps and crabs, etc. Surprises like the Wondrous Melibe nudibranchs (3 of them feeding, one nearly 12” long) occurred on nearly every muck dive. If you love macro stuff, this is the place. Dive briefings and guides 9. Rob knows the sites intimately and excels at finding things. He dives most dives and is happy to guide you. The briefings were good. Food 8. Generally good food with some delicious meals. Cabins 6. Cabin space was adequate and similar to most, smaller boats. Two heads (with showers) on the main deck, shared by all guests. A/C is a single unit under the stairs for all 6 units. Boat layout 8. Nice lounge area, adequate space for sunning and shade above decks. The boat is very wide for its size. Boat layout for diving and photography 9. 80% of the diving is from the stern with side and up two sets of steps in the rear. No crowding and easy entries and exits. This is the most relaxed type of “unlimited” diving since you go in when you want, and come back to the boat when you want (although the crew keeps watch and will pick you up in the tender if you want. A few current dives on reefs were from the zodiac. No EAN. There is a very large table above decks for cameras. The crew carries cameras up to the table after rinsing, and will fetch them back down for you if you’re lazy. Crew and service 8. Rob makes the trip fun and very “productive.” Rooms are not made up daily.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	501-1000 dives
Where else diving	Other PNG, Fiji, Solomons, Sipadan, Palau, Truk, Galapagos, Cocos, Hawaii, California, Carribean
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, noCurrents
Water Temp	75-77°F / 24-25°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	50-150 Ft/ 15-46 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Common sense. Divers treated like adults; e.g., OK to dive after a single beer.
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	Squadrons
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	1 or 2
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Chertan in Papua New Guinea/Milne Bay

Chertan, Sep, 2002,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Chertan in
Papua New Guinea/Milne Bay