Papua New Guinea Liveaboard Options

Chertan: The 60-foot Chertan sleeps 12 in six air-conditioned cabins and offers cruises for up to 10 days in Milne Bay. Exact itineraries change seasonally as critters come and go. Both muck and reef diving, alternating between wide angle and macro photography. www.chertan.com or 011/675- 64-11167.

FeBrina: A 72-footer, with seven cabins for 12 passengers, and a crew of seven. Based at Walindi Plantation on New Britain Island, FeBrina cruises for up to 14 days in Kimbe Bay, the Witu Islands to the northwest, or Fathers Reefs to the northeast. Captain Alan Raabe and his staff are experts at finding tiny critters. www.febrina.com or 011/675-98-35441.

Golden Dawn: This 80-foot craft sleeps 12. All cabins are air-conditioned, and some have ensuite heads. Usually based in Port Moresby for access to the remote Coral Sea, she also offers seasonal manta and muck diving in southern Milne Bay, Madang departures to Northern PNG, or Wewak departures for big animals. Lots of wreck diving, with Nitrox and rebreathers aboard. www.mvgoldendawn.com or 675/325-6500.

Marlin: A 50-foot, twin-engine, six-pack available for private charter out of Milne Bay. Specializing in adventure diving, underwater research, and film-making, the boat offers unlimited diving, depending on the traveling required. www.png-diveboat.com or 61/145-117098.

Moonlighting: A 100-footer based in Madang, the MV Moonlighting holds 12 divers in six twin berth cabins, all with private bathrooms. She makes seven- to ten-day cruises to the wrecks of Hansa Bay and to the big fish waters of Baganag and Laing Islands. Cruises are organized year round, but the dry season -- May to December -- offers the calmest conditions. Cramped dive deck, and no facilities for photographers. www.blueseacharters.com or 61/145-130-880.

Paradise Sport: Mike Ball's boat cruises Kimbe Bay from Walindi Plantation. A typical cruise covers an area of the Bismarck Sea, north of New Britain, between Garove Island in the Witu Island Group and Lolobau Island. The 100-foot catamaran, which carries 22 passengers and 12 crew members, also schedules departures from Milne Bay and Kavieng. www.mikeball.com or 800/952-4319.