Cape Nelson Wreck
Tufi · Papua New Guinea
A Japanese WWII cargo vessel sunk during Allied operations around Cape Nelson in 1943, now resting at 28 to 42 metres on a sloping sandy bottom. The wreck is heavily encrusted with black corals, feather stars, and sea fans, and shelters large schools of glassfish, batfish, and juvenile sweetlips. A bow gun remains in situ and the holds are penetrable with a dive light.
Conditions
Depth
28 to 42 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
18 to 30 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
26 to 30°C
3mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
| Vis (m) | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Giant Clam
Last confirmed Feb 28, 2026 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Glassfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Batfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Sweetlips
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Black Coral
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Feather Star
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Sea Fan
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Grouper
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear