Rabaul

and

Rabaul is famous because of the role it played as a stronghold for the Japanese Navy during WWII and as the startpoint for the "Tokyo Express".

Rabaul harbor was formed when the caldera of an ancient volcano sunk into the sea. The volcano had been semi-dormant till 1994 when it erupted again building two new Cinder cones.

In the process half of the town of Rabaul was destroyed as well as the airfield. Many of the Japanese Ship-wrecks we dived on in 1990 were buried never to be seen again.(click overlay )

We explored Rabaul from the air, on the water, and under the sea.

A. Nachom & John check helicopter	Mary & John board helicopter	Rabaul airfield in center	Rabaul airfield to the right

As usual when diving in PNG we used the M/V Telita as floating home and dive platform. The following pictures were take as we entered Rabaul Harbour after a cruise down from Kavieng.

Extinct volcano. New crater cone at its foot.	Part of Telita crew. Dinah, Smithie, Telita.	Mary getting ready to go wreck diving.

In 1990 we dived on many wrecks in around Rabaul. They were relics of WWII that succumbed to US bombing after we had establised an airbase in Port Moresby, PNG. B-17 and B-24 bombers from there could make the perilous flight to Rabaul and back.

One wreck that survived the 1994 volcanic eruption is an exquisite dive site, off the north coast of Rabaul, covered with soft corals of every color imaginable.

Japanese Scout Biplane.	Mary posing between wings.	Biplane covered in soft corals.

By far the most impressive wreck we dived on was in the center of the harbuor. Named the "Haka Maru", it was a large armed repair ship, boasting both 5 inch Guns and doubled barreled antiaircraft batteries.

She sat on the bottom, 200 feet down, almost upright, with a slight tilt to starboard. The closest thing to the surface were the loading booms, which could be reached at 120 foot depht. The main deck and weapon positions were at 140-150 feet deep.

She has vanished!! Covered by tons of ash and silt from the 1994 volcanic eruption.

Haka Maru 5 inch bow gun.	Haka Maru anti aircraft battery.	Haka Maru 5 inch stern gun.

And so we say goodby to Rabaul as we knew it. A few final scenes before we depart our Kaviang homeport and move our operations to the Alotau area.

Mary over scout plane.	Haka Maru superstructure.	Mary & Turtle.

Back to Home.

Back to Underwater years.

Back to Kavieng