Tufi is defined by its fjord system, which shapes both the site types and the conditions divers encounter. Reef walls, drift dives and wreck structures sit alongside muck habitats, giving the area unusual variety within a compact geography. Shore access at sites like Tufi House Reef and Tufi Wharf makes independent exploration straightforward, while boat dives reach walls and drop-offs further out. The marine life leans strongly toward the cryptic and the colourful: Mandarinfish, Jorunna Nudibranch, Varicose Wart Slug and Broadclub Cuttlefish are all observation-backed regulars. Most sites suit beginners, though the deeper walls and wrecks reward intermediate and advanced divers too.
Monthly water temperature across Tufi's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm throughout the year, with the coolest period running from July through September and the warmest months from January to April. Conditions peak around May, June, October and November, when visibility and surface conditions tend to be most favourable. The fjord topography shelters many sites from swell, but currents on the outer walls and drift sites can be substantial.
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Papua New Guinea
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Water temperature around Tufi ranges from about 28°C in July to 30°C in January, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 28–30°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Tufi year-round.
Fin maps 13 sites in Tufi (11 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Tufi is particularly strong for small and cryptic species. Mandarinfish, Jorunna Nudibranch and Varicose Wart Slug are observed very commonly across sites, while Broadclub Cuttlefish, Spotfin Lionfish, Banded Pipefish and Ghost Pipefish have all been recorded here. Muck habitats at Tufi Wharf and Tufi House Reef are productive hunting grounds for these species.
A good number of Tufi's sites are rated for beginners, including Dom's Reef, JMC, Jack Daniels, Tufi Wharf and Tufi House Reef. These range from sheltered shallow reefs to gently graduated walls. Intermediate divers have plenty of choice too, while the wreck at PT Boats, which extends to a considerable depth, is reserved for advanced divers.
Tufi House Reef and Tufi Wharf are both accessible directly from shore, making them convenient for early-morning or evening dives without a boat. PT Boats is also shore-accessible and offers wreck diving from the shallows down to a serious depth. The majority of other sites in Tufi require boat access.
Tufi covers a wide range of site types within a relatively contained area. Reef walls and drop-offs feature at sites such as Gabriella's Fish Point and Mulloway, while drift diving is possible at JMC, Keikos and Jack Daniels. Wreck and artificial reef structures appear at Cyclone, Tufi Wharf and PT Boats, and muck zones add another dimension at Tufi House Reef and Tufi Wharf.
