The world‘s finest diving

Febrina

FeBrina is 72-feet (22-meters) of diving excitement. Plying the waters of PNG since 1991, she dives the magnificent reefs of Kimbe Bay, Rabaul & the South Coast of New Britain.

A word from Dom : “Out of all the world’s dive liveaboards, FeBrina is probably my personal favorite … hosted by my favorite captain, the incomparable Captain Alan Raabe … Australian extraordinaire. The boat is fitted with everything a serious & adventurous diver desires and diving PNG from the FeBrina ranks right up in the top five scuba odysseys. This is diving as it was meant to be … great fun, enduring excitement, enough comfort to make the trip enjoyable … but with the focus on the magic of the deep … not the hot tub on the deck!” Dominick Macan

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On Board Febrina

1 lower deck DOUBLE cabin
double bed with porthole
2 lower deck TWIN/DOUBLE cabins
double bed, upper twin bed & porthole
2 lower deck SINGLE/TWIN cabins
twin beds (bunk style) & port window
2 lower deck SINGLE cabins
1 large single bed

All cabins have air-conditioning, a private bathroom and plenty of storage.

up to 4 dives per day mostly from the mother ship
12 liter alu tanks (DIN & INT valves)
15 liter alu tanks (at extra cost)
scuba gear rental (by advance request)
nitrox
water temperature: 84 – 87F, 29 – 31C … 3mm wetsuit recommended

accommodation & diving
meals, snacks & non-alcoholic beverages
complimentary wine with dinner
compressed air, tanks, weights & weight belts
final night dinner at Walindi Plantation Resort (if charter finishes at Walindi)
airport transfers

international & domestic airfare
alcoholic bar beverages
scuba rental gear (by advance request)
15 liter tanks & nitrox
environmental & safety fees
fuel surcharge (if applicable)

Warm & Friendly Atmosphere

FeBrina takes just 10 divers, in comfortable & friendly surroundings, on a diving adventure unlike any other … guided by a highly experienced crew. She’s not the largest liveaboard but she’s well laid out and what she lacks in amplitude she makes up in excitement.

The upper deck is devoted to crew quarters and the bridge. On the main deck, you’ll find deck space in sun and shade … sun at the bow, shade at the stern, where you can hang out between dives, get your camera ready and get suited up for your next dive. Inside on this deck, you’ll find the charming salon and dining area … plus bar & galley. All cabins are located below deck. FeBrina is a great choice for single travellers as she has dedicated single cabins that only have a small surcharge for single occupancy.

FeBrina is well-known for catering to photographers.

In waters which have yielded some of the finest underwater photos ever produced, this is a critical element. The crew will always happily lend a hand with camera gear.

FeBrina generally departs from Walindi Plantation Resort in New Britain, one of our absolute favorites in the dive resort category. A combination trip on the boat and at the resort is highly recommended … and also the land tour offered by the crew, which gets you closer to the action and explains the historical significance of this area, particularly during the World War II era. It’s a nice compliment to your diving experience.

Travel & Cruise Logistics

Port Moresby (POM) is the major international airport for Papua New Guinea and most international air travellers will enter the country via this airport. You will need to book a flight from Port Moresby with either Air Niugini (Papua New Guinea’s national carrier) which has daily flights to and from Port Moresby or PNG Air that also has daily flights however generally with a short layover.

Arriving at Hoskins (HKN) Airport: Hoskins (HKN) is the domestic airport in West New Britain, approximately a 35 minute drive into Kimbe Town and a further 20 minute drive to Walindi Resort where the Febrina will be moored. The Walindi/ Febrina driver will be awaiting your arrival at the airport and will assist you with your luggage and escort you to the yacht. Your departure transfer will also be organized for you.

Layout & Specs

Deck & cabin layout, the yacht specifications, equipment & safety features

Specifications

Port of Registry: Rabaul Papua New Guinea
Commissioned: 1972(Fremantle,Western Australia)
Total Refit: 1997, Partial Refit: 2010
Type: Steel Mono Hull
Length: 21.84 metres (72 feet)
Beam: 6.05 metres (20 feet)
Draft: 1.828 metres (6feet)
Max Passengers: 12
Accommodation: 7cabins
Number of Crew: 9
Dives per day: Up to 5
Maximum Speed: 11.5 knots
Cruising Speed: 8.5 knots
Vessel Range:1,500 nautical miles
Nitrox:Yes
Diving Instruction: Not available

MACHINERY

Fuel Capacity: 8,333 litres
Fresh Water Capacity: 12,000 litres
Desalinator Production:750 litres per day
Voltage: 220volt Australian (3 pin plugs)
Number of Tenders: 1 x 18 feet (Fibreglass)
Main Engines: 2 x Cummins 250hp,1800 rpm each
Propellers: 2 x four bladed fixed
Generators: 2 x 415/240V 70KvA Perkins
Compressor: Atlas Copco Nitrox Low Pressure Compressor
2 x Bauer 14 cu ft compressors

NAVIGATION

Colour Radar
Echo Sounder
Auto Pilot
SatNav
2 x GPS
Compass: Tokyo Keiki GM11

COMMUNICATIONS

VHF
SSB

Itineraries

MV FeBrina most often dives the rich waters of Kimbe Bay abd the surrounding waters along the northern coast of New Britain such as Witu Islands to the north west and Fathers Reefs to the east, At certain times of year, she travels to Rabaul along the southern coast of New Britain to explore the wrecks & reef around Rabaul. The areas MV FeBrina dives are home to prolific and diverse marine creatures and corals.  Each area has it’s speciality and as most of the cruises cover at least two and often more destinations, the crew can offer many different types of diving in the one voyage.  

The final itinerary is, of course, always dependant upon weather, sea conditions and where the best animal sightings are at any particular time of year

SIGNATURE ITINERARY (including at least 2 of the following: Kimbe Bay, Fathers Reefs, Witu Islands)  …. 8, 9 or 10 nights  …  The Signature Itinerary gives a fantastic cross-section of many different dive types, from coral gardens, seamounts, reef walls, arches and overhanging ledges, to muck diving in rubbly black sand bays.

Kimbe Bay and the nearby reefs and composed of ridges, walls, gentle slopes, sheer drops, swim-throughs, caves, ledges and overhangs. Divers revel in the brilliantly colored coral bommies, the huge gorgonian fas and red whip corals, the impressive staghorn corals, brain corals, large colonies of leather corals & black coral, as well as the big barrel sponges and elephant ear sponges. Many of these are adorned with colorful crinoids. Also, sea anemones and a variety of anemone fish abound.

Hiding in this superb variety of coral and sponge life, you’ll find a wide variety of critters such as crabs, scorpion fish, nudibranchs, flatworms, feather duster worms, leafy scorpion fish, mandarin fish, seahorses … and darting all around you and the reefs will be bat fish, unicorn fish, Moorish idols, parrot fish, damsel fish, fusiliers, triggerfish and purple anthias. Of course, the small stuff brings in the larger fish, so you’ll see large schools of batfish, rainbow-runner, dogtooth tuna, big-eye trevally and barracuda. Then, needless to say, the ocean hunters are attracted, so get ready for sightings of gray reef sharks, white tip reef sharks and hammerheads.

For wreck enthusiasts, there’s an intact Japanese A6M2 Mistubishi Zero airplane which offers superb photo opportunities.

RABAUL …typically 9 nights … a superb macro destination

Rabaul is known topside for WWII history – but what really makes Rabaul shine is the areas jetty dives. Macro lovers will delight at the sandy bottom dives featuring a myriad of different species of frogfish, harlequin ghost pipefish, bumblebee shrimp, harlequin shrimp, mandarin fish, coconut octopus, boxer crabs, leaf scorpion fish and nudibranchs – just to name a few.  On the outer reefs the topography is beautiful and unique, formed over many years of volcanic activity. Rabaul Harbour itself was formed when an ancient volcanic caldera partially collapsed thousands of years ago. The harbour is surrounded by many small volcanos, most of which are dormant or extinct. That being said, Tarvuvur remains active today and is breathtaking when viewed from a distance at sunset.

Rabaul Mask Festival is held in July each year. FeBrina endeavours to operate two trips to coincide with this festival. One trip departs Walindi and finishes in Rabaul, arriving at the start of the festival. And the second trip departs from Rabaul at the end of the festival and returns to Walindi. As trips are scheduled well in advance, occasionally the trip dates don’t match. Talk with us about how the dates fall during the year you’re interested in going.

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