Deboyne Islands, Papua New Guinea
This morning the National Geographic Endeavour entered the lagoon of the Deboyne Islands. From here we split into groups to explore the area. Some headed for the beach for snorkelling, others explored the depths by SCUBA and a long Zodiac ride took others to visit a remote village on the island of Panniet.
Snorkellers explored the wreckage of a World War II Japanese Zero in the shallow, azure waters of the lagoon. The SCUBA divers discovered sharks and a truly giant clam. The villagers had not been forewarned of our arrival and we encountered spontaneous warmth and hospitality upon our arrival.
In the trees behind the beach the birds tried their best to distract us from the other attractions of the day. The noisy and brilliant white Sulphur-crested cockatoos and shocking red Eastern black-capped lorys perched in the palms were hard to ignore. Skulking in the bushes and less obvious, but of great interest to the birders, were the bright yellow and highly localised Louisiade white-eyes.
Our ever-attentive hotel department served an excellent lunch on the beach, after which we returned to the ship and continued our journey west, further into Papua New Guinea.
This morning the National Geographic Endeavour entered the lagoon of the Deboyne Islands. From here we split into groups to explore the area. Some headed for the beach for snorkelling, others explored the depths by SCUBA and a long Zodiac ride took others to visit a remote village on the island of Panniet.
Snorkellers explored the wreckage of a World War II Japanese Zero in the shallow, azure waters of the lagoon. The SCUBA divers discovered sharks and a truly giant clam. The villagers had not been forewarned of our arrival and we encountered spontaneous warmth and hospitality upon our arrival.
In the trees behind the beach the birds tried their best to distract us from the other attractions of the day. The noisy and brilliant white Sulphur-crested cockatoos and shocking red Eastern black-capped lorys perched in the palms were hard to ignore. Skulking in the bushes and less obvious, but of great interest to the birders, were the bright yellow and highly localised Louisiade white-eyes.
Our ever-attentive hotel department served an excellent lunch on the beach, after which we returned to the ship and continued our journey west, further into Papua New Guinea.
