Tawali Resort clings to the rainforest, sloping to the sea, like a sprawling treehouse on the outer peninsula of Milne Bay. We previously dived this area by liveaboard as it was hard to access otherwise. Arriving is via a 45-minute flight from Port Moresby to Alatau, then a 90-min ride in a new mini-bus and finally a 20-minute boat trip to the resort.

The main jetty, wrapped around the house reef and mandarin fish dive, leads to some stairs past rinse tanks and then a sloping walkway and then some more stairs to reach the accommodations level. The main complex is fan-cooled and houses reception, WIFI access, lounge, bar, indoor dining area and large outdoor decks with views through the rainforest to the sea below, where devil rays (Mobula rays) could be seen on the house reef.

The 19 timber bungalows perched on the hillside are connected by a timber walkway through the tree canopy. Some are in a duplex arrangement which can be connected internally. Further along the walkway, the resort also has a 2-bedroom Ocean villa, a large conference room with 3 attached single rooms, and eventually meanders down to beach level with a nice pool.

The air-conditioned rooms are large with 2 queen beds, a mini fridge, tea and coffee station (in future a smart TV and WIFI are planned) and a long bench good for cameras but lacking convenient electric outlets. There was a great view from the balcony seating area and an outdoor drying rack.

The included meals were a mix of buffet and cook to order depending on the number of guests or the plan of the day. Most days, eggs were cooked to order, lunches were western-style plate of the day and dinners were usually a buffet of a good selection of dishes including plenty of seafood and crab. Fresh tropical fruit was offered at each meal. The most unexpected was the best lunch on a 3-dive day boat that we have had. They put a food warmer on board and were able to serve up hot dishes of rice, curry, vegetables and crumbed shrimp as well as cold salad and fruit from the cooler.

The meal and bar server was excellent, attentive and thoughtful, and made pretty good cocktails. In fact, the whole resort and dive operation was well run by the long serving team, with no apparent supervision.

Tawali has a small but well-coordinated and experienced dive team lead by Alfred, who have been diving this area for over 10 years. There were 2 guides for our group of 4 or 6 experience divers, all were good with their air and bottom times averaged 70 minutes, with no rush to surface if there was something interesting to see which the guides were enthusiastic to find. Several divers using Nitrox found the readings inconsistent day to day.

They have a large new dive boat which is comfortable but with a ramp at the front like a landing barge that lowers for divers to walk into the water with a giant stride. In rough weather, they use the side exit, which means stepping up onto a narrow ledge before stepping off. The ladder is attached here for getting back on board and is going to be better adapted for divers as it can be a bit slippery in bare feet.

We were happy to find the boat was strictly non-smoking. Amenities on board included, towels, water, tea, coffee, fruit and cookies and the best banana cake, until the kitchen ran out of ripe bananas. Cameras were well handled and a rinse bucket was provided on board.

The resort is well located to some great walls close to the resort and is an hour to the mouth of Milne Bay where the reefs are colourful and host amazing numbers of fish. Albert came to the dining room each evening to confirm the next days’ dive plan and we alternated days between closer and farther dive sites. Tawali and Milne Bay are well known for muck diving, however our group had an appetite for the walls and reefs with some current, which had plenty of seasonal pelagic and fish action and as one diver exclaimed after a great dive at Tania’s Reef, “With a dive like that who would want to do muck diving?”

Ambiance and Arrival: Arriving by an incredibly scenic one hour charter flight over the mountains and fjords from Port Moresby, Tufi Resort is enveloped in a lush, tropical setting along Papua New Guinea’s northern coast, offering guests a warm welcome in an organized and secure environment. We appreciated the welcoming orientation, as well as the early breakfast upon arrival, which set a positive tone for our stay.

Management and Service: The management at Tufi balances professionalism with a welcoming demeanor, fostering a friendly and hospitable atmosphere. Staff members were consistently kind, well-trained, and attentive, embodying a high standard of guest service.

Rooms: The rooms were comfortably furnished and offered beautiful views, complemented by effective air conditioning. While room aesthetics were pleasing, maintenance in the tropics is a challenge, with continual renovations in progress. Additionally, camera setup in the room was difficult due to low light levels, and indoor WiFi access would be beneficial, particularly to avoid mosquito exposure outdoors.

Dining: The resort’s dining experience had positives but could be enhanced to meet the resort’s standard.

Breakfast: Early coffee availability and lighter breakfast options suited divers well.
Lunch: A good variety of meals were offered over the week, but an option for multiple choices would be a welcome addition.
Dinner: We felt that dinner service was often rushed. Menu choices would be a nice addition to allow flexibility, and the quality and consistency of meals need improvement to match the resort’s premium feel.
Bar Service: The bar service was generally good, offering a cocktail of the day. Mango Daiquiri's in mango season - yum.

Diving is a highlight at Tufi, with impressive sites such as Jack Daniels, Bills, and Kasa. While some dives, like Cyclone, lacked marine life, others revealed rich biodiversity and stunning fish schools, particularly the middle reefs. The house reef and fjord diving offered a good habitat for macro subjects including the elusive Mandarin Fish.

Dive planning would benefit from greater flexibility based on weather conditions to enhance the diving experience. The boat operations were well-organized, featuring thoughtful provisions such as fresh snacks, water, and towels. However, adding a safety line from the bow to the ladder on the monohull would improve safety during exits, particularly in rough conditions.

Environmental Impact: The resort’s anchoring practices raised some concerns about coral damage. Adding moorings could help reduce this impact while preserving the reef’s health.

Amenities: WiFi access, limited to the main building and operational only between 6 am and 8 pm, was slow, and uploading media was challenging. While this could restrict those requiring constant connectivity, it did encourage a digital detox. Additionally, the conference room could be an ideal camera setup area for groups, with good lighting and workspace layout.

Final Impressions: Tufi Resort has substantial strengths, including its hospitable ambiance, well-trained staff, and overall organization. A few improvements in room maintenance, food quality, dining pacing, and dive planning flexibility would elevate the experience to match the resort’s promising setting and scenic dive offerings.