Located in Bootless Bay just a few minutes from Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Lolata has a reputation for being a muck and critter diving destination and many, if not most of the divers that go there, go to see the Rhinopias aphanes or lacy scorpionfish. This area is recognised as being about the only place where seeing this particular Rhinopias species is pretty much guaranteed.
The dive site at End Bommie is a spectacular reef smothered in olive tubastrea, purple and white soft corals and incredible numbers of anthias darting in and out. And of course, the lacy scorpionfish is there as promised. And this is is one gorgeous fish.
While Loloata's critter reputation is undisputed, the waters of Bootless Bay are also littered with substantial wrecks. Both the MV Pai II and the Pacific Gas wrecks are great dives. Encrusted by tubastrea, soft corals and fans in all sorts of colours, they support a mass of anthias and glass fish. Longnose hawkfish and pipefish nestle on the hulls and there are gangs of pelagic fish. For night dives, nearby Lion Island is home to a much smaller wreck that rages with tiny interesting critters – shrimp, shells, nudibranchs and ghost pipefish. Snake eels and octopus inhabit the sandy sea bed.