If you’re looking at diving for the first time in Papua New Guinea, believe everything you have read about our world-class waters.

Called the “underwater photographer’s paradise”, we’ve got many international awards for underwater photography taken here. In our oceans you'll see up to twice as many marine species as the waters of the Red Sea and up to five times as many as the Caribbean. Our waters enjoy a huge diversity of dive sites, including reefs, coral walls, seagrass beds, and wreck dive sites (ships, aircraft and submarines!).

Dive down to a fully complete Japanese fighter plane in Kimbe Bay, known also for soft coral and unusual creatures.

Experience "Muck Diving", which puts Papua New Guinea on the map, in Milne Bay.

Explore our surfing destinations from October to April. Relatively new to international surf enthusiasts, our breaks at Vanimo, Wewak, Madang and Kavieng are quickly becoming known for being uncrowded, challenging and entertaining for days!

Want to book a "Muck Diving"? Call 00675-374.

Want to dive to see fighter plane? Call 00675-325.

Papua New Guinea has accommodation to suit every budget and need. From privacy-protected hideaways to family-friendly escapes, book your business package or luxury resort knowing you’ll be well looked after.

Want to find a suitable hotel? Call 00677-366.

Dive coaches offer both land-based (one day, three dives) and live-aboard dive tours (7-10 days, up to five dives a day).

The average water temperature varies from 25ºC along the edge of the Coral Sea to 29ºC in the Bismarck Sea.

You can dive in Papua New Guinea all year round, with the high season generally from May to November.

Want to get yourself a professional dive coach? Call 00652-392.

The European Parliament has approved a law banning a wide-range of single-use plastic items, such as straws and cotton buds by 2021. “Europe is setting new standards, paving the way(铺路) for the rest of the world,” the European Commission's vice-president Frans Timmermans, who is responsible for sustainable development, said in a statement.

The new plans come after the EC found that plastics make up more than 80% of marine litter, which has disastrous effects on wildlife and habitats. The EU parliament notes that because of its slow rate of breaking down, plastic residue(残余) has been found in marine species as well as fish and shellfish - and therefore also makes its way into the human food chain.

Under the new European law, tobacco companies will be required to cover the costs for the collection of cigarette butts. Manufacturers of fishing tools will also have to pay for the retrieval(找回) of any plastic nets that have been left at sea. There's also a new focus on further raising public awareness, where producers of items such as tobacco filters(滤嘴), plastic cups, and wet wipes will be required to clearly explain to users how to appropriately dispose of them.

The European Commission first suggested the ban in May, which was approved by member states in October. China last year banned the import of 24 varieties of solid waste, including types of plastic and unsorted paper, putting pressure on Europe to deal with its own waste.

The World Economic Forum estimates that there are about 150 million tons of plastic in the world's seas. A study published in Science in 2015 suggested that between 5 and 13 million tons more are flowing into them every year. Research shows there will be more plastic than fish by weight in the world's oceans by 2050, which has encouraged policymakers, individuals and companies into action.

You've heard the predictions from some of the brightest minds about AI’s influence. Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk worries that AI is far more dangerous than nuclear weapons. The late scientist Stephen Hawking warned AI could serve as the “worst event in the history of our civilization” unless humanity is prepared for its possible risks.

But many experts, even those who are aware of such risks, have a more positive attitude, especially in health-care and possibly in education. That is one of the results from a new AI study released Monday by the Pew Research Center.

Pew canvassed the opinions of 979 experts over the summer, a group that included famous technologists, developers, innovators and business and policy leaders. The interviewed experts, some of whom chose to remain anonymous, were asked to join in the discussion of a serious and important question: "By 2030, do you think it is most likely that advancing AI and related technology systems will improve human capacities and control them?"

Nearly two-thirds experts predicted most of us will be mostly better off. But a third thought otherwise, and a majority of the experts expressed at least some concerns over the long-term impact of AI on the "essential elements(要素) of being human." Among those concerns were data abuse, loss of jobs and loss of control brought by autonomous weapons and cybercrime(网络犯罪). Above all, by taking data in and spitting answers out, those "black box" tools make decisions in digital systems. It is an erosion(侵蚀) in our ability to think for ourselves.

In the early hours of the morning, Gary Miller was in his truck, traveling down the road alone to deliver. Everything seemed calm. But with the sound of a fire siren (警笛) cutting through the wind, he became alarmed. Miller, a trucker by trade, has been a volunteer firefighter for 40 years. That loud, sharp siren assured him that help was on the way.

Most people never realize that this help is often a crew of volunteer firefighters. They make up 70 percent of the country’s nearly 1.2 million firefighters. “When I was a teenager there would be many who responded. About 20 people were coming into the voluntary fire station at one siren.” Miller laughed. But now, at his 54, that memory is almost ironic (讽刺的)to him. When a call comes in, his station might get only three or four people responding. He said: “People don’t want to, or rather, they don’t have time to volunteer.” Adults’ burdens have become greater. There isn’t as much time left for volunteering when most people rely on a two-income household now more than ever.

Firefighters face far more than what we imagine. The emotional stress on a firefighter stands out. “We’re asked to help someone at their most vulnerable (易受伤的) time. But we can’t always save the day like we hope to.” Miller reflected on the case years ago. “A mother’s car was hit hard, and she had two children in the backseat." By the time he arrived on the scene, there wasn’t much to be done. “One child died in my arms and I felt so defeated.”

Along with the emotional stress, the physical danger is just as great. Even with the progress of equipment and new training, that’s still not always enough to save a firefighter’s life. In 2016, 60 firefighters died in the line of the duty. “When you respond, you never know if it is to be your last,” Miller said. “And that’s just a risk we take.” Miller continued. "It's dangerous. But it's also the most rewarding thing I've ever done."