Japanese Tanks in the Lagoon

Perhaps Makada's most remarkable attraction lies beneath its lagoon surface. Two Japanese Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks sit upright on the sandy bottom in just four meters of water, clearly visible from a snorkel. Military historians believe the tanks were lost overboard from a Japanese barge during unloading operations in World War II—the two armored vehicles rest close together and in line, suggesting a single accident. Missing their gun barrels but otherwise well-preserved, they have lain here for over seventy years, slowly becoming part of the reef. Diving or snorkeling on these tanks offers a surreal encounter: war machines gliding silently through sun-dappled water surrounded by coral fish.↗↗

Living Culture at Molot Village

Makada's village of Molot is the setting for one of the region's most distinctive cultural performances—the "fish-trap" ceremony. This ritual dance is performed by Makada men before an ocean fishing trip to invoke protection and an abundant catch. Visitors have described the spectacle: young men in face paint and decorative leaves performing behind a wall of palm fronds, which is then dramatically demolished to reveal totemic boards painted with talismans. The men circulate anti-clockwise, chanting incantations to safeguard them at sea.↗

A separate tambaran dance—sometimes called a "devil dance"—features even more elaborate decorations and entirely different choreography and chanting. These traditions reflect the Tolai people's older animist beliefs that persist alongside Christianity, which arrived in the Duke of York Islands through Methodist missionaries in the 1880s. The islands are also known among anthropologists for their Duk-Duk society spirit men—mysterious initiates dressed in giant bird-like costumes.↗

Island Character and Surroundings

Makada covers roughly 3.6 square kilometers—about 2.7 km from north to south and 3.0 km east to west—with its flat surface rising to a modest highest point of 122 meters. The landscape is quintessential low tropical island: coconut plantations, taro gardens, tidy village houses, and lush forest meeting crystal lagoons and white sandy shores. The island is part of the thirteen-island Duke of York group, named by British navigator Philip Carteret in 1767 to honor a relative of King George III.↗↗

The Duke of York Islands sit at the eastern edge of the Coral Triangle, one of the world's most biodiverse marine regions. The waters around Makada offer excellent snorkeling on vivid coral reefs teeming with fish life. Beyond the island, the broader Rabaul area includes dynamic channels swept by rich Bismarck Sea currents, sea fan gardens, and numerous other WWII wrecks.↗↗

Visiting Tips

Makada has no formal resort facilities. Access is typically through a day trip from Rabaul or the Duke of York Islands cultural tours offered by operators in the Kokopo area. Homestays are available on nearby islands in the archipelago for those wanting to extend their visit—basic wooden huts with woven mats and mosquito nets, shared kitchen areas, and island feasts of fresh fish and garden vegetables. Boat transfers to the Duke of Yorks from Rabaul cost around PGK 250 each way.↗↗

The best time to visit is during the dry season (May to November) when seas are calmer. The southeast trade winds from July to September particularly shelter the north-east coast of New Britain around Rabaul, making for excellent water conditions. Bring reef shoes for snorkeling on the lagoon floor, and a mask and snorkel at minimum—the WWII tanks are accessible without scuba gear at just four meters depth.↗↗

If you visit Molot village, expect a warm but structured welcome—ochre face daubing, ceremonial greetings, and invitations to observe rituals that have protected these waters for generations. The Tolai people maintain the islands' traditions with quiet pride, and visitors who show genuine curiosity are rewarded with stories, songs, and the rare feeling of seeing Pacific culture alive rather than staged.↗

The Wider Area

Makada is best experienced as part of a broader exploration of the Rabaul–Kokopo region. The nearby town of Rabaul holds extraordinary WWII history—its Japanese Barge Tunnels, the active volcano Tavurvur that you can walk the base of, and Simpson Harbour's submerged fleet of around 65 Japanese shipwrecks. Kokopo, the modern provincial capital, offers markets, the famous Mask Festival in July, and bases for diving operators. For a complete Pacific adventure, pair Makada's tanks and ceremonies with a volcano walk and a dive on George's Wreck.↗↗