It is one of the last refuges for endangered species such as the dugong. In some areas, such as the Magic Passage off Madang, the reefs are especially abundant in life as water from the vast rainfalls channels out to the reefs and meets with several ocean currents. In these areas, vast amounts of filter feeding creatures feast on the rich nutrients carried by these waters. The filter feeders, attract a large assortment of fish and sea creatures. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, the reefs most of New Guinea's are close to shore and are easily accessible.
New Guinea is a hotbed of volcanic activity.
New Britain Island is on a chain of over twenty volcanoes and new ones form occasionally. Volcanic eruptions in this part of the world are particularly violent because the makeup of the molten rock resists being thrown from the volcano, and when it does exit the earth, the reaction is much like shaking a can of soda and popping the top. An eruption in 1937 killed over 500 people in Rabaul. Rabaul erupted again in 1994, destroyed Rabaul and killing 2 people. The geological activity is also responsible for the great heights the mountains reach.