Lissenung Island Resort - Papua New Guinea - October 2024

8 days of Peace in Paradise

So I had some good fortune at the 2024 Nautilus Scuba Club photo competition and one of the prizes was an accommodation and diving package at Lissenung Island Resort.

Lissenung is located approximately 1600km North-North-East of Cairns. Flight options are via Port Moresby to clear into PNG, then domestic flights via Rabaul to Kavieng, or Manus Island to Kavieng.

Resort Staff pick you up at Kavieng Airport and then drive you to the wharf where the next mode of transport is the ever trusty Yamaha 40 HP outboard powered Fibreglass Banana Boat. They are the “Toyota Hilux” of the New Ireland Province Islands.

About 30 minutes later you arrive at Lissenung Island. No Traffic Lights, no cars, no police sirens, no stress, just peace and quiet, friendly staff and a manicured island environment.

I was greeted by Dietmar, the owner of the Resort, whom guided me down the path through the island vegetation to my Bungalow. Dinner is at 7pm says Dietmar, the staff will ring the bell to let you know.

A friendly caution was issued to keep your shoes inside so his dogs didn’t repurpose them! Luckily, shoes are no longer required. Dress code is “Remote Island Relaxed”.

The Bungalow is neat and tidy.

Ensuite bathroom has hot and cold running water. (rainwater tank on each block)

240 volt powerpoints with Australian sockets.

Temperature control is via Ceiling fan and flyscreens to let those maritime breezes through.

Yes, it is warm, but it is not hot. The entire island is well shaded with vegetation.

Access to the ocean is only a few steps away.

Facilities

·       Dive Shop and Resort Office - Well considered storage for everyone’s dive gear with separate rinsing tubs for dive gear and cameras.

·       “Haus Win” - The main dining room, lounge and kitchen. This is the main hub of Lissenung Island.

·       Bungalows – 4x2 with direct access to the beach. This island will never feel crowded with max capacity of 16 guests.

·       Generators – The island has stable 240 volt power. I could not hear the generators from my bungalow.

·       Dive Boats – One smaller flat bottom boat (zings along with the 140 horse outboard) and one larger twin motor twin hull vessel for the longer trips.

Each day runs like this.

·       7am – Breakfast. The kitchen staff prepare your cooked brekky as requested.

·       8am – Prepare dive equipment at the dive shop

·       8:30am – depart on the dive boat for 2 morning dives with a 60 minute surface interval in between.

·       Midday-ish – return to Lissenung for Lunch. Dive gear is returned to the shop and then freshen up in your bungalow whilst awaiting the lunchtime bell.

·       After Lunch – Unguided dives on the house reef are available. Or…..If the conditions are right, experienced surfers can take advantage of some impressive reef breaks. (by arrangement)

·       7pm Dinner

Then sleep and repeat !!!

So I hear you asking is the diving 1st class ?

YES IT IS !

I would summarise the dives into two camps.

1.       Dive sites to the north - Pacific Ocean side. Shipwrecks, aircraft wrecks, small caves and canyons, sea grass beds feature.

2.       Dive sites to the south - Bismarck Sea side. This area is Hard Coral Heaven!

Deep walls, big bommies and healthy coral plateaus.

With Fishes…..many Fishes…..

The Dive Team.

As with any diving, mother nature has a big influence. Luckily the Dive Guides and Boat Drivers are all locals and know the New Ireland Province waters better than we know the aisles in the local mega hardware store. Choosing which dive sites to visit is their special skill and they didn’t fail me during my stay.

What did I see ?

All manner of Anemone Fishes. Dietmar tells me he has 8 different species on the house reef.

Pygmy Seahorse

Banded Gobies

Decorated Dartfish

Hairy Shrimp

Adult Blue Tang / Palette Surgeon fish (big ones)

Schooling fishes of all kinds – Spade/Batfish, Barracuda, Oceanic Triggerfish, many different types of trevally, fusiliers etc. etc. etc.

No shortage of white tip reef sharks on the hard coral walls

All the colourful butterfly fishes, anthias, angel fishes, wrasses, parrot fishes, coral trout / spotted groupers, sweetlips.

Juvenile black tip reef sharks on the house reef !

The list goes on and I would just be regurgitating the entire tropical fish guide if I were to continue.

In summary

The island scenery and waterways are amazing. Take time during the boat rides to and from dive sites to enjoy the views.

At low tide, walk around the island. It doesn’t take long ! The vegetation and interface between sea and island is really interesting.

Don’t forget to dive the house reef. For a shallow island reef, it is incredible how many of the tropical fishes from the catalogue are resident. The damsel fish can’t wait to greet you and encourage you on your way !

The island is staffed by local PNG islanders. They are amazingly friendly and cannot do enough to help you during your stay. The owner of the Resort, Dietmar has many tales to tell about dive adventures and is an expert in sea shells.

The change of pace from big city life to remote island dive resort takes a few days to settle into, but eventually it ‘clicks’. You have that ah-hah moment when you finally understand what Lissenung is all about. Returning to the big smoke has you missing the simplicity of a relaxed pace dive holiday. It was sad to leave.

Many thanks to Dietmar and Ange, for supporting the Nautilus Scuba Club Photo Competition with this marvellous prize.

For further details, check out www.lissenung.com

If you need to de-stress from big city life, whilst enjoying some 1st class diving and fantastic PNG Islander hospitality, Lissenung Island Resort is for you.