Lissenung Dive Resort PNG

I am thinking about staying at the Lissenung Dive Resort in PNG. Has anyone stayed there, and if so can you give your impressions?

Thanks for the help in advance.

Michael

It was a long time ago that I was there (2000), but looking at the website, little seems to have changed, although it looks like they spruced up the rooms a little. It was very basic. They liked to call it "Robinson Crusoe Island". The staff were nice, the food was healthful, and I had a guide that was fantastic. I'm not a fan of sand in everything and masses of mosquitoes, however. If you do go, and like macro photography, the old pier in Kavieng has amazing life...and bring DEET.

Cheers,

Marli

I was there in 2001. Dietmar and his family was there at the time but they have left and now there's a japanese instructor with Dietmar running the resort now. Like Marli says, it's very crusoe like and the food is ok. It is a highly malarial area but if you're not a fan of DEET, my 40% citronella solution worked very well, although the smell is pretty antisocial for those not used to it.

Dietmar is a good guide but can be very...errr... Austrian with things. We lost an engine (bad fuel) and they've lost a boat out at Albatross. It's very remote out there. So beware. The staff were very helpful and nice. Just like the rest of PNG (except the 2 guys who tried to rob me in Mt Hagen ).

The diving is ok, with the better sites like off the Steffen Straits or Albatross pretty far out. Diving around Kavieng and Nusa is macro and wrecks with not much life. Kavieng has more pelagics than other areas of PNG but take that with the subjective condition that it's not some pelagic paradise. Sharks are better out in the straits but the locals have hunted them too for the fins.

I did 10 days (I think) before jumping on the old Paradise Sport for another 11 days in the area. After my trip, I had the opportunity to visit the Nusa Island Retreat (as luxurious as it gets around there) and stayed at the Malagan Beach Resort. I also met Scuba Venture's Dorian and Cara, who took my friend wreck diving around Kavieng. I also went with locals to do a shark calling festival at Kontu (where they go out and call for sharks with sticks then kill them to, it is a very spiritually symbolic tradition).

I personally think the area is better during full moons and better done on a liveaboard. I believe the MV Exocoetus is operating there now part of the season.

I've also done it on the Febrina which went from Kavieng to Rabaul. Kimbe and Rabaul is probably the better biodiversity area.

Thanks for the info.

Which land based resorts would you suggest instead?

Which land based resorts would you suggest instead?

If you can wait a couple of months, I will be able to report on Tawali Resort, I get back on about the 5th of May.

And please everyone, no bad reports about Tawali ... I've paid...

I would HIGHLY consider a liveaboard in PNG. The diving can be unpredictable as weather can change in a heartbeat. A liveaboard is SO much less trouble and can get you to far flung sites that haven't been massed on by the shore based resorts.

Also, pesky mosquitos don't get to you on the boats. Feel free to ask for further advise. I spend about a month a year in that area of the world and will be spending a month this winter there, too.

Hello,

I stayed at Lissenung in Dec/Jan 2007. We where only new to diving so we thought the diving was spectacular - especially albatross passage. The accommodation was comfortable (bungalow style). The walk to the wc and showers was a mission at night time (dodging the coconuts). The food was good. Our diving guides where awesome, very helpful. I have some photos which I can e-mail of the accommodation if you are interested.

If you have to stay in Port Moresby for any length of time, Loloata Resort is close buy and offers good diving and comfortable rooms.

We absolutely adored PNG and its people

And please everyone, no bad reports about Tawali ... I've paid...

Well I hate to tell you this Darren, but it's terrible! The room is leaky and the food has roaches... KIDDING!

The walk to the wc and showers was a mission at night time (dodging the coconuts). The food was good. Our diving guides where awesome, very helpful. I have some photos which I can e-mail of the accommodation if you are interested.

If you have to stay in Port Moresby for any length of time, Loloata Resort is close buy and offers good diving and comfortable rooms.

We absolutely adored PNG and its people

I'd not forgotten about the death walk. I guess he didn't take my suggestion of clearing the coconuts for the trees along the path. It's rather silly not to do that. Also you will need a light for the bathroom at night, but it's really better than having septic tanks everywhere on the island.

Another alternative to Loloata that many people never realize is there is to dive with the Dive Centre in Port Moresby. They have a nice boat and know all the sites as well as where some WWII plane wrecks are. There's no need to take a boat to go shopping and there's lots to do on the main island as well. John runs a great shop and there's all sorts of different food to be had in PM, even the very good malaysian food at Star 168.

I'd stay at either the Airways (good food and facilities) or the Crowne Plaza is Boroka. Either way, they'll pick you up in the morning to the boat.

If you can wait a couple of months, I will be able to report on Tawali Resort, I get back on about the 5th of May.

 

And please everyone, no bad reports about Tawali ... I've paid...

You will be satisfied with Tawali. It is a quality operation. I was there March 2007.

Definitely dive LAUADI if you like muck.

Definitely dive the outer reefs as well...

thanks DREW

and AMW, did you get around to area to see a bit of terrestrial stuff while you were there?