Lissenung Island Resort
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Booking by Tour Leader Club
2 room types · Nearly 40 dive sites · house reef
Lissenung is a small private island a twenty-minute boat ride from Kavieng, the capital of New Ireland Province in north-western Papua New Guinea. The island measures just 350 by 80 metres — you can walk right around it in ten to fifteen minutes — and there is nothing on it but the resort.
Dietmar Amon arrived in April 1996 and built the place from nothing. Eight ocean-front rooms sit in four duplex bungalows spread out across the island. The buildings are traditional: walls of woven bamboo, one half of the roof thatched with sago palm leaves and the other in corrugated iron to catch the rainwater the resort runs on. There is no air conditioning and none is needed — the windows carry fly-screen instead of glass and the breeze comes through all day. Maximum sixteen guests; minimum age twelve.
The island lies exactly between two oceans — the South Pacific to the north, the Bismarck Sea to the south — with New Ireland’s 149 mostly uninhabited islands in between and passages running currents from gentle to ripping. Those currents bring in the pelagics New Ireland is known for. Albatross Passage, the best site in the area, turns into fish soup on an incoming tide: eagle rays, whitetip, blacktip and grey reef sharks, big tuna, jacks, barracuda, sometimes mobula rays. And when you have had enough of the big stuff, turn to the wall — fan coral, black coral and sponges holding nudibranchs, leaf scorpionfish and pygmy seahorses. Three Japanese ‘Pete’ reconnaissance floatplanes have been found so far, and the Korean fishing boat ‘Der Yang’ lies at thirty-one metres.
The house reef wraps around two thirds of the island and holds 350 species of fish. The resort keeps local fishermen off it, and it shows: seahorses, six species of clownfish, cockatoo waspfish, crocodile fish, turtles, octopus and moray eels, all within twenty metres of your room. Shore diving is free for anyone who has booked boat dives that morning.
From mid-September to the end of March the resort travels daily to two nearby islands, finds fresh turtle nests and moves the eggs to hatcheries on Lissenung before they can be dug up for food. They work with scientists in Australia and elsewhere — counting live hatchlings, supplying DNA samples and tagging turtles.
No markup
You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.
We run the deal
Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.
Card payment
We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.
Support all the way
We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.
The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.
About the resort
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Location
- Kavieng, New Ireland
- Nearest airport
- Kavieng (KVG), a 1.5-hour flight from Port Moresby, then 20 minutes by boat
- Transfer
- Return airport transfers — PGK 200 per person
- House reef
- Yes — the reef wraps two thirds of the island, 350 fish species, shore diving free for divers on morning boat dives
- Dive sites
- Nearly 40
- Dive centre
- On site, two Bauer compressors, 50 tanks, 12 Scubapro-Uwatec sets, PADI courses to Divemaster
- Rooms
- 8 rooms in four duplex bungalows, maximum 16 guests
- Languages
- English, German, Pidgin
At the resort
Diving
The boat usually leaves at 8.30am for two morning dives and returns for lunch; a third dive in the afternoon is optional. Departure times shift to catch the current — they may leave at 8am to hit an incoming tide. Currents here are strong and unpredictable: there are no working tide tables for the Kavieng area, and an outgoing tide can run for ten hours straight. The resort pays the traditional reef owners a per-diver user fee and does not pass it on to guests; only the environment and safety fee is charged separately.
Food
Supply on a small island is limited: the Kavieng market runs only on Saturdays, the shops sell no vegetables, and sand ground is poor soil for a garden. Broccoli, cauliflower and snow peas never arrive, but bok choy, pumpkin, capsicum, beans and local greens do — and none of it is treated. Beer and wine are available; spirits are worth bringing from duty free, as they are often unavailable in PNG and extremely expensive when they are not. Ice and mixers are on hand.
Beyond diving
Rooms
Room in a duplex bungalow, ensuite bathroom
View: Ocean, shared large verandah
Beds: Bed under a mosquito net
Six rooms across three duplex bungalows, each with its own ensuite. Walls of woven bamboo, hardwood floors, fly-screen instead of glass in the windows — so no air conditioning is needed, just the ceiling fan and the breeze. The big desk by the window is built for photographers: plenty of natural light and power points beside it.
Room in a duplex bungalow, bathroom shared between two rooms
View: Ocean, shared large verandah
Beds: Bed under a mosquito net
The two rooms in the fourth bungalow share one bathroom, which sits between them and is entered from the verandah. Everything else matches the Standard rooms: woven walls, hardwood floors, fly-screened windows, a ceiling fan, the desk by the window and a verandah looking out to sea.
Rates
Accommodation, 2026
| Room | Price |
|---|---|
| Budget single, semi-ensuite bathroom | PGK 780 |
| Budget double/twin (per person) | PGK 700 |
| Standard single, ensuite bathroom | PGK 980 |
| Standard double/twin (per person) | PGK 780 |
| Return airport transfers | PGK 200 |
Prices in kina per person per night, all meals included. Valid until 31 March 2027. Rates apply to bookings and payment made from outside Papua New Guinea; any booking made while in PNG is subject to 10% GST.
Diving
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 boat dive per day | PGK 625 |
| 2 boat dives per day | PGK 735 |
| 3 boat dives per day | PGK 985 |
| Night dive on the house reef, without guide | PGK 155 |
| Night dive on the house reef, with guide | PGK 235 |
| Environment and safety fee, per day | PGK 30 |
| Gear hire, per day | PGK 170 |
Prices per person. The environment and safety fee funds the recompression facility in Port Moresby and environmental programs across PNG; it is not insurance and covers neither evacuation nor chamber treatment.
PADI courses
| Course | Price |
|---|---|
| Full Open Water course, one student | PGK 1,910 |
| Full Open Water course, 2+ students | PGK 1,670 |
| Open Water referral, four training dives | PGK 1,110 |
| Open Water with PADI eLearning | PGK 1,110 |
Prices per person. Courses include certification, the passport photo for the card, a logbook and all equipment including a dive computer for the duration. Minimum age is 12; you must be able to swim 200 metres and float for 10 minutes. The environment and safety fee is charged separately.
Snorkelling
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| House reef | free of charge |
| Joining the dive boat, per day | PGK 300 |
| Dedicated snorkel boat | on request |
| Snorkel gear hire, per day | PGK 60 |
Beyond diving
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Surf transfer, per day | PGK 480 |
| Enuk Island visit | PGK 65 |
| Half-day island village tour, min 2 people | PGK 330 |
| Full-day island village tour, min 2 people | PGK 450 |
| Half-day fishing trip, 25 l petrol and snacks | PGK 700 |
| Full-day fishing trip, 50 l petrol and lunch | PGK 1,300 |
| Land tour across New Ireland | on request |
Prices per person. Tours include a guide, equipment, snacks and beverages, and a picnic lunch on the full-day trip. PGK 30 per person from the island tour rates goes to the Enuk Island community and its elementary schools. Surfers also pay PGK 30 per surf day, which goes entirely to the communities whose reefs are surfed.
Rates and availability can change. Message us — we will confirm current dates and prices.
When to go
- Best time
- Year round; the New Ireland wet season runs from late December to the end of March
- Water temperature
- 28-30°C year round
- Visibility
- 20-40 m on most dives
The island lies two degrees off the Equator and the water barely changes temperature through the year. The official wet season in New Ireland runs from the end of December to the end of March. Fishing is steady all year with no distinct seasons. Surfing is its own story: swell generally 2-6 ft, sometimes up to 8. Turtle nests are relocated from mid-September to the end of March. The New Hanover trip, staying at Clem's Place, runs May to October and depends on the weather.
Getting there
Fly internationally to Port Moresby (POM), then take the domestic service to Kavieng (KVG) — one and a half hours. From Kavieng it is a twenty-minute boat ride to the island; return transfers are PGK 200 per person.
Citizens of most countries get a free 60-day tourist visa on arrival in Port Moresby: you need travel documents, sufficient funds and a confirmed outbound ticket before the visa expires, and your passport must be valid for six months after you leave. Citizens of Australia and of several Asian, Eastern European and African countries must obtain a visa before travelling — without one you will be denied boarding. The resort separately warns that visas on arrival may not currently be issued and advises applying online in advance, directly through the immigration authority rather than any agent; the fee is USD 50.
The currency is the kina. The resort exchanges US dollars, Australian dollars, euros and yen at the mid-rate and takes Visa, Mastercard and AMEX. Malaria is a risk in PNG — discuss prophylaxis with your doctor, and tell them you will be diving.
PADI and DAN recommend not flying for at least 18 hours after diving. The morning dives finish around 1pm and flights out of Kavieng leave early in the morning, so you will need a free day before you fly.
Payment and cancellation terms are published only for the New Hanover trip: a 20% deposit at booking, the balance 45 days before arrival; cancel more than 45 days out for a full refund, 30 to 45 days out for a 20% fee, and within 30 days no refund is given.
Included in the price
Not included
Mandatory extras
Optional extras
Extras are per person and paid on site.
from 700 PGK per person per night, double occupancy in a Budget room, all meals included
Lissenung Island Resort
Availability for your dates will be confirmed before any payment. Estimated wait time — 24 hours
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Room in a duplex bungalow, ensuite bathroom
Six rooms across three duplex bungalows, each with its own ensuite. Walls of woven bamboo, hardwood floors, fly-screen instead of glass in the windows — so no air conditioning is needed, just the ceiling fan and the breeze. The big desk by the window is built for photographers: plenty of natural light and power points beside it.
- View
- Ocean, shared large verandah
- Beds
- Bed under a mosquito net
- Maximum guests
- 2
- Rooms of this type
- 6
Room in a duplex bungalow, bathroom shared between two rooms
The two rooms in the fourth bungalow share one bathroom, which sits between them and is entered from the verandah. Everything else matches the Standard rooms: woven walls, hardwood floors, fly-screened windows, a ceiling fan, the desk by the window and a verandah looking out to sea.
- View
- Ocean, shared large verandah
- Beds
- Bed under a mosquito net
- Maximum guests
- 2
- Rooms of this type
- 2
Lissenung Island Resort
from 700 PGK
