Lissenung or Walindi?

[Marjo 8]

OK, it looks like my plans to go on FeBrina in June-July are falling throught/not happening due to scheduling. Already have done Milne Bay, so now looking at either Walindi in Kimbe or Lissenung in Kavieng. Has anyone dove BOTH and have a comparison of them? I am especially interested in knowing how they compare for photography wise. I am more interested in macro than Wide Angle ops. As I live in the Caribbean, I don't need to see turtles or sharks or seahorses(have in my backyard). Pelagics of interest are whales, mantas, schooling barracuda. However, I get really excited about nudis, waspfish, rhinopias and pygmy seahorses. My dream site is one that does not have ripping current and I can spend 90-120 minutes shooting the little ones... but I'd also like to get some wideangle shooting in. So, whichone do you think I'd enjoy more, Walindi or Lissenung?

[AllisonFinch 7]

I have not stayed at Lissenung, but have dived that area. It has really nice dives (albatross Channel!!) but, INHO, Kimbe bay is much better.

If you take a liveaboard out of Walindi, you can get to great areas like the Fathers and the Witu Islands. You dream site is Midway reef. Clear, shallow for a long dive, so many different delicate hard corals you could never count them all, and critters!

[Drew 0]

Walindi is a bit more luxurious than Lissenung. There are a few sites that are pretty far from Lissenung which have the cuda schools. Albatross, Steffen Straits are all pretty nice. There is a muck site in the pier/jetty area which is pretty decent as well. Kavieng is great for WWII wrecks and channels with pelagics. The critters aren't as plentiful as Milne Bay.

Kimbe Bay is probably better for corals and healthy reefs with more bio-diversity (but then again Kavieng has better wrecks with overgrowth). Both places require long boat ride out to some better sites and can be a bit uncomfortable.

If you have to choose, go with Walindi first then do Kavieng next time. Also stop by in Port Moresby and dive there a few days. The rhinopia around there is pretty regular. I suggest you use either Loloata or the Dive Center in PM.

Do a search in this subforum for other options in Kavieng.

[Marjo 8]

Thanks guys! This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. My fiorst choice was to go on a liveabord (FeBrina) but apparently me and my hubby are the ONLY people interested in going on liveaborad end on June/early July, so its not happening - hence the need to go landbased. I think we'll do Walindi then. Yes, will do some diving in POM as well, my hubby lives there (althogh I live in the Caribbean - weird yes I know...) and he's great friends with John of the Dive Center and dives with him regularily, so I imagine some POM diving will happen too.

[reubencahn 2]

Thanks guys! This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. My fiorst choice was to go on a liveabord (FeBrina) but apparently me and my hubby are the ONLY people interested in going on liveaborad end on June/early July, so its not happening - hence the need to go landbased. I

 

FWIW, we're on Star Dancer beginning July 11. Would have booked an earlier trip but couldn't get away until beginning of July.

[Drew 0]

Thanks guys! This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. My fiorst choice was to go on a liveabord (FeBrina) but apparently me and my hubby are the ONLY people interested in going on liveaborad end on June/early July, so its not happening - hence the need to go landbased. I think we'll do Walindi then. Yes, will do some diving in POM as well, my hubby lives there (althogh I live in the Caribbean - weird yes I know...) and he's great friends with John of the Dive Center and dives with him regularily, so I imagine some POM diving will happen too.

 

Marjo, Resto 168 has nice malaysia food and a change from the hotel pseudo western stuff. Forget the chinese resto John loves so much.

Yes the liveaboards are suffering quite a bit. More than a few trips are empty for various boats!

If you are going with Max, you may wish to throw in Rabaul as a side trip. The wrecks are nice there and the volcano always adds excitement to the place

[AllisonFinch 7]

Thanks guys! This is exactly the kind of info I'm looking for. My fiorst choice was to go on a liveabord (FeBrina) but apparently me and my hubby are the ONLY people interested in going on liveaborad end on June/early July, so its not happening - hence the need to go landbased. I think we'll do Walindi then. Yes, will do some diving in POM as well, my hubby lives there (althogh I live in the Caribbean - weird yes I know...) and he's great friends with John of the Dive Center and dives with him regularily, so I imagine some POM diving will happen too.

 

 

Too bad the others aren't interested in a liveaboard. Have they done liveaboards? By far the best value for the money! Consider what it costs to singly pay for;

* three hot meals a day (unlimited wine with dinner on the FeBrina), and three hot snacks.

* five dives a day

* lodging for how many days

* transportation putting you on top of fresh sites constantly

* total pampering of you and your gear

* Put on your gear, short walk to platform and jump in

* constant interaction with native villagers as they paddle their outriggers to trade foodstuffs with the boats crew.

 

And, OH so much more!!!

 

I have spent a lot of time on the FeBrina and the Stardancer. Alan Raabe. of the FeBrina, has forgotten more about diving in PNG than most captains will ever knoe, IMHO. You just could not do much better. Maybe that's why the IMAX crew chartered Alan (on the 'Dancer) to guide them last year.

[reubencahn 2]

Too bad the others aren't interested in a liveaboard. Have they done liveaboards? By far the best value for the money! Consider what it costs to singly pay for;

* three hot meals a day (unlimited wine with dinner on the FeBrina), and three hot snacks.

* five dives a day

* lodging for how many days

* transportation putting you on top of fresh sites constantly

* total pampering of you and your gear

* Put on your gear, short walk to platform and jump in

* constant interaction with native villagers as they paddle their outriggers to trade foodstuffs with the boats crew.

 

And, OH so much more!!!

 

I have spent a lot of time on the FeBrina and the Stardancer. Alan Raabe. of the FeBrina, has forgotten more about diving in PNG than most captains will ever knoe, IMHO. You just could not do much better. Maybe that's why the IMAX crew chartered Alan (on the 'Dancer) to guide them last year.

 

This is so true. We're doing a week at Walindi before Star Dancer because I couldn't work out back to back liveaboard trips. It's essentially the same cost per day per person for only 3 dives a day.

[Marjo 8]

Just got an email saying they have some more possible passengers for the FeBrina trip, so maybe it will happen after all! They are putting us up at Walindi, and if they get some bookings for FeBruna, then they will move us to the boat. Really hope it happens!

 

Reuben, when are you going to be in Walindi?

[reubencahn 2]

Just got an email saying they have some more possible passengers for the FeBrina trip, so maybe it will happen after all! They are putting us up at Walindi, and if they get some bookings for FeBruna, then they will move us to the boat. Really hope it happens!

 

Reuben, when are you going to be in Walindi?

 

We're there the 5th through the 12th of July, then on the Star Dancer from the 12th through the 21st.

Edited May 14, 2009 by reubencahn

[Marjo 8]

We're there the 5th through the 12th of July, then on the Star Dancer from the 12th through the 21st.

 

Cool, we might run into eachother then, because we'll be there July 6-14 if the FeBrina trip doesn't happen.

[Marjo 8]

Yeeee! Just got word that the Febrina trip IS happening!

 

Now I am off to read all old Wetpixel topics that might mention anything about shooting from FeBrina.

[gecko1 12]

Yeeee! Just got word that the Febrina trip IS happening!

 

Now I am off to read all old Wetpixel topics that might mention anything about shooting from FeBrina.

 

You're definitely going to have a good time. Just got back from a very fun trip on the FeBrina. Digger and Josie were the best. Here's a gallery (still under construction while I recover from jet lag). I'll cross-post it to the Photo Showcase once I get a chance to clean up captions, etc.

 

FeBrina Gallery

 

Clinton

[AllisonFinch 7]

I just got back from a month there-23 days aboard the FeBrina. What questions can I answer about shooting from her?

[reubencahn 2]

I just got back from a month there-23 days aboard the FeBrina. What questions can I answer about shooting from her?

 

Allison,

 

We're headed that way in a month. Right now, I've only two lenses, a 60mm and a 10-17. If I could add another lens, what would be most essential for that area? I was thinking about either a Sigma 17-70 behind a dome or maybe a 105 if I could find an old one at a good price. Or will I be fine with the lenses I've got?

[gecko1 12]

We're headed that way in a month. Right now, I've only two lenses, a 60mm and a 10-17. If I could add another lens, what would be most essential for that area? I was thinking about either a Sigma 17-70 behind a dome or maybe a 105 if I could find an old one at a good price. Or will I be fine with the lenses I've got?

 

I doubt you'll run out of subjects with those 2 lenses. I shoot a D200 and had the 10-17 and the 105 VR and. For the most part this was fine but I could have made a case for some additional options in a few instances.

 

While this wasn't really a big animals trip we did do enough dives with sharks that something a bit less wide than the 10-17 (like maybe a 12-24) would have produced some better shark shots. On the macro side the 105 worked great though there were definitely a few times (like with the Pipehorse and the Pygmy Sea Horses) that I would have liked to have a wet-diopter or maybe a teleconverter.

 

Clinton

Edited June 1, 2009 by gecko1

[AllisonFinch 7]

I had the 60mm and the 10-17 also. They were both great. However, the 10-17 has a weakness. It is great for static, nonmoving objects that you can all but touch with the dome. It is poor when you are tying to get those huge schools of jacks and barracudas. I would go with the 17-70 and a woodys diopter for the 60mm.

 

I'm envious!! I wanna go back!

 

BTW, tell Alan you know the Finch sisters. You will get an interesting response!! LOL!!

[gecko1 12]

BTW, tell Alan you know the Finch sisters. You will get an interesting response!! LOL!!

 

Yes, but then aren't ALL of Alan's responses interesting?

 

Clinton

[Marjo 8]

I just got back from a month there-23 days aboard the FeBrina. What questions can I answer about shooting from her?

 

Wow Allison, 23 days on FeBrina... whatever you are doing to allow you that - I want your life!

 

Can you tell me a bit about the conditions? How were the currents? What kind of sea conditions? What about the viz? Do you have images somewhere online?

 

Clinton, great images!

 

 

I am trying to condense down my lensbag to the mimimum as this trip will include land travel too. I am thinking of bringing:

(All Canon)

50mm macro for squid and football size critters

100mm Macro for general macro

Diopters 500D and Woody Diopter for the Pygmies

10-22mm for CFWA

17-40mm for possible schooling, sharks and in the off chanse of those "trained dolphins". I am thinking this will be my main walkaround lens for this trip too.

70-200mm for possible surface sightings and maybe portraits and such at villages and festivals. + 1.5 TC for anything that needs a little more distance

(+ possibly a 300mm, but I am finding it hard to cram into my badg and it is getting heavy too... I'd love to shoot Bird of Paradise, but last year I found that a 300 was not doing the job, so I am going to forget about birds, as I am not really a birder anyway. So unless anyone gives me a really good reason for the extra weight, I think I'll leave this one behind...)

[AllisonFinch 7]

If you are doing the Kimbe area, and weather permits, you might get to the Witu Islands. Garove island has some really good muck diving. Dickie's Place (in front of dickie Doyles land), Wire Bay, and the Crater are amazing.

 

There can be some rain, but it rarely interferes with the whole day. Breezy, mild days are the norm. There are currents on the seamounts, but you can dive on the lee side and have no problems. On one of the dives, there are two seamounts side by side. There is a rope connecting the two so that you can pull yourself from one to the other in strong currents. Every time I have been there, about 10 times (?), I have never had to use it

 

This crinoid was on the rope waiting for current to feed.

 

There is some big shark action at Killibob's Knob. Make sure you have W/A for that dive.

 

You will see a huge variety of hard and soft corals. Too many to count.

 

Viz is totally unpredictable. On one trip we had excellent viz for 20 days and then, all of a sudden, it dropped significantly. There was no rain or any other reason we could think of to have affected it that way. New Britain Island is very active geologically. There might have been tremors that did that. There is particulate matter in the water all the time. You rarely see "gin clear" water like you might in...say...Cayman. But all that stuff is FOOD. That is what feeds the incredible biodiversity. I would say 75-100 feet are the norm with the seamounts up to 1oo+.

 

You will see lots of anemonefish....Spinecheeks, orange, orange finned, clarks, pink, clowns, and it's a great place to find white bonnets (a hybrid between orange and orange finned), like the one below

 

 

This is the best place to see Hippocampus Denise, not the H. Bargibanti you see everywhere else. It is also the only place I have ever seen H. Colmani....but extremely rare!!

 

 

 

As for topside, you will have many interactions with villagers as they paddle their outriggers to the boat to trade food staples.

 

 

You can take a big bag of "lollies" (hard candy) for the kids. The whole family comes out on the outriggers and you will see many children. Small kids clothing are a great giveaway item, if you have them. Also, ball point pens for the kids to use in school are prized handouts. The people don't mind having their picture taken and don't expect any tips for it.

 

When you pack, take very few clothing items. You really need very little. They do free laundry onboard (make sure your name is on the clothing). BUT, take at least 4-5 bathing suits. Change into a dry one as soon as you get out of your gear. Wet ones are tied to the rail and will dry before the day is over.

 

Your lens choices sound good. The 300 mm will be OK, but you will not likely see birds of paradise. They are mostly in the highlands. You will see great eagles and eclectus parrots, though. That lens would stay home, if it was me.

 

Let me know if I can help more,

Cheers!!

[Marjo 8]

Thanks Allison, awesome reply, nice pictures! Actually I am going to the highlands before the FeBrina trip, but I think I will leave the 300mm home anyway, because 300 doesn't get me far on those birds at all... I saw a whole tree full of Birds of Paradise last year outside Wagu village on the Sepik and trying to shoot them with a 300mm lens was one of the most frustrating experiences on that trip... "so close, yet so far away"... so I kind of decided that I will stick to fish and give up on the idea of birds (not wanting another reason to spend way too much money on yet another lineup of "specialty" lenses).

 

Very exciting about the Hippocampus Denise. I have yet to create a sort of decent image of a pygmy seahorse, maybe it will finally happen

 

100 ft viz is in my standars totally awesome. Diving here in the VI, I consider a 100 ft day a good day!

[Marjo 8]

Oh by the way, did you see any Rhinopias? &

[AllisonFinch 7]

We went to a spot on the south shore where they were supposed to be, but came up dry. They are not common at all in Kimbe area. Nothing like Lembeh. Sorry. You can find foo manchus, though.

 

The south shore has many of the same great critters as Lembeh. Saw a mimic on every dive on one site. I missed that nice black sand, though. So much easier to get good exposures on!

[dzwiad 0]

I'm writing in this topic cause it is about the same place we are planning to go to.

 

What are the best places in Kimbe bay area to see some pelagic fish?

 

My wife always wanted to go to PNG and i will for sure visit the wrecks (zero and so on) but I'm not a big muck/macro fan

 

We decided to go on Star dancer for 10 days trip in october, cause it goes to Fathers and we prefer liveaboards,

but are there also some places with shore boat access for dives where I can take pictures of some bigger stuff

 

(we were thinking about Walindi for another week)

and we are staying in PNG area for 3 weeks total and i want to use it to maximum without to many location changes - its always a lost diving

 

 

Bart

[reubencahn 2]

I'm writing in this topic cause it is about the same place we are planning to go to.

 

What are the best places in Kimbe bay area to see some pelagic fish?

 

My wife always wanted to go to PNG and i will for sure visit the wrecks (zero and so on) but I'm not a big muck/macro fan

 

We decided to go on Star dancer for 10 days trip in october, cause it goes to Fathers and we prefer liveaboards,

but are there also some places with shore boat access for dives where I can take pictures of some bigger stuff

 

(we were thinking about Walindi for another week)

and we are staying in PNG area for 3 weeks total and i want to use it to maximum without to many location changes - its always a lost diving

 

 

Bart

 

 

We recently returned from a trip to PNG. We spent a week at Walindi followed by 10 days on Star Dancer. I'm attaching links to trip reports on each. We saw some big stuff in Kimbe Bay at Bradford Shoals and Inglis Shoals but more once we got out to Father's Reef. I'm attaching links to trip reports. FWIW, one of the other divers on Star Dancer travelled on to Lissenung and Tawali afterwards. She was dissapointed by the diving at Lissenung and very happy with Tawali.

 

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pacific-i...-i-walindi.html

 

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pacific-i...tar-dancer.html