intermediate
    (303)

    Tsoi Island Bommies Dive Site

    30m Max
    12-28m Vis
    boat

    Site Overview

    Tsoi Island Bommies, within the Kavieng & New Ireland – Pelagic & Walls of Papua New Guinea, is one of the region's most rewarding dive sites and a highlight of any Coral Triangle diving itinerary. Isolated bommies with dense fish life, moray eels, lionfish, and nudibranchs, a colourful macro and reef dive. Geographically the site features bommie and reef and plateau formations built from coral and rock substrate, dropping from a shallow top of around 5 metres to a maximum depth of about 30 metres, with an average working depth near 16 metres. Visibility is typically excellent, ranging from 12 to 28 metres, while water temperatures hold between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius year-round. The marine life is the headline attraction. Divers routinely encounter Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.), Lionfish (Pterois volitans), Nudibranch (Nudibranchia), Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.), Anthias (Pseudanthias sp.), Octopus (Octopus sp.), alongside dense reef fish, invertebrates, and the soft and hard corals that blanket the reef. The mix of nutrient-rich currents and Papua New Guinea's remote, well-protected reefs makes Tsoi Island Bommies one of the most reliable places in the country to see both abundant macro life and large pelagic visitors on a single dive. Tsoi Island Bommies is best enjoyed as part of a boat programme out of Kavieng, and it rewards wide-angle photographers, naturalists, and experienced drift divers alike. Papua New Guinea's strong community-based conservation ethos and remoteness help keep the reef pristine, so divers are asked to maintain exemplary buoyancy and respect the fragile marine environment at all times.

    Dive Briefing

    "Your dive at Tsoi Island Bommies begins with a controlled descent along the mooring line or wall, depending on the current on the day. You circle the bommies from top to base, exploring the crevices for macro life, then ascend slowly. Plan to spend the deepest portion of the dive along the bommie between 5 and 16 metres, where the coral is most colourful and the larger fish congregate. No hooking is needed; maintain neutral buoyancy and avoid contacting the coral. Mid-water, watch the blue beyond the wall for passing Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.) and other pelagics, and keep an eye on your no-decompression limits given the depths involved. Ascend slowly with a safety stop at five metres to off-gas safely. Because Tsoi Island Bommies can experience mild currents and occasionally reduced visibility after heavy rain, dive with a surface marker buoy and always follow your operator's site-specific briefing and emergency plan."

    Signature Marine Life

    Moray Eel (Gymnothorax sp.)

    high

    Best: Year-round

    Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

    high

    Best: Year-round

    Nudibranch (Nudibranchia)

    high

    Best: Year-round

    Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.)

    high

    Best: Year-round

    Anthias (Pseudanthias sp.)

    high

    Best: Year-round

    Octopus (Octopus sp.)

    medium

    Best: Year-round

    Safety & Hazards

    • Mild current around the bommies
    • Depth near 30 metres reducing bottom time
    • Boat traffic on the transfer
    • Minor coral cuts from contact
    • Sun exposure during the interval
    • Surface swell at pick-up
    Nearest Chamber
    Kavieng District Hospital Referral (nearest chamber Port Moresby)
    940km away

    Traveler Notes

    Who is this for?

    Tsoi Island Bommies is aimed at intermediate divers holding at least a Open Water certification, and it suits those comfortable managing mild conditions and maintaining neutral buoyancy along bommie terrain. Photographers, marine-life enthusiasts, and experienced divers will find it especially rewarding, while macro and reef photographers will love it, while new divers will find it accessible. Divers who prefer calm, shallow, zero-current conditions should choose one of Papua New Guinea's sheltered house reefs or lagoons instead, and anyone without the recommended certification should complete a check-out dive with a local operator first.

    reef
    bommie
    macro
    lionfish

    For Non-Divers

    Non-divers can snorkel this colourful bommie easily and see the clownfish and anthias.

    Quick Stats

    Difficultyintermediate
    CertificationOpen Water
    Currentmild
    Water Temp27-30°C
    Best TimeApril - November

    Dive Logistics

    Operators
    • Lissenung Island Resort
    • Scuba Ventures Kavieng
    • Nusa Island Retreat
    Pricing Guide
    $140 - $240
    Per 2-tank boat dive

    Photography Info

    Recommended Gear
    16-35mm
    8-15mm fisheye
    60mm macro

    Best for: wide_angle, macro

    Nearby Stay

    Lissenung Island Resort

    Lissenung, New Ireland5km away

    Check Availability

    Nusa Island Retreat

    Kavieng9km away

    Check Availability