The PNG side.

One week is cutting it a bit close but is doable.

Danger is relative, if you wander about alone at night in the cities, expect
to be robbed. If you have a local guide, it can be as safe as most big
cities.
All they want is money and valuables, they're not druggies and will rarely
harm anyone if they get what they want. There are highway robbers but the
police are working on it slowly.

At the moment one of the airlines looks like it has closed down. Airlink was
the airline that serviced all the smaller airstrips and had a good
timetable.

Try http://www.apng.com/ or http://bookings.airniugini.com.pg/itd/itd If
Airlines PNG are operating at the required times, it is more likely to be on
time.

The diving in PNG is fantastic and the water is warm, Cairns is not too cool
but there the water temp is about 28C all year. Pt Moresby is the capital
and has quite a few dive resorts, but it is not the greatest place for
security. Madang is a beautiful town in comparison and has a couple of
options for diving. Jais Aben (675) 853 3111 is good, I haven't been but
friends all recommend it. I am based in Lae and the owner of the company I
manage has a 60' dive boat as well a 25' Bertram so I have little need for
other venues.  If you were with a group I would recommend his boat but as it
is only for charter and does not do daily trips, it is a bit expensive at
about $1000 excluding grog a day for the boat but if you have 10 or so it is
a bargain. There are WW2 wrecks (planes and ships) and lots of reef and
fish. Google Madang to get some pics and trip reports. There are shore based
dives and lobster are sometimes seen. Whale sharks have been seen as have
marine mammals such as dolphins and a few species of whales. Leather back
and green turtles nest in the region and I have seen them while diving the
reefs. The pelagic fish, when they make a showing are a dream shot for the
shutter bug as looking up through a school of large yellowfin is not
uncommon.

Fishing is some of the best anywhere with 50kg yellowfin caught regularly at
FAD 3 as well as Marlin and sailfish. The Mahi-Mahi are a great looking fish
and are the best quality table fish found in the sea.  The lobster at
Coastwatchers motel is brilliant for the price. I can still taste the prawns
with cream an capers. Madang town is fairly safe and has Golf, Lawn Bowls
and other sporting clubs, if you like to drink (or should I say guzzle) and
swap bs stories the motor boat club is for you. The local brew is SP and
isn't too bad, once you get used to it.
I'm off on Thursday to bring the boat back from being on the slipway in
Madang and am looking forward to the 2 day cruise, hopefully I'll pick up a
billfish this trip. The trip over was a bit slack with only a single 4'
dolphin fish and 2 bust offs (on 24KG). No diving but it'll be a good trip
anyway.

If you are a lunatic (one of those fitness freaks) the trails are second to
none. The most famous is the Kokoda track but that take a week just for
that, there are half trips available but need to be preplaned. In the
highlands the people are at least half mountain goat making gardens on the
side of mountains that I can not even walk up. Trekking in this area can be
strenuous but quite rewarding.

If you want to stay in a traditional village while in Madang, I can arrange
that and if you don't need aircon or 5 star, it is a good break. Good
beaches, clear water, bush walks and best of all, friendly people. Bring
your own food and accommodation would cost a couple of packets of sugar,
some noodles and a bag of rice. Take some kerosene if you would like lights
at night.
I have a house in the highlands if you want to see that aspect of the
country, It's not a tourist lodge but a traditional house set on top of a
mountain within a village of friendly folk. Again I can provide a guide for
a fairly minimal cost (I make nothing but you would need to give him
something).

Overall the country is breathtaking and photo buffs love it here, the people
in the villages away from the towns are great people but poverty in the
towns is the cause of much of the crime. When in any town pick pockets and
scammers are thick. A guide will make sure you are well cared for and make
sure you have a holiday to remember for all the right reasons. Everyone has
done GBR but the ones that have dived PNG will never forget it.

A few tips about PNG.
It is not the place to go for a sex holiday if you would kike to keep all
your fingers and toes. (high HIV rate as well)
If doing photography bring 4 times as much film/storage cards as you think
you could possibly need. Everything deserves a photo.
Take Malaria meds before and after trip.
Nothing runs on time or as planned, get used to PNG time, relax, bad
language can see you in jail.
Some potholes in the roads when filled with water can be dived and require
deco obligations they are that deep.
There are places that get 7m (280 inches) of rain a year. Thankfully it
usually rains at night.
If you just want colourful fish and night life Cairns is better. PNG is a
REAL Adventure holiday.

Cairns side.

Cattle boat heaven, everything is slick and runs smoothly. Hostels are
fairly cheap and the nightlife is brilliant.
Book a trip in the mall with many boats to choose from. Live aboard
available.
The boat from the Madang resort is now in Cairns as a live aboard dive boat.
Every visitor can blend in with the crowd, you are one of millions that
visit each year so relax and have fun.
The diving is as good as they say, the reef is good and the tropical fish
have to be seen to be believed.
Trimix available as is every facet of your diving needs.
Mackers on the corner or 30 other restaurants in the CBD.
Walk anywhere in the CBD at any hour of the day or night in complete safety.
To the north there are brilliant beaches, not to mention the magnificent
Daintree rainforest.
Bungee jumping or the gondola ride up to the Kuranda markets and the train
ride down make good day trips.
White water rafting and other attractions too numerous to mention.
The Tinaroo dam on the tablelands has XXOS Barramundi (like a Nile perch)
that are amongst the biggest in the country.
Pick up a tent and a bit of gear in Cairns and do a few days drifting about
the tablelands or in the Daintree.
You'll be there in winter but the day temps are warm and the nights cool
(not cold).
I lived there for a year and loved it.
The female tourists are just plain hot and party all night and most of the
day.

On Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:21:12 +0000, anishkej wrote:

Are you only interested in doing tropical water diving? There's plenty of
good diving further south in Australia. Plus if you've never been there
before, there's plenty of other top side stuff to see.