Just returned from a week of diving with friends off Bonaire and skipped out
just before Hurricane Dean shut down most air traffic in the region.  Stayed
at Captain Don's Habitat.  Surprised to see Don is still kicking although
not really involved in Habitat except a weekly appearance at happy hour.
Diving was great but...

Although I've been diving from Maine to both coasts of Mexico, most of my
diving has been in the Caribbean.  I am thinking of a dive trip for my big
5-0 in a year or so and thought I may splurge on something really special.
One of my dive friends tells me the best diving anywhere is off New Guinea
using a live aboard.  This from someone who was a dive safety officer at
Scripps, has over 5000 dives and literally wrote the (guide) book to a
couple of places in the Caribbean.

I'm not partial to boats, except as a way to get to a dive site, so a live
aboard doesn't thrill me.  Nothing is worse than being seasick and not being
able to get to solid ground.  Nevertheless, I'd like recommendations from
folks for the absolute best diving sites in the world.  I'm leaning toward
the western Pacific but open to other areas.  Also the preferred time of
year to avoid bad weather and see great things.

Thanks in advance.

McGinty