we were out there in 97 or 98 and dove Lolalota a small resort near Port
Morsby.  The place was ok, a good place to stop over and check out our gear.
We spent a couple of days then flew to Rabaul, New Britton Island where we
boraded the Peter Hughes boat and spent a week on the coast of New Britton.
one dive better than the last  We never saw another dive boat for a week.
The reefs were in great condition,  lots of fish and other creatures.  This
has been our favorite dive until this year when we went to Sipodan
If you have the time the trip to the Highlands area of Papua is not to be
missed.

Hello,
I went to PNG in 2002. I flew out of Chicago in late October.  I don't think
there's a cheap way to get there.  If I remember right you have to go
through Australia (what I did) or Singapore.  In any case I think it's
definitely worth it, and the weather was great while I was there.  The only
problems I had were from a volcano that caused some unnecessary travel
delays.  I have a little trip report I can send you if you want.  I saw
another poster talking about the highlands, I also went there and really
liked it.  I stayed at Ambua Lodge, which is really known as a bird watching
area.  That time of year there is no bird mating and so the place is empty.
We had it pretty much to ourselves, and saw a few things I'll never forget.
I went diving at Walindi and then on the Star Dancer.  I'd recommend both,
and didn't see any other divers, just like the other poster said, the whole
time we were there.
Brian

Was there for christmas 2001, stayed on Lissenung Island, off Kavieng, New
Ireland. North East of PNG mainland, great diving........

Check out www.lissenung.com
or www.diversionoz.com

Dave Morgan @ Work :^)

Now is a good time to go.  I was there in March once on a live-aboard,
but I have returned to other spots in July and August.  Outside the
live-aboards, I'd like to go back to Max Benjamin's place on the island
of New Brittain.  I live in NYC too and it is a long trip.  Years ago,
they had a non-stop from Port Moresby/Honolulu but couldn't make any
money on it and it died.

Now, I've had over 5 visits to PNG and from NYC, I would suggest getting
the 8 AM flight to L.A. and then getting on the non-stop L.A./Sydney and
get that part of the trip over with (13 hours --L.A. to Sydney).  After a
day's layover to try to get over the jet lag in Sydney, then continue on
Northwards to PNG and Port Moresby a day or so later.  With the "hub"
system they have these days, you'll probably have to stopover in Brisband
and a change of planes on to PNG.  With luck, you might be able to land
in Port Moresby early enough to connect on to New Brittain. It is just a
small air strip in a place called "Hollings" or some such  name and an
hour bumpy cab ride to Max's place.  I'd try to avoid staying over in
Port Moresby, if you can although it isn't as bad as it used to be.
There's an island diving resort off Port Moresby that isn't too bad,
"Lei'la" or something like that. I've stayed there and he has some nice
things to see, but the real excitement is elsewhere so don't linger
there!

Near Max's place on New Britten is a super dive where they have purple
Elephant's ear, gorgeous fans, an eel garden and just about everything
you could want in terms of exotic corals and good fish life, including a
very loveable little black and white trigger that I've never seen
anywhere else.  Everything was rather pristine but doubt it has been
trampled by divers by now.

I don't think Max's cottages have a/c and it is rather humid there but
what the hell-- you'll be blown away by the things you'll see.  I had a
live-aboard out of Max's place and on the trip, I didn't find anything
that exceeded what he can run you to on a zodiac nearby.