I like PNG over Fiji. Upon returning from PNG we thoroughly agreed we would return one day soon. It had so much to offer, for me it was a photographer's dream. There was a bunch of muck diving which I surprisingly loved! However while I was spending two hours photographing in the shallows, other divers were able to head out in deeper water. Not many large pelagics, but an abundance of unique marine life. Ghost pipefish, razorfish, leafy pipefish, mandarinfish, frogfish, Milne bay leopard shark, tons of squid, octopus, mantis shrimp running all over in the morning... Anyway you get the idea! We dove Milne bay and would love to go to the Kimbe Bay Area as well. Do not stay in Port Moresby, try to fly on thru, but once out of that area we felt safe and loved what PNG had to offer. Sepik river area is unique for culture/art. Water was like bathtub water, used only a skin the whole time - went oct/nov.
IMO Fiji is great in the Tavenui area. The people of Fiji are overwhelmingly kind and happy. I would go back to Fiji for a live aboard in the Blight waters one day as I have heard the diving is better than the land diving. However I only have land diving under my belt in three spots in Fiji so no actual comparison on land to liveaboard. I thought the Somosomo straight had a lot to offer, but my favorite Fiji diving was off the south side of Mantangi Island where there was wall diving. Used a skin and 3 mil water temp varied. Went in April/May.
