Diving in PNG

During my trip to PNG this summer I was hoping to do some nice dives and organize trip on liveaboard for 7 day or so. Untill now the only prices I can find for such trip are jaw dropping 2.000 euro per person (..wow..). Do you think it's possible to organize it cheaper while I will arrive to PNG or I can forget ?
Are there good places in PNG that nice dive spots are easy reach from the shore ?
Thank you in advance for help !
Ania

I haven't been on a liveaboard there so not sure about prices. There is nice diving close to shore in Madang, Alotau (especially if they take you a bit further out) and Tufi (the dive 'resort' is in a beautiful setting but the better diving is probably out in the open sea rather than in the fjords. When I was there the weather was too rough to go out too far so we mostly dived in the fjords). I met an experienced dive couple who had some fantastic dives out in the milne bay area.

My experience would suggest that diving off the shore independently is very difficult in the north islands . Almost all of the shoreline belongs to someone so reactions to people diving without permission are unpredictable. We hired a car in New Ireland and there is good diving along the whole island. We also went down to the towns docks and hired a boat to take us out to nearby islands. That was all fairly cheap but it was not the best diving that PNG has to offer. On the whole, PNG is not at all cheap but I think the liveaboards are overpriced when compared to staying at the resorts in each area. For 2000 euros you could hop around to a few of the best dive resorts in the country.

Thanks guys ! From what you have seen what would be the best dive in PNG ?

Hi! I've been to PNG twice, 1994 and 2006. I returned to Tufi but found the outer reefs in poor condition, although the small critter diving at the pier was excellent. The outer reefs at Mandang were also a bit of a disapiontment. Had a great liveaboard experience down at Milne Bay. Went to Loloata (neat Port Moresby) and enjoyed the diving, although the currents can be strong. If you want to risk it, you can try for a last minute deal on a LOB, can get up to 30% off, as I did for Milne Bay. Good luck!

I have only dived in New Ireland (Kavieng & along the coast), New Britian (Rabaul and Walindi) and Wewak. Walindi was very special but people we dived with there said they preferred the Milne Bay area.

If you haven't had much experience diving or have moderate experience, I'd look at Tufi Resort and Madang. If you've had a fair bit of experience diving, it's worth asking the locals where the most beautiful spots are and possibly secure a guide. I forgot the name of the place now but there was a spot just off the coast (about 20-30 minutes walk from Madang?) that was absolutely stunning.

As you will be arriving in Port Moresby, you could try the Loloata Dive Resort just outside Port Moresby.

They can pick you up from your hotel in Port Moresby.

Their website is www.loloata.com