Expenses in Papua New Guinea?

I really have two inquiries:

#1 : I've read lots of information on PNG, and I have decided that I would like to spend a few months there. I'm an Alaskan, so I am used to roughing it, and I look forward to doing so in a tropical paradise. I plan to bring a small tent, and walk from Lae to Madang, around New Britain or something similar , taking small trails and roads, and camping off the trail a ways as not to be seen, and also stay in villages. I am happy with basic food, (yams, nuts, fruit, ect.) sleeping on the ground, and just drinking in my surroundings. Would this be a feasible way to travel PNG? I will have a huge male travel companion, so I am not worried about my safety, and I have lots of experience travelling in poor and developing countries, so I am not frail or fragile to any extent. I just wonder, what is the real cost of village stays, and market food?

#2 : DIVING! My main vice would be diving. I will bring snorkel/mask/fins for snorkelling, and when I am done, I will give them away as not to have to carry them on my walkabout. But my question is, how much is boat diving? I am used to paying $50/day, or so, including two tanks, and wetsuit, BCD and both stages. Is this comparable to PNG? Or is it more expensive. I have foudn information about a dive costing $50, but surely that is one dive/two tanks? If not, I might have to stick to snorkelling!

Thank you in advance for all the wisdom you can provide- any little tidbits of info you think would be helpful would be greatly appreciated. I WILL go, regardless of cost, because research has made me fall in love with PNG, but I would love any insight you might have.

Peace

Trista

1. I think both of your proposed routes would be a tad to long to actually walk, and Lae to Madang would also be along a boring route/road unless you plan a less obvious route somehow.
   Camping is definitely NOT a good idea in PNG in general, for women even less so. Staying in villages is preferable, and these are found wthin each day's walk in both areas you mention. Remember that ALL land in PNG is owned by someone, so there's technically no "wilderness" to pitch a tent avoiding the locals.
   I doubt the size of your male companion would matter much if it came to a conflict with locals, so rather than counting on his size, it's better to count on being nice and friendly & respetcful.
   There's no "real cost" for village stays, mostly they wouldn't dream of charging you, but I would still suggest donating say at least 20 USD for each night's accomodation and food the 2 of you spend in a village.
   Market food is cheap, especially veggies and fruit.
   
   2. I think diving in PNG will be more expensive than what you are used to but this is better checked with the specific operators in the areas you're interested in. Most, maybe all, do have websites, I believe.