cook islands or vanuatu

Am looking to take the wife to either of these countries at xmas. I know that is not ideal time of year but have been to solomans then and it was fine. We are not really the resort type of people but a sort of wing it type. We are into surfing, diving, fishing in a big way but cant seem to find much on surfing in these countries. Any help peoples preferences would be appreciated.

I'm sorry but I can't help you with your surfing question but would advise you to book flights as early as possible, especially for the Cook Islands, as the flights are often full of returning Islanders during the Christmas/New year period.

I haven't been to the Cooks, but as Vanuatu is easily my fave South Pacific country I can only recommend that one highly. Organized diving and fishing activities would be limited to a few islands though.
I was there until just before Christmas and the weather was perfectly fine.

Vanuatu didn't seem a lot busier around Christmas than in say November - and it certainly has a far smaller portion of its population living abroad (and returning home for Christmas) than the Cooks.