PNG, Paradise Sport Trip Report, w/pics

[Seadeuce]

Was on P Sport's second trip back in '98.

One of the best dive trips I have been on, and the joint-best liveaboard I've seen. The other being the Odyssey in Truk.

You never mentioned the free insect show each night at the back of the boat! Mantis, massive butterflies, et al.

And Lavadi - aka Dinah's Beach - Heaven on Earth for macro critters. Bet those two Octopus are still co-habiting!!

Sorry to reminisce, but every time I recall it does my soul good.

Thanks for the memories.

Seadeuce

 

[caymaniac]

Posted a slide show of the trip if you 15mins to kill, this is the short version.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=2498992&alb=0

Nice show, it brings back memories of a remote lush paradise where the diving is some of the best in the world.

 

[KidK9]

MJH nice photos! (you too as well caymaniac!)...what are both of you using for a camera setup???

 

[KidK9]

Could you expand a bit on what the dining (not diving) was like on the Mike Ball boat?

 

[Cacia]

Fantastic report. PNG is on my top three list! Yea....I need to hear about the food also. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[caymaniac]

MJH nice photos! (you too as well caymaniac!)...what are both of you using for a camera setup???

I have an antiquated 35mm film camera in a old Ike housing with an old Ike substrobe.
I have used it for alot of years and have had my housing serviced twice by Ike for o-ring replacement, and my strobe once. I would like to go digital but having to spend 5K on a new system keeps me using film. For that much money, think of the trip I could go on!

 

[mjh]

I am diving with a Nikon D100 in an Aquatica housing. Typically using two strobes and a variety of lenses. My current favorites are the 10.5mm, 17-35mm and the 105mm when it works.

Food, that is tough, as I will eat just about anything as long as it’s not still moving, and that’s more a guideline than rule. So I will get the wife’s input since she is quite the gourmet.

General Menus

Breakfast: 1st a Continental before 1st dive, cereal, toast, juice, coffee. Plus you could have coffee delivered to your room to start the day. After 1st dive (about 7:30am) Official Breakfast was served. Typical menu was; several types of omelets; toast, beans for the Brits, absolutely the best variety of fresh fruits, juice, cereal, bacon, and sausage all served buffet. On other days they had other variety of egg dishes. Pancakes and french toast a couple of times. If you must have Vermont maple syrup bring your own since it does not seem to be available at the local PNG grocery.

Lunch: Always some kind of great soup. Homemade pizza, different types of casseroles 2-3 different types of bean or pasta salad to choose from. Fresh fruit, and there was always some hot dish.

Dinner: Would vary between buffet and sit down service. Always a choice between 2-3 meat dishes, and fresh fish when they could get it from the locals. Peter did a lot on the barbecue or grill. There was always a steak, chop, rib type offering. Grilled lobster was served on several occasions. Shrimp of course where always available. Lots of fresh backed bread. Vegetables and salads. The main thing you did not see was a lot of leafy salads.

Julie (and I agree) that the food was good to excellent. Much better than most Dive Resorts we have been to. The only thing Julie felt was missing was a range of “greens”. This is mainly due to the lack of options in that region but there was enough to keep her happy. It is a meat and carb heavy menu.

 

[KidK9]

Excellent, thank you for the report(s).

 

[Darnold9999]

WOW thanks for the report, did a trip with Mike Ball on the GBR in the fall and came back and was ready to book the PNG trip that day it looked like such a great trip. However the looooonnnngg flight made me have second thoughts and book a trip with Nekton next month instead.

Now you have me thinking about how to take the PNG trip - it is a long flight but in the end I think it looks and sounds like it is worth it. Is there no other way to get there but through Sydney? Seems like 3 hours down and three hours back that you could get rid of if they would only fly direct to Cairns. (I have looked and can't find anything except a flight through Auckland which does not help.) I am flying out of Vancouver so the trip is about the same as from Seattle.

I figured that October November was the best time to go to the GBR - is that true of PNG as well? (I am speaking of avoiding rough weather more than anything - I get seasick)

 

[mjh]

Darnold9999, check with Lynn at the following address. There is just no easy way to get there from our area. You just have to look at it as the dues you pay to enjoy a really unique part of the world. Did I mention we never saw any other divers until the last day?

OZ Dive – Australia’s Premier Dive Travel Specialists
906 W McDermott Suite 116-377
Allen, TX 75013 USA
972-886-0300ph 972-886-0301fax
1-800-4 PARADISE reservations
info@ozdive.com
www.ozdive.com