Solomon Islands Liveaboard May 20th to 30th, 2017

A ten day Solomon Islands liveaboard trip,  we’ll join the Bilikiki on May 20th, $5450 per person includes taxes.   Turns out that the best way to get there from Honolulu is through Fiji, we’ll be putting together a stand alone trip to Fiji the week of May 14th to 20th for anyone that just can’t get enough diving.  These trip participants are halfway to Solomons from Hawaii.  A stop in Fiji on the way back is also possible.  Trip Leaders: Matt Zimmerman and Sheila Jordan.

Flights

Solomon Islands is located in the Southwest Pacific, 1,500 miles W of Fiji and 1,200 miles NE of Australia.  Honiara International Airport (HIR) is located on Guadalcanal Island.  Honiara is capital of the Solomon Islands and is the international gateway to this island nation.

Bilikiki Cruises calls Honiara it’s home port.  Air travelers can reach Honiara via Nadi, Fiji – Brisbane, Australia or Port Moresby, Paupa New Guinea.  Our liveaboard trip begins on May 20th and ends on May 30th 2017.  Boarding time on day 1 is usually 4-5pm.  Disembarkation is around 8am on the last day.  Care must be taken when booking your flights as we will be passing date lines.  Double check you are landing on the 20th at HIR.  Airlines that fly to HIR are:  Quantas, Fiji Airways & Virgin Australia.

Inclusions

Airport transfers.  Double occupancy on the B. V. Bilikiki liveaboard vessel.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks while aboard the BV Bilikiki. Up to 5 dives daily.  Tanks and weights.  Village excursion.  $250 government tax included, but subject to government change.

Exclusions

Anything not specially mentioned above.

Travel Considerations

Passports must be valid for six months after travel concludes.  US citizens can get their traveler permits upon arrival at the airport.  One USD = $8.13 SBD (Solomon Islands Dollar)

Bring bug spray for land based activities to protect against rare cases of Malaria and Dengue fever.

Brief history of Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands is a wild place of belching volcanoes, atolls, sandy beaches and former cannibals.  It has a rich history, initially settled by at least 2000 BC.  The first European, Spanish explorer Alvaro de Mendana, reported reaching the islands in 1568.  The Spaniard concluded this was where the biblical king Solomon got the gold for his temple, giving the Solomon Islands the name it still has today.  In the late 18th century, after further sightings by French and English navigators, the islands were accurately charted.  Naval and commercial shipping began increasing after the settlement of Sydney, Australia was established by the English in 1788.  the British Solomon Islands Protectorate was declared in 1893, Colonial rule began in 1896.  ( Independence was obtained in 1978.)

With the outbreak of WWII in the Pacific, the Japanese began occupying the protectorate in early 1942, their advance farther South was stopped by US forces on August 7 when US Marines launched a surprise attack.  Reinforcements were funneled to the island as a series of land and sea clashes unfolded.  Both sides endured heavy losses.  The Japanese suffered a far greater toll, forcing their withdrawal from Guadalcanal by February 1943.   Bitter battles over the next 15 months including the Battle of Guadalcanal were some of the most crucial conflicts of the Pacific War.

Solomon Islands Liveaboard Diving

This wonderfully healthy coral ecosystem is the one of the true “Bucket List” dive locations.  Remote, pristine and unique are a few of the adjectives to describe diving on a Solomon Islands liveaboard.  As if it couldn’t get better… there is more see.  “Iron Bottom Sound” is the stretch of water at the southern end of the slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island and Florida Island.  It was named Iron Bottom by US soldiers due to the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the battle of Guadalcanal. Today, Iron Bottom Sound is best known as a mecca for SCUBA divers.  WWII wrecks litter the bottom, from fighter planes and tanks to cargo ships and destroyers, Iron Bottom Sound is akin to an underwater museum.  Many wrecks are in water deeper than recreational SCUBA allows, but there are plenty in range to explore.  Wrecks are not the only wonder of diving in the islands.  There are walls, “bommies” (we know them as pinnacles), cuts, swim throughs, incredibly healthy coral gardens, macro sites, wide angle sites and much more.  Some of the life you can expect to see include colorful hard and soft corals, fans festooned with pigmy seahorses, cuttlefish, manta rays, sharks, schools of trevally, anemones harboring clownfish, enchanting mantis shrimp, various nudibranch, sharks cruising the reef, sea snakes and clouds of colorful tropical fish.  Water and air temperatures are fairly constant in the Solomons.  Varying only a few degrees year round, water temperatures are normally 82-85 F, but every now and then can get down to 80 F or up to 87 F.  Most divers are fine in a skin, 3mm wetsuit or a shorty.  Keep in mind, you will be offered 4-5 dives a daily, your core temperature will lower the more time you spend underwater.

There is more than just diving.  If you enjoy fishing, the crew will gladly take you out for some early morning or evening hand-lining for tuna and other pelagics.  Plan on having your catch for sashimi or dinner that evening.  There is at least one village visit during our trip.  We have the chance to meet the Solomon Islanders, see and purchase native carvings and baskets and visit schools and churches.  If we are anchored off of a village, the Islanders will paddle out on their dugout canoes to show us produce and carvings we might buy.  Sometimes they just cruise on out to watch what’s going on.  The island children are naturals in the water and delight in swimming and mastering their dugout canoes.  You can even paddle to them on the Bilikiki’s stand up paddle board.

About Bilikiki Liveaboard

Bilikiki home office contact info:  Ph 011 677 20412 / Email: bilikiki@solomon.com.sb

Our vessel, the M.V. Bilikiki, is a steel hulled 125 footer specifically outfitted to be a liveaboard in the South Pacific Seas.  She is 280 tonnes with a 350 HP 3406 Turbo CAT Diesel engine.  There are 10 deluxe air conditioned cabins, eight with a double bed below and a bunk with a single bed above or two cabins with twin beds, each room with it’s own bathroom.  The salon area has a large screen LCD TV with USB port plus a multi video/DVD system.  There is a casual open air area near the bow where most meals are taken.  The upper deck is known as the “cocktail” or “sunset” deck.  Food is Australian style buffet with plenty of fresh salads and vegetables.  The dive deck is large with dive stations ringing the stern.  Each station has a bin for your loose gear.  There is a camera rack and space to hang your suit.  Nitrox is available on board.  Diving is done on the smaller “tinnies” tender boats.  The crew will place your gear on and off of the tinnies for you.  A clean warm towel waits for you back onboard the Bilikiki.  Although it isn’t considered a “luxury” liveaboard, the M. V. Bilikiki has the reputation of being spacious, comfortable and the staff will go out of their way to make sure you have an easy and wonderful time, in and out of the water.

Power throughout the ship is 240 V 50 cycle.  Outlets are Australia style 3 prong.  There are some American style 110 V 60 cycle outlets for charging cameras, strobes, dive lights and such but these outlets are only at the charging station.  If you need to plug in electronics in your room you will need adapter/inverter.

Payments to Dive Travel Services

The payment schedule for the Solomon Islands Liveaboard is: $1000 to reserve a spot.  The last day to reserve a spot is Nov 1st, 2016, it is also the second payment date of $1600 for a total of $2600.  After this point we will be releasing any unsold rooms back to the boat.  Final payment of $2850 on Feb 1st. balance of charter totaling $5450.

All payments need to be made by check or cashier’s check to Dive Travel Service (not Island Divers). The best way to get that in our hands is mail to PO Box 30108 Honolulu HI 96820, though dropping off at a shop is an option.  If you want to pay by cash you need to make an appointment with Sheila Jordan at divetravel@islanddivershawaii.com  Payments are non refundable for any reason.  That being said we will work with any resort or operator or airline to secure refund if possible.  Don’t count on this though, Dive Travel Services makes commitments based on trip payments, and once resorts have the have the money, getting it back is not very likely.  Get travel insurance from DAN!

Information to send us

Passport number – valid for 6 months after last date of travel
Date of Birth & Redress and Known Traveler numbers if applicable
your contact phone & email as well as an emergency contact
any food allergies or dietary restrictions
your flight details
If you have sent this information for a previous trip, we have it.  Update as necessary.