Solomon Islands Liveaboard Diving
Price upon request
Liveaboard Diving Solomon Islands
Overview | Bilikiki Dive Cruises
The nearly 1000 islands which make up the Solomons are located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Part of the coral triangle, the Solomon Islands offers some of the most diverse diving in the world including sea mounts, walls, drift dives, muck dives, WW2 wreck dives, caves, cuts, coral gardens, and bommies.
The Solomon Islands has an abundance of both big and small critters, from the tiniest pygmy seahorse to the largest manta ray and all the things in between. Cuttlefish laying eggs, bump head parrotfish swimming by, ghost pipefish hovering near a nudibranch, shy mandarin fish hiding in coral, jawfish with mouth open wide, the Solomon 
Islands has it all! Vast numbers of jacks, barracudas and snapper school around fields of healthy hard corals, reef sharks cruise around huge sea fans, and colorful anthias feed along walls covered in soft corals. The water temperate rarely drops below 30C (84F).
With limited resources available on land, one of the best ways to explore this wealth of marine life is to make a liveaboard cruise. However, with tourism still in a nascent state, the choices are limited... to just one boat: The MV Bilikiki, which has been operating in these waters since 1989, making her operators the most 
experienced people around.
A liveaboard cruise also offers excellent opportunities to discover some of the many different island communities that make up this polylot nation.
Manta Rays photo above by Tanya Burnett.
Bilikiki Dive Cruises
The Bilikiki offers unlimited diving, with the dive day built around five daily dives. That means divers are permitted to set their own dive profiles. Dive professionals are always available for those who want or need the guidance, and a pre-dive briefing will always be offered to outline the dive-site and any special factors.
The itinerary is not fixed. The route chosen is determined by the cruise director depending on the prevailing sea and weather conditions, and the general wishes of the group. The 3 main island groups which Bilikiki’s guests generally dive at are: Florida Islands, Russell Islands, and Marovo Lagoon in the New Georgia Group. Each of these island groups are comprised of dozens of islands and a vast array of dive sites. You may also get to dive an isolated island known as Mary Island.
The Bilikiki’s 7 night trips will generally dive Florida Islands, Russell Islands and Mary Island, while 14 night and longer trips can also visit the stunning Marovo Lagoon. The 10 night trips may or may not go to Marovo depending on conditions.
Most of the diving is done from tender. The crew will load everything you need into the tender and help you get into your gear when it arrives at the dive site. Then you just roll over the side and enjoy the riches of the sea. The dive boat will be waiting with the crew, ready to help you off with your dive gear, before bringing you back to the MV Bilikiki after diving. There are two tenders and one is always on site so there is never a need to wait for other divers to surface before heading back.
*Deluxe Cabins are available on a single occupancy basis at a premium of 50% above the shared-rate.
Price includes: hotel/airport transfer in Honiara, onboard accommodation, meals and snacks, unlimited diving, weights and belt, tanks and air fills.
Price excludes: USD $25/per person/per night for tax, bar drinks, Nitrox, or personal purchases
*Nitrox is available to Nitrox certified divers at an extra cost of USD $20 per diving day, which is normally one day less than the charter. This can be paid at the end of the trip along with any other incidental charges.
GROUP BOOKINGS: for every 10 paying guests, one more will go for free. For 17 paying guests, 3 go free of charge!!
The MV Bilikiki
The MV Bilikiki was named after a bird found in the Solomon Islands. This ship is 125 feet long and 24 feet wide, weighs 280 tonnes and is designed to offer comfortable and stable travel for passengers.
The Bilikiki takes a maximum of 20 passengers in 10 deluxe twin share cabins each with private toilet, hand basin and shower. There is a large sun deck and plenty of covered areas to relax in, and dedicated camera work areas for the photographers. The Bilikiki crew and onboard managers are always around to supply you with tasty snacks and healthy cuisine, to help 
you find marine creatures in the books in our onboard library, tell you about the islands, or just to serve you a drink from our bar.
The Bilikiki has big dive decks which give you lots of room for suiting up. On the dive deck, there also a large carpeted camera table for last minute adjustment. Two warm fresh water showers are on the dive deck along with dedicated camera wash bins and a separate gear wash 
bin. Fresh towels are provided after every dive. Power throughout the ships is 240 V 50 cycle, using Australian style 3-prong outlets. There are also plenty of American style 110 V 60 cycle outlets for charging cameras, strobes, dive lights, etc.
Bilikiki has been in operation in the Solomon Islands since 1989 and knows the islands, 
the people, diving and culture so well she has become a part of them. She explores areas which rarely visited by any other tourist, not only able to reach remote islands for pristine unlimited diving, but it also encounters local culture along the way.
Bilikiki Cruises support remote villagers in the areas where you dive in many ways. One is by donating seeds and then buying back the fresh fruits and vegetables from the villagers. Villagers bring their fresh produce to the Bilikiki for sale in a giant floating market.
During dive charters Bilikiki also schedule a land excursion or two to visit villagers to see custom dancing, have a look around a village and meet the locals. Some villages are famous for wood carvings and you will have a chance to buy this unique island art.
SPECIFICATIONS:
| Construction: |
Steel |
| Length: |
125ft |
| Beam: |
24ft |
| Voltages: |
415 V three-phase
240 V single-phase
110 V charging outlets
|
| Tonnage: |
280 |
| Main Engine: |
350 HP 3406 Turbo Charged Caterpillar Diesel |
| Auxiliaries: |
2 x 80 KW |
| Accommodation: |
10 Staterooms all with private shower & toilet |
| Special Features: |
Large Screen LCD TV with USA port
Digital Projector
Nitrox
Multi-format video/DVD system
Evening slide shows
Large camera tables
Separate rinse bins for photo gear
Separate photo room |
* NOTE. Prices indicated on this website are shown as a guideline only and may be subject to currency fluctuations, banking fees and other changes outside our control. Pricing information is available in
other currencies.
