Solomon Islands, Bilikiki, Aug 12-24

I dived with Bilikiki on the Spirit of Solomons last September. Awesome diving and fantastic photo opportunities!!

I assume that you mean the trip is free of divers, not that it is a free trip?

Heh.. that's right. Free of divers. Sorry if I was ambiguous!

What is the Rate and how expensive is the airfare? Could be an interesting alternative for our Thailand/Burma Trip.

Simon

I wonder what the premium is to dive with Eric.

Eric, If you stay in that area you must go to Uepi. Best divesite I have

ever been to. Check out their website !

You get to see his hair in the morning...

hehehe. my hair sticks STRAIGHT up in the morning.

There is no premium -- the rates are right on their website.

Let's plan something!!

...sticks STRAIGHT up in the morning.

I get a similar problem

You don't need macro for Eric's hair..now back to his post.

Eric and all, we went to the Solomons last October (October 2003) and I wrote a 4 part trip report on our 2 weeks on the Spirit of the Solomons (sistership to the Bilikiki) and one week on Uepi. This is my first post on this board, so I may mess up the links:

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripre...orts.php?s=2370

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripre...orts.php?s=2371

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripre...orts.php?s=2372

http://dive.scubadiving.com/members/tripre...orts.php?s=2463

If I do mess up the links, if you go to scubadiving.com and look up the profile of a rather sketchy character named "kestrel", you should see the trip reports in the publications section of his profile.

Enjoy your trip.

Hi all!

I did a 2 week cruise with Bilikiki last fall aboard the Spirit of Solomons. It was AWESOME :!:

The crew, boat, food, accomodations and the dive sites were all wonderful. They took really great care of us from the time they picked us up at the airport until the time they dropped us off back at the airport 2 weeks later.

The Spirit had a large area for cameras on the dive deck, and a huge dry area inside to work on the cameras, laptops, etc.

Dive sites are varied and pristine. Lots of macro, but few pelagics on our trip.

We also visited several villages. Bring $$$ if you would like to buy unique local wood carvings. Our group dropped a wad of cash in the villages.

I would highly recommend the trip. The only down side for me was the 60 hours :shock: of travel time from my home until I got the on the ship. Only 33 hours :wink: on the return trip.

Photos from my trip are posted here.

I'm booked, going to Solomon Islands on the Bilikiki from Aug 12-24! Hope to see you on board.

I'll probably be planning something before or after as well, to maximize the opportunity in that area. Let me know if you're interested.

More info here on an old thread, here:

http://wetpixel.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-4595.phtml

Great boat and great diving, I heard that the Bilikiki has undergone a complete refit in the last year or so. I was on board in the late 80's and it was some of the best diving I've ever done. Lots of wrecks, lots of big pelagics. Wish I was there.

Doug

I will miss you by three weeks, Eric; I'm there in September. It's one of my favorite dive places in the world. Have a great time...

Hey, guys. I was wondering what options I might have for a week in Uepi. The pricing I'm getting is roughly $250/day for lodging, meals, and 3-dives.

I guess the real question is: what am I going to see at Uepi that I won't see during 12-days on the Bilikiki?

By the way -- I merged my two Solomon Islands threads, and it's a bit confusing now. The summary is:

I'm booked on the Bilikiki from Aug 12-24, and it would be great to have fellow Wetpixel folk on board. Please come join me!

I just got back from a week at Tulagi, some pics and a link to my hosts website at

http://www.aengusm.com/images/Solomons%20April%202004/

I can now definitely say that Ike's housings (Well, mine anyway) work at 68 meters (205 ft?)!

IMHO, A visit to the Solomon's is a must in your diving list, just understand that it is a developing country so don't expect the comforts of home.

It was a very significant place during WW II, most American's would identify not with the name "Solomon's" but with the main Island's name......Guadalcanal.

There was some political instability there a couple of years ago but I would now say it is definitely safer than the average city.

If your a Trimix/Rebreather diver.........you've probably heard all about the wrecks there already, but, if your not a deep diver, don't be put off, as well as the abundant coral, there are heaps of shallow wrecks, and I understand its to these that the liveaboards mainly go.

From Australia / New Zealand, we fly to Honiara from Brisbane, so anyone else coming through could do a Barrier Reef / Australia visit on the way?

The only problem with going to the Solomon's will be luggage........cause you'll need to bring ALL your lens.......its sensory overload!

Aengus

Tulagi and Gavutu were two of the US first landings in the war in the Pacific - when the Navy dropped off the US Marines and said "Good luck!."

Aengus, your wreck shots are some of the most extraordinary digital shots that I have ever seen. Very impressive!!! I really like your balance of natural light, your buddy's torch, and your flash.

Cheers

James

I would really love to go on this trip.... but the Airefare alone is over 2000 € with the cheapest flights (1330 to Brisbane from Frankfurt and 715 from Brisbane to Honiara)

I will have to check this and will probably only be able to decide this in June or July.

How many places are open on the boat?

That sounds crazy (your airfare quote). I'm getting quotes of around $1100 USD from SF to Brisbane and ... $5-600 USD from Brisbane to Honiara.

I think there are plenty of spaces on the boat. I have no idea. And I've pretty much decided to spend Aug 24-31 at Uepi.