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Dive Review of Bilikiki Cruises in
Solomon Islands

Bilikiki Cruises: "Bucket list trip well worth the effort to get there", Jun, 2019,

by Ms Lynda Durfee, VA, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 49 reports with 24 Helpful votes). Report 11197 has 1 Helpful vote.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments I planned this trip in July 2018 after hearing good reviews from divers on other trips. I flew from DC via LAX to Fiji, with a two-week stopover one week on Nai'a and one week at Marriott resort. Flew from Nadi to Honiara on Saturday (start of trip); many other Bilikiki guests were on same flight. I can ditto the Augusts report. Lots of large hard corals. I commented to crew that if Fiji was the soft coral capital of the world then the Solomons were the hard coral capital. Guides/hosts Tina and Ollie provided detailed briefings with maps drawn on a white board before every dive. Most dives were from RIBs; before each dive you put your tank tag number on a hook indicating you wanted to dive with group 1, 2, or 3. Crew was fantastic, loading you BCD into the RIB and helping you off with it. Fills were consistent; I used NITROX and did most of the other divers. This ten-day trip got you to far west (lagoon); 7-day trip doesn't get there. I checked off a lot of fish that I hadn't seen on other dive trips though a lot were familiar from Fiji. Food was plentiful with local fruits, vegetables and fish from local vendors. My only complaint was that the hot breakfast was cooked well before 6 am so it was lukewarm (even in warmers) by the time it was served about 6:15. Vegetarian options at every meal. Coffee and tea free (fruit juice at breakfast), but beer, wine, liquor and soft drinks were available from an honor bar ($2 US for a can of soda; I really cut down on my soda consumption on this trip). Cabins were comfortable; I had one to myself since the boat wasn't full. AC was comfortable; noise from engines noticeable especially when the boat moved at night. Village visits are a must. I would have bought a large carving except for baggage limit travelling on to Brisbane. If you like a carving, these are cheaper than in Honiara stores and you know who carved it; these artists spend months on one carving that might sell for $100. I bought a woven tray from one of the women for $20. Very enjoyable trip; I'd go back bought I haven't been to Indonesia or the Galapagos yet. I wasn't aware I needed a visa to enter Australia, but the helpful agent at the Honiara airport applied for me online and I paid with Fiji dollars equivalent to $25 US (I had to scramble to change money at the airport).
Websites Bilikiki Cruises   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving All over Caribbean, all Hawaiian islands, Fiji, Palau, Maldives, Red Sea, Solomon Islands
Closest Airport Honiara Getting There via Fiji or Brisbane

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 81-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 5
Water Visibility 60-100 Ft/ 18-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions no deco; dive with buddy or group
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 3 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments I'm not a photographer. Charging room on upper deck. Most photographers used one of the tables in the salon to work on their cameras.
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Subscriber's Comments

By report author: Ms Lynda Durfee in VA, US at Oct 29, 2019 21:11 EST  
Sorry about the typos.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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