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Dive Review of Bilikiki/Spirit of the Solomons in
Solomon Islands

Bilikiki/Spirit of the Solomons, Jul, 2008,

by Terry Anderson, TX, USA (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 28 reports with 15 Helpful votes). Report 4380.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations N/A Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 2 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments July 2008: We went on this trip because of comments of and emails with another Undercurrents member who was on the Spirit of Solomons in 2005--Thanks Peter Maerz and Undercurrents! To go--fly on Pacific Air to Fiji, only 10 hours, 2 hour lay over, and then take the 3 hour flight to Honairi,Solomons. Fiji is pleasant, and expensive, but we found the diving far superior in the Solomons. The Bilikiki owner, Rick, will take care of all arrangements once you get to Fiji, and even helped us arrange a tour of Guadacanal battlegrounds before the one week liveaboard. We were on the Bilikiki's sister ship, Spirit of Solomons, a large comfortable vessel with excellent service, food, and two outstanding DMs--Justine Anderson and Philippa Dean. Their briefings were excellent, and they allowed us to dive our own profile entirely: everyone has to have a computer and DAN insurance. This is an efficient, professional, and friendly operation. There only were 6 divers, (the ship can handle 20) and 12 on the crew so the service was fabulous--and there were no hidden costs for the high price of gas. Beers and wine were reasonable. We dove at 8, 11, 2, and 5, and a 8 night dive usually was available. Underwater: whittip, blacktip, and gray sharks, lots of schools of barracuda and other fish, and lionfish, electric clams, pigmy seahorses, stone and scorpion fish, hawkbill and green turtles, great staghorn coral fields. Mary Island was tremendous, with all of the above and tunas, schools of 500 horseeyed jacks, and heavy grey sharks cruising the pristine reefs. And the twin tunnels seamount at Florida Island also was incredible, and we dove WWII wreck of the ship Ann, where we saw 12 lionfish, ribbon eels, and an ornate ghost pipefish. No Mantas at the cleaning station, but did see a large Eagle Ray. The Bilikiki and Spirit are the ONLY dive boats in the Solomons, so you never see other divers. We visited a very friendly village, and the local people were delightful. This trip was a winner--we'll return and the next time we will take the 10 day trip. www.bilikiki.com/index.php

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Indonesia, Galapagos, Maldives, Philippines, Borneo, Caribbean, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Panama
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 70-90 Ft/ 21-27 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions None
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 5 stars Large Fish N/A
Large Pelagics 3 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 4 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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