MV SPIRIT of the SOLOMONS: renowned live-aboard diving yacht in the Solomon Sea.
All photos on this page are provided courtesy of our friends at Bilikiki Cruises Ltd.

MV BILIKIKI: the longtime sine qua non of Solomon Sea live-aboards.

© Copyright U.S. Dive Travel Network.

The SOLOMON ISLANDS:
SISTER SHIPS for SERIOUS DIVERS --

MV BILIKIKI & MV SPIRIT of the SOLOMONS

SPIRIT of the SOLOMONS: at repose in the Solomon Sea, after another magical day.

MV BILIKIKI: chillin' at anchor.

Call 952-953-4124 for current prices, & specials. Extra costs include air tickets, hotel nights each way in either Honiara or Australia, alcoholic beverages, tips to service staff & diving guides, & USDT tariff.

Tinny, the dive tender on BILIKIKI.

The Bilikiki & Spirit of the Solomons have earned an international reputation as venerable veterans of the Solomon Islands, the live-aboards whose owners & crew have the most depth of experience & savvy in these magnificent Melanesian islands. These are a great couple of scuba diving yachts, with a host of creature comforts & hearty meals to keep you happy. The Bilikiki operates much like the live-aboard diving vessel Thorfinn does in Truk Lagoon -- as a Mother Ship, from which fast little skiffs streak outward each day to the best diving sites, with small groups of divers who don't get in each other's way.

One of the underwater wonders of Melanesia, the Solomons' outer islands are an adventure destination matched or topped by only a handful of tropical island sectors anywhere in the world. This is about as good as it gets on Earth, for abundant soft corals & clouds of fish on every reef you're blessed to visit. Photographers will be beside themselves with daily discoveries.

The Solomon Islands diving scene is famous for the gorgeous array of soft corals that crowd all over their reefs, & along their steep sea walls. So much marine life congregates & thrives at the mouths of reef passageways in and out of the lagoons, that photographers will find themselves transported by sights of incredible beauty. This is one fine place for sightings of the pelagic biggies -- from mammoth Napoleon wrasses to sharks, barracudas & rays of several lively varieties. Just like you'll find in Papua New Guinea, not far away, scuba divers are delighted by the many strange species of fish that are so abundant here, yet so rare elsewhere in the Pacific: from the lacy leaf-fish to shy scorpionfish & retiring little stonefish of unearthly weirdness. Shutterbugs, here's the thing about Solomon Islands diving -- you will be yelling into your regs with sheer astonishment at the great macro shots you see glowing at every turn of the reef. The essence of Solomon Islands diving is critter intensity, diversity & luminosity. And the only safe & sound way to enjoy this aquatic realm is on Solomon Islands live-aboards such as MV Bilikiki or MV Spirit of the Solomons.

All Bilikiki & Spirit of the Solomons cruises start at Honiara, then proceed to several choice locales, depending on weather: Marovo Lagoon, Kicha & Mary islands & the Russell Islands, as well.

The Bilikiki is 127 feet long, 24 feet in the beam, with a 7-foot draft, & it cruises at a relaxing 9 knots. This huge live-aboard vessel holds 12,000 gallons of fresh water, so you never have to worry about getting too salty during your days at sea. The 10 double cabins accommodate 20 passengers; so living on a vessel this large means you have plenty of room to stretch out & enjoy your journey. Each Bilikiki cabin has its own private shower & head. The main salon & all cabins have air conditioning. The Bilikiki also has full E-6 processing on board, so slide shooters can see their results in a jiffy. There are both 110 & 220 volt charging systems for your battery packs & strobes; plus a video system that can play both Aussie & U.S. tapes.

Divers relish dazzling fish & corals, hard & soft, on MV BILIKIKI.

MV BILIKIKI divers glory in jack schools off Mary Island.

MV BILIKIKI serves up "Jumpin' Jack Flash" -- day after divin' day!

(Text is provided courtesy of our longtime amigos del mar at Bilikiki Cruises Ltd.)

How do I get to the Solomon Islands?
Most travelers from North America fly through Nadi in Fiji or Auckland in New Zealand, either via Los Angeles or Honolulu. Alternate routings, & those used by European & Asian passengers as well, are via Sydney & Brisbane Australia, or Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. European travelers often fly into Australia via Thailand, Singapore or Hong Kong. Major carriers offering service to South Pacific destinations from North America include Air New Zealand, Qantas, Air Pacific, United Airlines, American Airlines & Air Canada. Solomon Airlines (at 1-800-677-4277 in North America) is the international carrier connecting Honiara, capital city of the Solomons, to Fiji, New Zealand, Australia & PNG.

What's the weather like in the Solomon Islands, & what's the best time of the year to travel there?
Located just a few degrees below the equator, the Solomons enjoy a year-round tropical climate moderated by the sea air. Rainfall averages 10 inches per month year round, ranging from 8 inches in the dryer season to 12 inches in the wet. There is no monsoon season with extensive periods of heavy rainfall, but rain can be expected at any time, although it usually blows over fairly quickly. Humidity is usually high, particularly inland, but is significantly lower on the smaller islands & aboard the live-aboard diving ships. Located close to the Equator, as it is, in the Solomons you'll find most major storms start to the north then go northward from there (typhoons), or start to the south & continue south (cyclones). Bilikiki Cruises offer Solomons Islands live-aboard trips year round, & have experienced great diving throughout the year. So, when's the best time to go on a Solomons Islands live-aboard? Whenever you can get away -- that's the ticket !

How strenuous is scuba diving from a Solomon Islands live-aboard?
These two boats are the pride of Solomon Islands live-aboards. No worries about getting into some Third World skow. These are luxury vessels & beautifully appointed, with ace crews. Physically the live-aboard diving will be the easiest you'll find anywhere. Our immense dive decks give you lots of room for suiting up, & if you're a photographer you'll appreciate the large carpeted camera tables, right on the dive deck, where you need them for last minute adjustments. Our crew will load everything you need in the skiff for you (we call the skiffs "tinnies"), & help you into your backpack when the tinnie gets on site. Then you just roll over the side & enjoy the riches of the sea. When you finish your dive the tinnie will be right there, with the crew ready to take your gear. Then you just walk up the ladder & the tinnie whisks you back to your ship. Solomon Islands live-aboards such as these vessels are really what has opened up the sport of scuba diving in a country that is so wild & remote, that conventional dive shops are few & far between.

How many dives can I make a day & & what limits do you put on dive depths & duration?
We offer unlimited diving, with the dive day built around five daily dives. If your computer & past dive activities permit it we can schedule additional dives. We know you've come to dive & we try not to hinder you with a lot of restrictions, so within the bounds of common sense & safe dive practices, divers are permitted to set their own dive profiles. Our dive professionals are always available for those persons who want or need the guidance, & of course a pre-dive briefing will always be offered to outline the dive-site & any special factors. Freedom, & common sense are the watchwords on these fine Solomon Islands live-aboards.

What can I expect to see when scuba diving on this Solomons liveaboard?
Solomon Islands diving is all about critter profusion. The Solomon Islands' waters are very nutrient rich, & they support the entire food chain from microscopic creatures to major predators. You'll have a good opportunity to see a variety of sharks, mantas, dolphins, & turtles & barracuda in uncountable numbers. In shallower waters you'll see almost every tropical imaginable, & some that will stretch your imagination cuttlefish, octopus, schooling lionfish, & amazing numbers & varieties of anemone-fish, not to mention amazing varieties of anemones. You'll see more varieties of coral on a Solomons Islands live-aboard than almost anywhere, & all this in 85º F waters. Underwater terrain varies from walls to reefs, to passages to "bommies". You'll visit caverns with shafts of sunlight illuminating the interior. You'll swim 200 feet into a split in an island, & when you surface you'll be under a jungle canopy listening to the parrots & cockatoos. You'll enter a tunnel on a pinnacle & exit minutes later in the deep blue ocean. In the shallows around almost every island you'll find channels, cracks & fissures stocked with an unbelievable variety of shells, fish, plants & corals that you could explore for hours. & yes, if you're lucky (some may not view this as luck) you'll get to visit the lair of a saltwater crocodile. You see, not everything is samo-samo on Solomon Islands live-aboards such as MV Bilikiki & MV Spirit of the Solomons!

I like to dive, big time, but will I get to see some of the native island people & their colorful lifestyle, too?
Yes, by all means. We arrange a village visit at least once on every Solomons Islands live-aboard trip. You'll have a chance to meet the islanders, see & purchase carvings & baskets & visit their schools & churches. If we're anchored off a village the islanders will come out in their canoes to market produce & carvings, or just watch what's going on. The children are a real delight. They are naturals in the water swimming, or on it in their dugout canoes. They are excited to see these approaching Solomon Islands live-aboards, & will provide cute local color when they come bustling & grinning to greet you.

What's the essential difference between your two Solomons Islands live-aboards ?
Really very little. Here's how it works with these two Solomon Islands live-aboards. Both M.V. Bilikiki & M.V. Spirit of Solomons travel to the same dive sites & offer the same high standards that have made Bilikiki Cruise Ltd. famous. Both ships are large, 125 feet long & 24 feet wide, & both are built on traditional high-prowed South Pacific hulls, designed to offer comfortable & stable travel for the passengers. The differences in these stellar Solomon Islands live-aboards are predominately in the accommodations & deck layout. M.V. Bilikiki has her dive deck astern, & all accommodation is in the 10 double/twin cabins with private facilities on the lower accommodation deck. M.V. Spirit of Solomons has her dive deck amidships, & there are three types of accommodations aboard, two double cabins & one double/twin share cabin - with private facilities - on the main deck, four double/twin cabins - with private facilities - on the lower accommodation deck, & six twin cabins - with shared facilities - also on the lower deck. Spirit of Solomons also has her dining deck located aft on the bridge deck, with a commanding view of the ocean & islands. Both ships offer immense sundecks, plenty of covered space, air-conditioned accommodations & both offer carefully prepared, tasty & ample meals. That's pretty well the gist of comparing the two premier Solomon Islands live-aboard dive charter yachts.

The Solomon Islands saw major World War II naval battles. Many ships were sunk in the islands.  Will we get to dive any of those classic shipwrecks?
Wreck dives are included in every cruise, & the number we do depends on the interests of the people on board. We don't have that many wrecks to chose from, as most of them are far too deep, even for well experienced divers. Those we do dive on our Solomons Islands live-aboard packages include Japanese transport ships along the Guadalcanal coast, the Ann in the Russell Islands (a more recent wreck, not W.W.II) & Japanese transports in Marovo Lagoon. Divers still find ample evidence of the war action that sunk these vessels, lots of ammunition & machinery in the holds, as well as dishes, bottles & other evidence of shipboard activities.

Let's say I'm planning my second trip with Bilikiki Cruises. Will we go back to all the same dive sites, or see new ones?
Not likely that you'll ever be experiencing all the same old sites & sights. On your next Solomons Islands live-aboard adventure, we'll probably return to some of the favorite spots, but with hundreds of dive sites to chose from in the Florida & Russell Island groups, & Marovo Lagoon, you'll get to experience new & different dive sites too. We try not to return too frequently to any one site to reduce the impact on the marine life. Solomon Islands diving = several salient surprises every day!

Fishermen return before sunset to serene village near Mbili Passage.

"...Got a peaceful, easy feelin' ... at Peava Village, with its gracious people.

BILIKIKI's typical 2-bunk stateroom with ensuite head.

The dedicated & hospitable crew of MV BILIKIKI.

Dining deck on the MV BILIKIKI -- daily al fresco delight.

Evening snacks n' talkin' story on the BILIKIKI, laid-back livin' !

Diving decks are roomy, clean & efficient on both yachts.

Dining deck on the sister ship, MV SPIRIT of the SOLOMONS.

All Solomons Islands diving package prices listed here are subject to possible change in this steadily evolving travel market. Lodging, side tour & diving prices are traditionally stable, as are Solomons Islands diving package prices; however air prices can fluctuate daily. Until air tickets are issued, all airlines reserve the right to change airfares without notice -- an industry standard per FAA rules. We at U.S. Dive Travel will price-protect you to the utmost of our professional ability; & that has been our pledge for one decade now. Our tropical vacation experts normally secure excellent wholesale discount air tickets for our clients who book early enough to secure limited seats in the best price categories. Remember please, the federal government has deregulated all U.S.-based airlines, so only they control their pricing -- not any travel professionals. Early is good when seeking the best air ticket rates for your Solomons Islands diving charter.

Unless specifically noted, these above Solomon Islands scuba diving packages are prices for only the live-aboard portion of your dive trip, in most cases reflecting double-occupancy rooms. On these Solomons Islands live-aboards, there will be no triple-occupancy staterooms offered. International air tickets & commuter "island-hopper" seats are always extra above these land costs. Nominal service fees are also extra for air tickets & the dive vessel + side tour components. The baseline tariffs for all Solomons Islands diving clients start at $35 per person for the vessel portion + $35 pp for the air tickets. Late-booking clients may receive slightly higher tariffs on the lodging + diving at many of our dive resorts. Solo clients on our Solomons Islands diving vacations will always pay a single supplement to secure a private stateroom -- normally 50% more -- unless you are willing to twin-share a stateroom with another scuba diver.

The preferred payment mode for our Solomons Islands diving vessels, dive resorts, side tours & air ticket specials is by cashier's check or wire transfer in U.S. dollars. All Solomons Islands scuba diving clients living outside the USA or Canada will need to pay for their dive vacations via direct wire transfer only. No personal checks will be accepted for the live-aboard or land portion of any Solomons Islands scuba diving reservation. Thank you for your gracious understanding. Our service level is the highest & our prices the lowest in this industry, & thus we need to preserve a reasonable margin. For published-fare air ticket bookings, USDT always accepts Visa & Mastercard. For ultra-discount wholesale air tickets, on these special Solomons Islands scuba diving vacations, USDT accepts only cashier's checks or wire transfers, please.

If you need more information about any of these key tropical topics re' scuba vacations -- Bilikiki, Spirit of the Solomons, Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands diving, Solomon Islands scuba diving, U.S. Dive Travel, dive travel, live-aboards, live-aboard, liveaboards, liveaboard, Solomon Islands live-aboards, Solomon Islands live-aboard, Solomon Islands liveaboards, Solomon Islands liveaboard -- then please give us a call any time: 952-953-4124. Our dive travel planning experts will be happy to spend as much time as you need, sorting out the details of dive vacation subjects such as: Bilikiki, Spirit of the Solomons, Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands diving, Solomon Islands scuba diving, Solomon Islands live-aboards, Solomon Islands live-aboard, Solomon Islands liveaboards, Solomon Islands liveaboard.

Remember, all Solomons Islands diving vacation clients to all foreign destinations will be asked by local officials overseas, upon departing the airport on your final day, to pay a nominal government departure tax, usually between USD $35 - $40 per client. USDT cannot collect this tax beforehand, so you simply pay it down there, in your host country. Be sure to stash away a little cash for this final moment at the airport, so you'll get your exit visa stamped quickly with no fuss; & away you go. Best of luck with your Solomons Islands diving plans. We hope your Solomons Islands scuba diving vacation is a safe & satisfying adventure. Blessings & best wishes with ALL your Solomons Islands diving vacations; starting with THIS one, right here.

Best fishes too!

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John Hessburg & Susan Hessburg, Mgrs.
U.S. Dive Travel Network.

Cute cuttlefish lures you into his mesmerizing lair....

.... only to meet Kuku the Klown on Killer Steroids !