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Dive Review of Bilikiki Cruises in
Solomon Islands

Bilikiki Cruises: "Remote and mostly pristine reefs in a tropical paradise", Aug, 2022,

by Linda Dunn, CA, US (Reviewer Reviewer 5 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 12055 has 1 Helpful vote.

Photos Submitted with this Report


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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments There were 18 in the group, 17 divers, and 8 of us were photographers. We are not. The dive schedule is 7:15, 10:45, 1:45, 4:45, and 7:45 p.m. night dives, which were offered all but one night. So you could do 35-40 dives….we did just 28, others did a few more or less. Most sites had little current; with one high current Manta dive. Reefs are healthy, fish abundant. This is not the Caribbean! Thankfully, there’s plenty to see. But, we dove the Solomons in 2008 and there were more sharks. We dove two wrecks, but viz was poor. On night dives, we saw flashlight fish, huge crustaceans, cuttlefish, crocodile fish, and more.
The dive masters, a lovely couple from Spain and Brazil, gave great briefings and were awesome people. The Solomon crew was top notch.
The food was plentiful and excellent, and thanks to the cookies, I would’ve gained 10 pounds if not for diving. You pay for beer and wine, also other liquor. Some folks brought their own. Two nights, the crew brought out fresh sashimi which was outstanding.
We dove in Gizo, further west, on our first trip in 2008. It had more wrecks, better viz, but it’s even more remote. The cabins on the Bilikiki had adequate space, decent beds, and nice bathrooms. We have been on bigger boats, but this was not the smallest by far, and the sun deck, salon, and dive deck was plenty big even with a lot of activity. We also did 3 village visits, saw dancing, got gorgeous wood carvings, and met some wonderful local people. Seeing little kids (many tow headed) in their dug out canoes, paddling up to the boat, was magical. It’s a good lesson in the vastly different lives we live from the existence of people in these remote places.
Websites Bilikiki Cruises   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Solomons, Fiji, Tahiti, Sulawesi, Malapascua, Sipadan, Red Sea, Caribbean, Raja Ampat, Palau, Borneo, Maldives, Cocos, Hawaii
Closest Airport Honaira Getting There It’s a giant hassle from the USA; go through Nadi in Fiji or Brisbane, but flights to Honaira are not daily, so plan on spending extra days coming or going. We flew Fiji Air, but they cancelled our flight to Honaira a month out and we had to rebook w/out a refund. We used Solomons Air.

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 82-84°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 20-70 Ft/ 6-21 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Most dives were an hour, and thankfully they were relaxed about everything
Liveaboard? yes Nitrox Available? yes

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 5 stars
Large Pelagics 1 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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Bilikiki Cruises is a long running, well regarded operator running superb live-aboard diving in the remote and beautiful Solomon Islands.
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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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