DIVE ADVICE TRAVEL - SOLOMON ISLANDS

A Note from Dom

I call it a "must do" destination for many reasons.

For one thing, two of my all-time favorite dive live-aboards, the Bilikiki and the Spirit of Solomons, which have both become legends in their own time, are still hard at work, keeping their reputations constantly intact. No one makes it easier to do 5 dives per day and still have the time and opportunity for cultural exploration, visiting remote & authentically rustic fishing villages where you can interact with the villagers, observe tribal customs, and find the finest wood carvings in the South Pacific.

In addition, one of my preferred dive resorts is located here, Uepi Island Resort. So, together, they make up some fine reasons for adding the Solomons to your short-list of dive destination targets.

And, hard as it may be to believe, the inhabitants of these islands remain relatively untouched by modern life, exposing the visitor a truly unique vision of another world and another time. In my opinion, the Solomon Islands are as exotic as it gets, above and below the water line - and I hope you'll find yourself tempted to explore them.

Read on for details or click here to contact us for further information.

Cheers, Dom

Solomon Islands Overview

The Solomon Islands will surely be known well into the future for Guadalcanal and its strategic importance in the fierce push during World War II against the Japanese. The war turned here in favor of the allied forces.

Strangely, the Solomon Islands would have offered divers magnificent opportunities had this war never been fought, but the offensive that was launched at Guadalcanal in August of 1942 sealed the fate of this island nation for the diving world.

The incalculable loss of sea craft and aircraft in and around this chain of islands added hauntingly beautiful wrecks to the already lush underwater habitat of the region. There are hundreds of wrecks of airplanes and nearly 50 different warships, half from the allied forces, half from the Japanese forces. While most settled into their watery graves at a depth that prohibits the average diver from exploring them, some are more easily accessible and will be a highlight of your diving experience in the Solomons - both from a historical perspective and from a perspective of sheer beauty.

The nearly 1000 islands which make up the Solomons are located between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. Divers can't get enough of the walls, caves & lava tunnels, the corals (hard and soft), reef fish and pelagics - not to mention the wrecks, which have added a striking and magnificent beauty to the natural landscape.

Amongst the masses of impressive corals, you will encounter the species one would expect: the pipefish, blennies, cuttlefish, octopus, shrimps and the like. But there is open water diving here, too, with exposure to jacks & barracudas, sharks, mantas & dolphins, whales and even Orcas, if you're lucky!

Bilikiki . . . Spirit of the Solomons . . . Uepi Resort

Bilikiki and Spirit of the Solomons are jointly owned and operated. Each offers the same high standard of accommodation, diving and cuisine.

MV Bilikiki
The Bilikiki takes 20 guests in 10 deluxe cabins, each with double and single bed. All cabins are en-suite.

Spirit of the Solomons
MV Spirit of Solomons takes 20 passengers, has 3 deluxe staterooms (large double beds) and 4 deluxe cabins (double and single beds) all en-suite. In addition, there are 6 single occupancy cabins with shared bathroom facilities.

On both boats, you'll have up to 5 dives per day, plus the opportunity to make cultural expeditions on the islands. Wreck diving will depend on conditions, the interest of the divers on board and their level of experience. Photographers will be delighted by the facilities provided. Each boat ensures that you have the maximum space possible for your work and offers everything to suit your needs.

Uepi Island Resort
Uepi Island is long and narrow, only a bit more than a half of a kilometre at its widest point and roughly 2.5 kilometres in length. It's a true tropical paradise, covered with lush vegetation and uninhabited with the exception of the resort.

It's a great place for divers and non-divers alike to vacation, as the resort offers plenty of activities in addition to diving - a great swimming beach, sail boarding and canoeing, tropical trails for leisurely strolls, plus visits to villages on nearby islands can be easily arranged.

Some of the superb dive sites are located just minutes from the dive shop and the rest are all within a few-minute boat ride. There's fabulous coral and breath-taking drop-offs and an incredible variety of life, ranging from pelagics to nudibranchs, with a bit of muck diving thrown in for good measure!