Emperor Divers is very pleased – and extremely excited – to have linked up with Solomon Islands-based Bilikiki Cruises to form what will be a wonderful new partnership.
Many people may already be aware of Bilikiki and the great service they offer. But, for some Emperor guests, this part of the world might be a new one to you. We would be thrilled to introduce you to the beautiful world of Pacific Island diving – and Solomon Islands is a perfect location to do that as just about everything the South Pacific has to offer is there!
So, for those of you who don’t know much about the area, here are 10 reasons why we think you should add the Solomons to your ‘must-visit’ list of destinations.
Diversity
If you want a holiday with multiple types of dive experience, this could be the destination for you.
The Solomon Islands provides a huge variety of underwater adventures. It’s home to some of the best reefs in the world which in turn helps the diving be varied, amazing and colourful. There are so many different habitats and ecosystems that will give you experiences of pelagics, critters, wrecks (including many from World War II), caves, coral gardens, sand slopes, mangroves, walls and sea mounts.
As Bilikiki themselves say: “There is no ice diving but pretty much everything else is covered!”
A certain large furniture retailer used to state they had everything: ‘All under one roof’. When your roof is the Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Islands could make a similar claim about the diving it has on offer.
Solitude
As divers we accept some regions, areas or sites are going to be busier than others. We all know the famous ‘go-to’ spots might well have a few boats on them.
So what we yearn for is to get that spot to ourselves. The dive when no one else is around. Solitude underwater.
In the Solomon Islands that is every – single – dive.
We might see other divers but that will be once, possibly twice, a year!!
As Bilikiki is one of very few – and occasionally over the years, the only – liveaboard exploring these waters it’s extremely rare to see another dive boat during the trip. It means having the dive sites to yourself is not a wish but a reality.
World War II
For those who like their history when diving, the Solomon Islands is up there with the very best.
It was a significant battleground in the Pacific Theatre of World War II and witnessed some of its fiercest and most-important conflicts. Names such as Bloody Ridge, Red Beach, Henderson Field, and Iron Bottom Sound will be familiar to many.
The Battle Of Guadalcanal, for example, was a major turning point in the war that involved incredibly intense land, sea, and air fighting. Such was the level of combat, there are many sites around at which you will see shipwrecks and plane wrecks as well as underwater dump sites complete with trucks and bombs.
One of the most famous wrecks is the Japanese Mavis Seaplane which sits upright at 30 metres down and is an impressively large, mostly intact, plane.
And White Beach is the site of an American base where trucks, bombs and ammunition were dumped into the sea. It’s both a fascinating historical dive and a fantastic macro site.
Relatively easy diving – with maximum reward
The diving in the Solomons is generally very easy as the currents are mild and the water warm, flat and offering great visibility.
In general, there is no recommended or requested number of dives as the conditions suit everyone from the novice to veteran! Exit and entries on the tenders (or tinnies as they’re known) are very easy and guests with mobility issues find them very manageable. Our crew load and unload diver’s equipment and fill tanks so there is nothing for our guests to do other than to turn up and dive.
But that doesn’t mean the diving is dull – quite the opposite. As previously mentioned, the Solomon Islands offer just about every type of diving experience you could wish for.
Pristine reefs
The Solomon Islands has some of the world’s healthiest coral reefs, with colourful hard and soft corals that flourish due to the low level of human impact. The reefs are thriving with biodiversity, offering an untouched beauty rarely found elsewhere.
Sites such as Leru Island – where a beautiful reef formation sees amazing beams of light and fantastic photo opportunities – or Mary Island will provide memories to last a lifetime. The latter is somewhere guests often refer to as the best dive of the trip, because of its stunning volume of hard corals and fish life, and is somewhere we usually stay for the whole day.
Super snorkelling
The ability to marvel at all the underwater delights is not limited to divers – the snorkelling in the Solomon Islands can be as great as the diving. There is a huge amount to see and a lot of different environments to explore. The shallow reefs that fringe the islands offer colourful coral gardens with an amazing number of tropical fish. There are also mangrove areas, protected bays, schooling fish and even wrecks to be snorkelled in the Solomon Islands.
The waters of the Pacific Ocean are there for you too – even you’re not a diver.
Land visits – and help the community
The Solomons is made up of nearly 1,000 islands and each main area has its own language, culture and traditions. Visiting a local village or two is a must for anyone coming to the islands. You can see famous wood carvers in action, hear the catchy sounds of traditional music, watch men and woman perform traditional dances, be greeted by a bunch of warriors and even be escorted into a village by a “war canoe”.
We also try to give something back to the local communities. We hand seeds to the villagers and then buy back their produce. This not only creates a source of income in villages, who have very little economic activity, it also means we get fresh fruit and vegetables during our trips. The variety of seeds we hand out means not only our but also the locals’ diets are more varied than they would have been.
We also buy from the incredible floating markets which visit Bilikiki and provide us with amazing fresh food. This wonderful spectacle is not only an incredible experience for our guests but helps to sustain the local economy.
Gin-clear waters
Visibility is generally excellent in the Solomons making it perfect for those wanting to capture the moment on camera. Indeed, the main issue for photographers tends to be choosing between macro or wide-angle!
The waters are almost permanently calm – there can sometimes be days which are better than others but there is no seasonal cycle to this – so you will often be able to see for over 40 metres.
The ‘top side’
And don’t forget what you can see above the water.
The Solomon Islands are a breathtaking tropical paradise, with a landscape of lush rainforests and white sandy beaches lined by swaying palm trees and unique flora and fauna. From the peaceful lagoons to the dramatic volcanic backdrops, the Solomon Islands are a true haven of natural beauty and unspoiled charm.
Dive to a volcanic tune
The Solomon Islands are located in a geologically active area, which has created remarkable landscapes both above and below water.
But it’s not just visual impact of the volcanoes you can marvel at – how about listening to them as well. At Mary Island, while you are surrounded by schooling fish, sharks and amazing coral, you can also add in the booming soundtrack of far off Kavachi which makes it a truly memorable experience.
If you would like to know any more about diving in the Solomon Islands or want to book a trip to this Pacific paradise, please contact our team on [email protected] who will help you in any way they can
Our thanks to Matt Smith, Greg Lecoeur, Tanya G. Burnett and Kellie Oldfield for these images