Manager’s Blog October 26-November 2, 2019 post

Manager’s Blog October 26-November 2, 2019

Bilikiki is back after 7 days of travelling into WWII history! What an exciting and interesting week we had! The trip was organised by Valor Tours, led by Professor Anderson Giles and we had guests coming from the USA, the UK and Australia. 

We started our trip in the Florida Islands, stepping ashore at Blue Beach, Tulagi Island, Tanambogho and Ghavutu. We also cruised around the half submerged LST 342 and Kikusuki wrecks and travelled across Iron Bottom Sound to end our first day at Savo Island. 

From there we went to Seghe to walk in the airstrip and snorkel the P38 Lightning and Douglas SBD aircraft wrecks. On our way to Munda we visited Viru Harbor and the PT109 Base in Lubaria, Rendova. We also stopped at Skull Island to see some more ancient Solomon head hunting history and Kennedy Island where John F Kennedy swam ashore after his boat was sunk in WWII.

On the way back to Guadalcanal we stopped in the Russell Islands for a village visit to Karumolun and everyone, as always, was very impressed and happily delighted with the traditional singing and dancing. We spent part of that afternoon in Yandina where the father of one of our guests had served and helped to built a hospital!

To finish this incredible week, we had the chance to also visit the most important sites on Guadalcanal: Cape Esperance, the American Memorial, Vilu War Museum, Red Beach, Henderson Field, Edson Ridge, Mount Austen and many others!

Thank you very much everyone for being such a lovely group of people and for sharing your passions, knowledge and ties with the people involved in the battles that once took place around these islands. Also a special thanks to Professor Giles for sharing all his knowledge of what had happened here. It was just incredible! We hope to see you again soon.

A huge thank you as well to our amazing crew for all their work and help during this trip.

We wish you all safe travels home,

Pato and Fernando 

The Bilikiki crew and the WW2 historians.

The WW2 historians at the USA war memorial in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

WW2 wreck in the Solomon Islands

A WW2 wreck in the Solomon Islands

 

Posted by Sam and Kellie on November 02, 2019

What our guests say

"Second time and still finding new sights to see! Wonderful trip well worth the effort....."

Reed Nescher

"Just really, really, really enjoyed our trip!!! We really fell in love with Pato and Fernando. They did an excellent job guiding us! The crew is as go... Read More"

Darlene Myers

"I had an amazing 10 nights onboard the Bilikiki! The dive sites were so diverse and so beautiful, we had some amazing encounters with wildlife, the cr... Read More"

Lauren Thomas

"If I could rate them 6 stars I would!!! Amazing boat, crew, food and diving."

Brett Lobwein

"I have been on many Bilikiki trips over the past eight years, and I will keep going back again and again. I’ve dived in more than 15 countries and h... Read More"

Joanna O'Shea

"I can't think of a better way to spend 12 days than on board Bilikiki. It is absolutely spectacular diving amongst healthy corals, colorful fishes, st... Read More"

Karen Doby

"My bucket list trip. Outstanding crew and service. Superb diving. Stable and comfortable vessel and accommodations. The chefs do a marvellous job, eve... Read More"

Fred Catella

"I did my 1000th dive on my second trip on the Bilikiki. Last time was in 2005 and then I thought it was the best liveaboard I had been on. It still is... Read More"

Alex Davids

"Always a great time on the Bilikiki. Spectacular diving, excellent food and an amazing crew. One of the best laid out boats I've been diving on."

Mike Aitken

"I have just returned from a 10 night stay on board the Bilikiki. It was my first trip on the Bilikiki however friends we were with have been 3 or 4 ti... Read More"

Pearl Corker

"Bilikiki is much more than a great dive boat with a fantastic crew sailing the remote Solomon Islands and discovering new and beautiful dive sites; it... Read More"

Thane Kreiner

"Just got back from a 10 day trip on Bilikiki with Tina and Oli. The whole Bilikiki team made our trip a memorable one, despite the temperamental weath... Read More"

Jonathan Rose