Emperor Bilikiki

Valen&Cris Ramirez BlohmGoogle Reviewer

We went to Bilikiki 2 months ago and we had been saving for a while to get there. This trip has been absolutely worth the wait and the savings. The boat is managed by an amazing team, a great leader, and the guests are always the priority. From the food, which is all freshly cooked — even the cookies! — to the great attention to everyone’s wellbeing, with safety first both on the boat and in the water. The experience is centered on the dives, of course: first dive at 7–8 am, then a second dive, then lunch, and 2 more dives to go, with the bonus night dive at 8 pm. Visiting the Solomons on the Bilikiki is also a beautiful social experience. You share a lot with the rest of the divers, and you meet the locals — in the floating markets with the merchants who come to supply the boat with the whole family, including the kids who are learning the trade; and also when you visit the villages and get to listen to their beautiful music, chants, and dances. There is also the chance to see and buy beautiful local handcrafts made from wood and shells — unique, delicate works that reflect the culture and care of the people who make them. To me this whole experience was a surprise, especially learning what the boat does to support local commerce and build a form of fair trade: teaching the locals to plant nutritious products and giving them seeds to ensure the market supply from them, while the boat also guarantees the demand. From an economic perspective, a jewel I had never seen before. I have talked so little about the underwater experience — it’s a lot to try to describe briefly. Colorful caves with a show of lights; I think I saw more than 200 different species and used the scientific books on the boat to try to identify corals, fish, sea cucumbers, shrimp, and nudis, among many others. I thank everyone on the boat for these days of joy and adventure, and I wish more people can go and enjoy these environmentally and socially friendly days. A truly special and unique way of getting to know a little about the Solomons, the beautiful people from the Solomons, and their generous and pristine wild sealife. I dont take many pictures, but this was the view most of the days..

Dori KnowsGoogle Reviewer

Pato and Fernando manage the boat in an extraordinarily polite, safe, organized and professional way while you can have a fun time with them. Briefings are one of the best including hints for the photographers as well which setting is needed (macro, micro). They know exactly what they do and follow their procedures which makes it comfortable and also safe for the divers. Both Pato and Fernando are what you dream of if you go on a liveaboard - after this experience it will be hard for any other liveaboard to compete. The captain and the crew are outstanding competent and know the route, ocean, current and weather by heart. They are attentive all the time and always see what needs to be done and drive the tini (=Alu-Zodiac) so well and always know where the divers are at any time of the dive. The Bilikiki crew has exactly all the competencies and teamwork you would like to have in such a remote place. The boat is robust and not new, but it is so well maintained, and it seems that the crew knows every little detail as some of them know it literally from inside out. If you are looking for a wellness boat, this is not your liveaboard. If you look for a comfortable boat, that is meets diver’s need and is specially equipped for divers and snorklers’ needs and provides outstanding good fresh and healthy food (ingredients freshly bought from the villagers during the crossing) with a responsible way of diving, this is your boat. You'll find a variety of different dive spots from pinnacles, reefs with huge sponges including elephant ear, fan corals, wracks, caverns, impressive island cuts as well as mug diving and if you wish lovely drift dives. The current was always very manageable during my 11-day-trip and going in and out of the water is made easy for you. Coral bleaching is more than in Fiji, but this is a tough comparison. You will find all kind of critters, crocodile fish, different kind of triggerfish, cuttlefish, 9 species of clown fish, school of barracudas as well as anthias, amazing nudibranch such as the banana nudibranch, , lionfish, grey sharks, bumphead parrotfish, filamented flasher as well as the banded sea krait. In between the dives you can visit villages, craft markets, watch the floating market, read in the many fish books or enjoy the sun deck. There is always something delicious to eat such as fruit and cake. Nitrox is included as well as one alcoholic drink per day. I can recommend diving in this very remote and lovely place!

Kristi HelmeckeGoogle Reviewer

Our thanks to Pato & Fernando and the stellar crew aboard the Bilikiki! Diving in the Solomon Islands is beautiful, an incredible adventure. The handicrafts of the local villages was a delight to see (and purchase) and the village walk with the local chief was enlightening. Thank you for an amazing experience!

Vicki WilsonGoogle Reviewer

Absolutely fantastic trip and service. From the crew members who ensure you’re dive ready to 3 dive masters that are on the top of their game. Fernando and Pato, your enthusiasm was infectious - thank you ! My husband was diving but I was snorkelling/free diving and all the sites were fantastic lots to see, sea life on the reefs was amazing and the crew was excellent with assisting me and giving advice!

Ron PerryGoogle Reviewer

My trip on the Bilikiki was fantastic. The managers Axel and Aide were very welcoming, connected, and brought much life to every dive briefing and day on the trip. They sought to satisfy the divers even amidst the difficult weather conditions. Val was a kind and helpful on all the dives and a great shipmate. Fantastic and attentive crew. Excellent captains who kept us safe and still enabled us to have great dive sites! Wonderful chef and food!