Houston's Premier Scuba and Dive Shop Oceanic Ventures Inc.

(713) 523-3483 (dive)
5808 Newcastle Drive
Houston, TX 77401

Solomon Islands

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Solomon Islands to Reopen!

Ann and I were on a phone call with the operations manager and the sales and marketing manager for Master Liveaboards last night talking about our various travel bookings over the next few years. One of the more exciting things to come out of that conversation is the scheduled re-opening of the Solomon Islands! According to government officials, the Islands will re-open to tourism without a quarantine requirement.

The Solomon Islands Government will require that all visitors be fully vaccinated and have a negative COVID test prior to entering the country. At the present time, the United Sates is still requiring a negative COVID test before re-entering the United States.

This is fantastic news for us, This means that our scheduled Solomon Islands liveaboard trip for October is running and the boat will be in-country in time for our trip!

If you are unsure as to where in the world the Solomon Islands are located, you will find them in the Coral Triangle near Australia. You may recognize the name of the main island in the chain, Guadalcanal.

Diving in the archeligo, is very special. There are loarge schools of fish, giant Napoleon Wrasses, sharks, baracudas and jacks. But not to be outdone, there are small interesting fish, corals and nudibranchs. And let’s not forget the people. They are warm and friendly and love welcoming visitors to their island home.

If you love handicrafts, they you will be in heaven. The locals are expert carvers and jewelry makers. Often time they are even willing to barter their art for things you may have in excess like t-shirts, backpacks and flashlights.

Join us for an adventure!

We hope you can join us for a special adventure to one of the most special dive destinations in the Pacific.

Find Out More About the Adventure…

Need A Little More of a Push?

If you would like to discover more about the Solomon islands, here is a short video from a previous trip…

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Solomon Islands -2022

Solomon Islands Liveaboard

October 21 to October 29, 2022

Overview

The Solomon Islands comprise 992 islands, of which only 147 are inhabited. Situated to the northeast of Australia and southeast of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands are one of the last frontiers; untouched, peaceful and beautiful. Due to its remote location, the country offers some of the most pristine dive sites in the world, filled with innumerable unspoiled hard and soft corals. Indulge yourself in true picture postcard diving.

There is something for everyone in the Solomon Islands. For those who like their creatures on the large side there are various types of shark cruising amid the spectacular scenery of jaw dropping reefs, walls and pinnacles. For the macro diver, there is a plethora of macro wonders to discover such as pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs, electric clams and ghost pipefish. The marine diversity in Solomon Islands is hard to beat! There are wrecks, caves, caverns, and underwater volcanos.  And the local villagers are friendly and interested in meeting visitors and sharing their crafts, carvings, and culture.  

The Solomon Islands are THE destination for the real diving fan looking for a change of scenery, completely off the beaten track.

Embarkation: Coral Sea Resort, Honiara at 18:00

Disembarkation: Coral Sea Resort, Honiara, at 8:00

What is included?

  • * 11 days/ 10 nights/9 days of diving 
  • * Taxes
  • , full board accommodations based on double occupancy
  • * Meals while on boat, including water, tea, coffee, juices and soft drinks
  • * transfers on arrival if traveling with the group
  • 1 night hotel on arrival and on departure, based on double occupancy
  • * trip brochure and packet,
  • * trip shirt, and travel leader.

Can I use a rebreather?

The Solomon Master is a rebreather friendly vessel. However, sorb and oxygen must be ordered 4 months in advance. If you are using your CCR on this trip, please let us know early so we can make the proper arrangements. So, yes, you may use your rebreather.

Special Oceanic Ventures Connoisseur Club Benefit

Other activities that can be arranged… 

Shopping in town, City and cultural tours

What is not included?

Airfare, additional transfers, meals or activities in transit, any additional hotels based on air schedule once published, transfers not with the group, other land tours, tips for crew and local guides, diving insurance, nitrox, diving equipment not listed above, alcoholic drinks on board, on-board merchandise, local taxes and port fees, Club Aquarius fee $65 pp.  Tips need to be paid in cash. All other vessel expenses can be paid by credit card subject to an admin fee of 3%.  Sofnolime and rebreather gas must be ordered 4 months in advance.  We may need to transit thru Australia or Fiji.

What other things should I be aware of?

  • Local taxes and port fees must be paid in advance and are added to your final payment.  (Estimated $250 USD)
  • Nitrox is $250 per person per charter, paid in advance and added to your final payment..
  • Advanced Open Water and 40 logged dives are recommended for this route. See Ann if you are interested in the trip but do not at this time meet the requirements.
  • Fit to Dive: all guests must complete a fit to dive form www.masterliveaboards.com/forms
  • COVID 19 Vaccination: At this time there is not a vaccine requirement but there may be in the future. 
  • Measles Immunization:  Passengers arriving from American Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Australia, New Zealand and Philippines including transit passengers, are required to show proof of vaccination against measles at least 14 days prior to arrival. We will most likely be transiting thru Fiji or Australia, so plan accordingly.
  • Air Schedules:  air schedules have not been published but it most likely we will need to do a contract charter in order to get all of guests to Honiara and back to meet the vessel’s schedules.  At this time it is probably not possible to use miles for your trip.  Plan to budget apx $2500 for air.  We will negotiate the best contract possible and there should be options for upgrade to business class service.
Dive Mom – “Tell Me More!”

COVID Information

The traveler must be free from COVID before departure. A COVID test is required before departure and a test is required to return to the United States. These requirements are subject to change

The Fine Print…

Please see the Terms & Conditions page for a listing of our travel policies. Additionally, please see the Master Liveaboard terms and conditions. By depositing on the trip, you agree to both sets of terms and conditions. All prices are subject to change until booked and ticketed. All moneys are due in full on deposit even if not paid in full and some penalties may ably for cancellations based on the operators policies and group penalties.  As with most small island properties and vessels, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces.  We highly recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems and should be purchased within 14 das of the initial deposit to receive the most benefit.  No refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Trip insurance and diving insurance can be found at http://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure/DAN and Travel Guard have a family plan.  Diving Accident and Medical Insurance is required. Vessel and OVI travel releases are required.  Please plan to bring a copy of your logbook, c-card, and diving insurance.  

Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration.  No refunds for missed flights or boats.

Note: All guests spaces are reserved upon deposit.  But unless a minimum number of guest sign up for the trip by the deadline dates, an Oceanic Ventures trip leader will not be attending.

Adventure Date

October 21 – 29, 2022

Airfare

Airfare is not included in this trip. Your destination is Honiara

It is best to fly with the group so please let us help you plan this part of the trip. The air schedules for this trip have not been set yet so air will require some patience.

Transit Arrangements

The trip includes 1 night in a transit hotel on arrival and on departure.

Fare

All per person double and Club membership. First booked, first choice. Only 15 guest spaces available

  • * $5,195 pp/Club – Classic Cabin (2 spaces – sold, pending)
  • * $5,694 pp/Club – Premium Cabin (8 spaces – 3 sold, 6 remaining)
  • * $6,095 pp/Club – Master Cabin (6 Spaces – 2 sold 3 remaining)

Deposit & Final Payment

  • * $1,500 plus trip insurance
  • * Final payment due – August 1, 2022
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You can also contact Dive Mom!

Travel Notes

  • * An Oceanic Ventures Application/Travel Release is required at time of booking
  • * A boat Release is required by the final payment date
  • * We cannot guarantee a roommate unless you are booking together with someone, so plan on a single supplement
  • * As with most small liveaboard operations, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces. We always recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems. There are no refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Travel Insurance (ie: comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance) purchased at the time their reservation is made, may help protect guests from financial disappointment if they are prevented from making their scheduled trip due to illness or family illness, or in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent the airline or yacht from making its scheduled trip.
  • * The United States is requiring a COVID test prior to re-entering the country. The boat will handle getting everyone COVID tested prior to boarding your return flight.
  • * Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration
  • * We require diving accident insurance. For your convenience below are links to Dive Assure . Both organizations offer Travel Insurance and Dive Accident Insurance and be purchased via our web site at https://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure and Travel Guard have a family plan. Dive Assure is diving insurance and also has a travel insurance option.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend travel insurance to help cover you for unknown events that may occur. You should purchase it within 14 days of your deposit to receive the most benefit from the policy. We also recommend that you have coverage to help you in the event you need to leave for weather or other emergencies.

Thank you for letting us assist you with your family’s diving adventures!

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Experiencing the Solomon Islands a Scuba Diving Trip Aboard the Bilikiki

Diving in the Solomon Islands – Guadalcanal

Dive Manager - Csaba
Dive Manager – Csaba

 The morning finds is on our first diving location.  Diving off the Bilikiki is done primarily off the “tinies,” aluminum boats with cylinder holes and a small ladder. Csaba (pronounced Chaba) was in charge of the first dive and after the briefing it was – this way to the South Pacific and Tinie 1, Tinie 1 as the crew moved the diving equipment from the deck to the tinie.  The order was the same each day, diving equipment, cameras then divers.  All you as a diver needed to do was to let the crew members know that you were ready, move your name tag from “on-board” to “diving” and then step aboard your waiting diving chariot.

 The adventure continues…

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Experiencing the Solomon Islands a Scuba Diving Trip Aboard the Bilikiki

Beginning in the Solomon’s

 

Bikikiki
Photo by James Burton

Let’s just get this over with at the beginning.  The Bilikiki is an old vessel that is not as well appointed as many other modern live aboard diving and touring vessels.  The dining area has plastic lawn chairs and the tables are simple.  The main salon is not air conditioned and there is no wet head on the dive deck.  But, the crew on this vessel is second to none.  The newest member of the crew has only been on the vessel for two years but spent seven years on the Spirit of the Solomon’s, the sister ship to the Bilikiki.  Most of the remaining crew members have been with the vessel for more than seven to twenty-years.  The on-board diving managers have been here a year and come from extensive ship management in the Red Sea.  Needless to say, they all know how to make your life aboard special!

 Bilikiki CrewEvan, the shore based manager met us at the airport and like the crew on board the boat, Evan has been a part of the operation for a long time (I can attest that he was here in 2006 when we last visited the Bilikki.)  Amazingly, all of our luggage arrived with us and we were promptly taken to the Kitana Medano Hotel to wait for our time to board.  To capitalize on our available time, Ann had arranged for a tour of Honiara and some of the sights that made Guadalcanal such a memorable location in World War II.  There is a beautiful tribute to the men who died in the Pacific defending our freedom and bringing it to others.  This war memorial sits atop a hill above Henderson field and has multiple marble carvings highlighting the battles in this region of the Pacific.  So many men died here that the locals are still finding mess kits and other personal items scattered throughout the jungle.

20130906-_MG_0838The ships scattered on the bottom of Iron Bottom Sound even now contain the remains of American, Australian, British and Japanese sailors.  The majority of these wrecks lie well beyond the range of recreational scuba divers in over 240 feet of water.

Our tour also encompassed Henderson field (we landed here), the river near Red Beach, and a stop at the statue of  Sir Jacob Vouza, the Solomon Islander who alerted the allies to the advancing Japanese troops despite being tortured, stabbed and left for dead.  He survived, was Knighted by the Queen of England and even renamed his village to California so he could tell his friends in America that he was in California.

As our tour ended, our diving adventure was about to begin.  Csaba, on of the on-board boat managers met us at the hotel and transported us to the Honiara Yacht Club – a stuffy name for a simple location with small boats and a nice bar.  Here we joined our luggage which had already been loaded by the crew.  We were met by Daniela, the lively Venezuelan on-board manager.  She is also married to Csaba and no, he is not from Venezuela but rather hails from Hungry and Eastern Europe.

Equipment
Photo by James Burton

The first day on a live aboard is always busy with everyone scurrying around trying to assemble their dive equipment which is scattered around various bags necessitated by the airline luggage rules.  Only after everything is reassembled, tested and stored is there time to relax.

It was soon after dinner that the boat set sail for the beginning of our ten-day cruise through the Solomon Islands.

 

The adventure continues…