Solomon Islands May/June 2021 Group Trip

Join Bluewater Travel's Katie Yonker to experience an abundance of marine life, healthy reefs, varied underwater terrain, historic WWII wrecks, and vibrant local culture! Hop onboard Solomons PNG Master, a custom-designed diving vessel for some incredible diving off the beaten path.

Why Join This Trip?

• The liveaboard will be the only dive boat at each dive site in this remote location. 
• Four guided dives per day (conditions permitting)
• Excellent time of the year with calm conditions
• Opportunities to visit and chat with locals
• Special early booking discount

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Want to know more about the Solomon Islands? Read the exciting articles of out trip leader Mark B. Hatters' last adventure to the Solomon Islands from here.

Trip Overview

The Solomon Islands are hailed by some underwater water photographers as one of the best diving spots in the world for underwater photography, with lots of big, wide-angle subjects (good shipwrecks, WWII artifacts), great macro critters (ghost pipefish, pigmy seahorse), and interesting terrain such as caves and crevices. With the diving being limited to a few dive boats, you're not likely to see other divers during the trip. Plus, you get the chance of having friendly encounters with locals who come out to greet the boat.

Dive Overview

For incredible reefs, lots of fish, and very few other divers, the Solomons is the place to be. You have wrecks, caverns, wide-angle reefs, large sea fans, soft corals, lots of macro life. There is an incredible diversity of hard corals. In fact, the diversity of the Solomon's is hard to beat. The Solomon Islands rivals any other Indo-pacific destination for coral reefs, marine life, and diversity. 

SOLOMON ISLANDS TYPICAL DIVE

On a liveaboard, 4 dives a day is typical and that usually includes a night dive. You can dive solo or go with friends and/or a guide. Although some dives are from the mothership, tender boats are also used. The tender is usually waiting for you - in the event that you surface early, they’re available to bring you back to the boat. Diving is fairly easy with not much current, good visibility, and plentiful marine life.

Most divers use nitrox due to the repetitive diving. Depths are standard for Info-Pacific reefs, with the best marine life between 20-80 feet deep. Motoring between sites is usually done during meals or at night, allowing you to maximize your time spent in the water.  

Diving Conditions 

Water and air temperature are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying only 2 - 3 degrees all year long. Water temperatures should range between 82-85° F (28-30° C). Average visibility is around 15 meters/50 feet, though at times you’ll enjoy 21-30 meters/60-90 feet or more. 

To learn more about what you can expect from this Solomon Islands trip check out this trip report. You can also read the great reviews of Solomons PNG Master & the reviews on diving Solomon Islands here.

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Inclusions

• Cabin accommodation and housekeeping
• All meals, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Up to 4 dives per day
• Tanks, air fills, and weights
• Round trip local airport or hotel transfers on the start and end dates of the trip.

Exclusions

• Marine park, port, and Kastom fees: $250
• Optional Nitrox: $250
• Gratuity
• Dive Insurance (mandatory)
• Travel Insurance: click here to learn more about our preferred plan

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About the Solomons PNG Master

Solomons PNG Master (previously known as MV Taka) is a custom-designed diving vessel with 12 cabins accommodating up to 20 guests and a crew of 12 including dive guides, skipper, boat crew, and chefs.

Check out this page to see more details and customer reviews on the Solomons PNG Master.

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ABOUT THE TRIP LEADER

Katie Yonker is the Director of Operations for Bluewater Travel. Her interest in scuba diving started many years ago while on vacation in the British Virgin Islands. Though not yet certified, she was mesmerized by the marine life below the surface. As soon as she returned to Los Angeles, she swapped her mask and snorkel for a regulator and BCD (and a mountain of other dive equipment) and hasn't looked back since! 

Katie is no stranger to the Southern California waters, but prefers to travel around the world and experience new cultures, food, and marine environments. Her most memorable dive moment was swimming 20 feet from humpback whales off the coast of Moorea. At the top of the list for her next dive vacation: returning to Papua New Guinea. Learn more about Katie here.

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FLIGHT INFORMATION

You should book flights into and out of Honiara International Airport (code: HIR). Embarkation is at 6:00pm on May 25 from the Coral Sea Resort & Casino. We recommend guests arrive a day before embarkation and spend the night in Honiara. This helps ensure you start adjusting to the time difference, and gives you a buffer in case there are any flight delays or baggage issues. The following is a list of recommended hotels in Honiara.

Coral Sea Resort & Casino
The Heritage Park Hotel
The King Solomon Hotel

Please contact us if you'd like hotel rates and booking assistance.

Disembarkation is at 9:00am on June 4th and any departure flight times for that day will work.

Airport or local hotel transfers are provided on embarkation and disembarkation days. 

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PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Deposit: $400

Payment 2: $400, due May 15, 2020

Payment 3: $2,500, due November 15, 2020

Balance: due February 15, 2021

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WANT TO EXTEND YOUR TRIP?

We can help with that! See more of the Solomon Islands before or after the Bluewater group trip. Here is an example of a package we can add on to your trip reservation:

*Rates are subject to change at any time; please contact us for the most updated pricing. 

5 NIGHTS AT THE UEPI ISLAND RESORT

Price: $1,475 USD per person based upon double occupancy. (Room upgrades available.

Uepi Island Resort is a relaxed and intimate resort perched on the edge of the longest lagoon in the world. It's situated in a tropical rainforest interspersed with walking paths, and is a special place for the few who get to visit.

• 5 nights Guest Room Accommodation
• Full board meals
• 10 dives with tanks, weights, boat, guide
• Round trip boat transfers from Seghe airport
• Government taxes

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Photo Gallery 

Solomon Islands Underwater Photos from Previous Trips  

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