The Solomon Islands: a rugged, jungle-clad island chain in the South Pacific. Remembered for fierce land and sea battles during WW2, but largely overlooked in the decades since. This tropical archipelago is home to a splendid diversity of island peoples, many still leading a traditional village life. The islands are also home to a rich diversity of wildlife, while the seas support kaleidoscopic coral reefs and an astonishing array of cetaceans.
Join us on an exploratory wildlife cruise through the Solomon Islands. Starting from the capital, Honiara, we sail amongst the islands, in search of whales and dolphins. Alongside all the expected tropical species there are also reports of unidentified beaked whales. But a particular target will be Omura’s Whale, a tropical baleen whale which was unknown to science before 2004, when it was first described from the Solomons.
As with our other live-a-board trips, in the Solomons we will anchor each night in a sheltered location, allowing plenty of time to visit the islands and local villages. Most villages have traditional rights over adjacent reefs and forests, and in more remote locations we will have to pay our respects to the village elders before venturing ashore.
Day 1: Board our expedition vessel in Honiara and cruise out into the adjacent Iron Bottom Sound, where, with just a little luck, we can expect our first cetacean encounters. We should anchor in good time for an introductory snorkel before sunset, and this evening there will be an orientation talk.
Days 2-9: We explore the waters and islands of the Western and Central Provinces, although our itinerary will be very flexible to take full advantage of local conditions and wildlife sightings. Most days will start with a choice of a visit ashore (to a local village and/or for birding) or a snorkel on a nearby coral reef. Back on board for breakfast, and then we will be off, spending much of each day out at sea in search of cetaceans, seabirds and other oceanic life. We will anchor mid- to late-afternoon, in time for another island visit or snorkel. Most evenings there will be an illustrated talk.
Day 10: A final full day of sea watching as we make our way back towards our anchorage at Honiara for our last night on board.
Day 11: After breakfast we disembark and transfer to accommodation ashore or to the International Airport for flights home. (There are several flight options, but the easiest are via Brisbane).
CETACEANS
The Solomon Islands are home to an extraordinary diversity and abundance of tropical cetaceans, with an average of 15 species seen on each of our trips, and a total of 19 species recorded so far. This is the type locality of Omura’s Whale (i.e. the place from which the first scientific specimens were obtained) and we do keep a particular look-out for this species on all our trips.
Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera brydei
Omura’s Whale Balaenoptera omurai
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus
Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima
Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris
Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata
Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Indo-pacific Bottlenose Tursiops aduncus
Fraser’s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei
Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis
Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus
Shortfin Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus
Melon-headed Whale Peponocephala electra
Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata
Killer Whale Orcinus orca
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris
Dense-beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris
Deraniyagala’s Beaked Mesoplodon hotaula
“An amazing trip! Dolphins and Whales galore. Snorkeling amazing. Wonderful location, boat and
crew.” MW, UK
“Fantastic trip thanks to Chas and all the Bilikiki crew. So many great experiences with cetaceans, snorkelling and the islands all exceeding our expectations.” PM, UK
“Thank you Chas for pampering us with so many whales and dolphins in the last 10 days – 15 species!!!” PT, HK
“14 species of cetaceans!! Brought to life by your lectures. Hundreds (thousands?) of different fish and other creatures under the surface. The best snorkelling of our lives. Lovely memories.” RW, Netherlands
“A massive thank you Chas for another amazing trip. An amazing combination of wildlife, people and islands.” AS, UK
“Chas, thank you for introducing us to the whales of the Solomons and for answering my daily questions. Wonderful trip, thank you.” LA, USA
The Solomon Islands: a rugged, jungle-clad island chain in the South Pacific. Remembered for fierce land and sea battles during WW2, but largely overlooked in the decades since. This tropical archipelago is home to a splendid diversity of island peoples, many still leading a traditional village life. The islands are also home to a rich diversity of wildlife, while the seas support kaleidoscopic coral reefs and an astonishing array of cetaceans.
Join us on an exploratory wildlife cruise through the Solomon Islands. Starting from the capital, Honiara, we sail amongst the islands, in search of whales and dolphins. Alongside all the expected tropical species there are also reports of unidentified beaked whales. But a particular target will be Omura’s Whale, a tropical baleen whale which was unknown to science before 2004, when it was first described from the Solomons.
As with our other liveaboard trips, in the Solomons we will anchor each night in a sheltered location, allowing plenty of time to visit the islands and local villages. Most villages have traditional rights over adjacent reefs and forests, and in more remote locations we will have to pay our respects to the village elders before venturing ashore.
Day 1: Board our expedition vessel in Honiara and cruise out into the adjacent Iron Bottom Sound, where, with just a little luck, we can expect our first cetacean encounters. We should anchor in good time for an introductory snorkel before sunset, and this evening there will be an orientation talk.
Days 2-9: We explore the waters and islands of the Western and Central Provinces, although our itinerary will be very flexible to take full advantage of local conditions and wildlife sightings. Most days will start with a choice of a visit ashore (to a local village and/or for birding) or a snorkel on a nearby coral reef. Back on board for breakfast, and then we will be off, spending much of each day out at sea in search of cetaceans, seabirds and other oceanic life. We will anchor mid- to late-afternoon, in time for another island visit or snorkel. Most evenings there will be an illustrated talk.
Day 10: A final full day of sea watching as we make our way back towards our anchorage at Honiara for our last night on board.
Day 11: After breakfast we disembark and transfer to accommodation ashore or to the International Airport for flights home. (There are several flight options, but the easiest are via Brisbane).
CETACEANS
The Solomon Islands are home to an extraordinary diversity and abundance of tropical cetaceans, with an average of 15 species seen on each of our trips, and a total of 19 species recorded so far. This is the type locality of Omura’s Whale (i.e. the place from which the first scientific specimens were obtained) and we do keep a particular look-out for this species on all our trips.
Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera brydei)
Omura’s Whale (Balaenoptera omurai)
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima)
Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris)
Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuate)
Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncates)
Indo-pacific Bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus)
Fraser’s Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei)
Rough-toothed Dolphin (Steno bredanensis)
Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
Shortfin Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
Melon-headed Whale (Peponocephala electra)
Pygmy Killer Whale (Feresa attenuate)
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Dense-beaked Whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)
Deraniyagala’s Beaked (Mesoplodon hotaula)
An amazing trip! Dolphins and Whales galore. Snorkeling amazing. Wonderful location, boat and
crew.” MW, UK
“Fantastic trip thanks to Chas and all the Bilikiki crew. So many great experiences with cetaceans, snorkelling and the islands all exceeding our expectations.” PM, UK
“Thank you Chas for pampering us with so many whales and dolphins in the last 10 days – 15 species!!!” PT, HK
“14 species of cetaceans!! Brought to life by your lectures. Hundreds (thousands?) of different fish and other creatures under the surface. The best snorkelling of our lives. Lovely memories.” RW, Netherlands
“A massive thank you Chas for another amazing trip. An amazing combination of wildlife, people and islands.” AS, UK
“Chas, thank you for introducing us to the whales of the Solomons and for answering my daily questions. Wonderful trip, thank you.” LA, USA
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