Philippines: Off the Beaten Path – Feb 2024

Philippines: Off the Beaten Path – Feb 2024

Philippines: Off the Beaten Path – Feb 2024

Philippines: Off the Beaten Path

Two x 10 night trips aboard Atlantis’ Azores

Join Richard and Wendy’s ‘Our Beloved Seas’ expedition to explore some of the less frequently visited areas of the Philippines

Puerto Galera

The start and end location for each of the charters

Romblon

Trip 1: New Muck Diving must-visit location!

Apo Island

Trip 2: Mini, rarely dived, Tubbataha-like remote reef.

Coron Islands

Trips 1 & 2: Coron is full of newly discovered micro-endemics and some yet to be named!

Anilao

Trip 1: We’ll visit Philippine’s other big muck diving location, Anilao

3-13th February 2024

Trip 1: Romblon & Coron

1 x Female Share Space Available
14-24th February 2024

Trip 2: Apo Island, Anilao & Coron

FULL – please contact for waitlist
As one of the six Coral Triangle countries, the biodiversity of the Philippines is second to none. We have visited Dumaguete, Tubbataha, Cebu and Anilao in the past and are keen to visit a different part of the archipelago. Rich visited Coron several years ago in search of the many micro-endemic species that are found only there. These include three of the four species of damselfishes found in the Indo-Pacific that brood their young. There are many other new and yet-to-be-named species here too, so both trips will visit this wonderful area! We were also keen to add some muck diving, so each of the two trips will have a different spot on the itinerary. The first trip will visit Romblon, which is the new kid on the block for Asian muck diving. Ordinarily it’s very hard to reach, so liveaboard makes it much easier! The second will visit Apo Island for pelagics, and Anilao for muck. We visit Anilao in the past and saw an array of incredible animals. All round, both of these trips will be unique and have something for divers wanting to dive a bit deeper in the Philippines.

TRIP ONE

Trip start: 3rd February 2024
Trip end: 13th February 2024
Prices start from: US$ 5,865
Availability: 1 x female share cabin available
Depart from: Puerto Galera (group will meet in Manila)
Return to: Puerto Galera

TRIP TWO

Trip start: 14th February 2024
Trip end: 24th February 2024
Prices start from: US$ 5,865
Availability: Full – contact us to join waitlist
Depart from: Puerto Galera (group will meet in Manila)
Return to: Puerto Galera

The Azores has set new standards in liveaboard diving in the Philippines, and as many of our guests say, in Asia. Azores is the perfect place from which to explore some of the best diving in the world  only possible by liveaboard.

Food & Beverages
Nitrox
Transfers
Marine Park Fees
Diving
Marine life talks by Dr Richard Smith

Prices start from $5,865.00 per person twin share

AMAZING! Richard is able to make scientific talks hugely entertaining . I learnt so much, and every dive after the talks I found myself on the hunt for the new critters I had just learnt all about. Brilliant!

Madeleine

Australia

Days to departure

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Register your interest or join the waitlist

6 + 1 =

The talks enhance the diving experience and encourage new interest outside the obviously spectacular! Friendly, approachable organisation

Martin

United Kingdom

Solomon Islands – June/July 2024

Solomon Islands – June/July 2024

Solomon Islands – June 2024

Visit the Remote & Pristine Coral Reefs of the Solomon Islands

11 & 10 night trips aboard the Bilikiki

Join Richard and Wendy’s ‘Our Beloved Seas’ expeditions in the most easterly corner of the Coral Triangle

Solomon Islands

Remote and Pristine Coral Triangle Reefs
11-22nd June 2024

Full – Contact us for waitlist

22nd June – 2nd July 2024

FULL – Contact us for waitlist

The reefs of the Solomon Islands fall within the fabled ‘Coral Triangle’, which comprises six countries including parts of Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea.  The further you stray from these reefs, the fewer the number of species they accommodate. Several new species have been described recently from its reefs such as Burt’s Damselfish (Chrysiptera burtjonesi), Lynn’s Pipefish (Festucalex rufus) and Marinda’s Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus marinda). Richard has joined Bilikiki on four previous trips and knows the reefs well and is excited to see what other species we are able to find.

 

 

TRIP ONE – 11 nights

Trip start: 11th June 2024

Trip end: 22nd June 2024

Prices start from: US$ 6680

Availability: Full – contact us for waitlist

Depart from: Honiara

Return to: Honiara

TRIP TWO – 10 nights

Trip start: 22nd June 2024

Trip end: 2nd July 2024

Prices start from: US$ 6100

Availability: Full – contact us for waitlist

Depart from: Honiara

Return to: Honiara

 

 

 

The Solomon Islands has an amazing array of varied, rarely visited dive sites. Bilikiki Cruises does not have a fixed itinerary for dive sites but goes to the best spots possible for the conditions and the interests of our guests.
We will likely visit the Russell Islands, Mary Island and the Florida Islands to dive the stunning reefs of these areas. We also visit a village to see custom singing and dancing and to see traditional life.
We also visit the Marovo Lagoon area of the Western Province. We will also plan to stop at other villages to see the famous wood carvings of the area. Here you will have to chance to see and buy hand made carvings and other amazing traditionally made items. Village visits are arranged during the surface intervals so as not to effect the number of dives offered per day.  
The Solomon Islands is known for amazing coral reefs as well as bountiful World War II wrecks.

 

 

In 1989 MV Bilikiki sailed as the first full service luxury live aboard dive vessel in the Solomon Islands. She is a large, stable, comfortable vessel and consistently rated one of the best live aboards in the world.
 
MV Bilikiki has 10 deluxe cabins, eight with a double bed and single bunk and two with twin single beds and no bunk (cabins #1 & 2). All cabins are air conditioned and have their own en-suite. There is a large sundeck, comfortable lounge and camera area and spacious dive deck. Her large size and a hull that was built for South Pacific seas are two main reasons why guests from around the world still say that “the Bilikiki” is one of the most spacious and comfortable vessels that they have travelled on.

Food & Beverages

Diving

Land tours

Marine life talks by Dr Richard Smith

Transfers from Honiara Airport

 

Prices start from $6100 per person

 

AMAZING! Richard is able to make scientific talks hugely entertaining . I learnt so much, and every dive after the talks I found myself on the hunt for the new critters I had just learnt all about. Brilliant!

Madeleine

Australia

Days to departure

Day(s)

:

Hour(s)

:

Minute(s)

:

Second(s)

Register your interest or join the waitlist

4 + 13 =

The talks enhance the diving experience and encourage new interest outside the obviously spectacular! Friendly, approachable organisation

Martin

United Kingdom