Bilikiki has returned from 10 days of spectacular diving with 20 guests under the leadership of Jane Steinbrecher's Dream Weaver. We visited the Floridas Islands, the Russells, Mary Island and Marovo Lagoon - what an adventure it turned out to be! The weather conditions were mixed but the encounters under water were fantastic.
Everyone just loved the magnificent hard and soft corals, plus the fish life to match. It's hard to mention all the highlights we were lucky to see during this trip, but one was definitely a close encounter with a great hammerhead shark, slowly cruising above our heads. What really kept the dive deck chattering at an unprecedented noise level though, was the unexpected encounter with a resting saltwater crocodile while diving in Mbulo - oh wow, that was something extremely rare and equally exciting!
Kicha proved to be another highlight, with a very curious and playful mobula ray appearing through a cloud of rainbow runners and having a close look at our divers, it performed loops around us for several minutes. All the while, the undersea volcano Kavachi was exploding and crackling along at record noise levels, providing the perfect soundtrack - it was almost physical! We also saw a sea snake, massive stone fish, mantas, ribbon eel, an amazing array of colourful anemones and their guardian fish, the list could go on and on. Every dive offered something special and unique.
Our guests equally enjoyed the contact with the local villagers while visiting the carving markets. Many presents were handed out to smiling kids and adults alike during the floating vegetable canoe markets. Thankfully, the rain stopped the morning of our village visit to Karumolun, with the villagers performing their custom singing, dancing and the beautiful pan pipe music - played with flip-flops!
A trip full of unforgettable memories above and below the waves has come to an end. Thank you so much Jane for being such wonderful company and bringing all these great folks out here. And thank you, again, to our amazing Bilikiki crew, who worked tirelessly to make all this happen - you are the best!
Best fishes
Tina & Oli
Photo Credits:
Hammerhead + Saltie: Chris Hess
Mobula, Spearing Mantis, + Crab: Todd Allen