Bilikiki - Solomons - Time for New Boat Managers

[DontLieToMe]

I was recently on the Bilikiki in the Solomons. Previously I have had several good trips on this boat. The Boat Managers, Monty and Michelle, have now been on the same boat doing the same trip for over six years. It shows.

Some examples of sad, disturbing, or just plain unenlightened behavior on the part of the Boat Managers.

Monty. I can lead you on this dive to the "truck". It is at 130+ feet. Question from guest. Can I do this on Nitrox? Answer: I do not see why not. Note: Bilikiki Nitrox log says Maximum Operating Depth for Nitrox is 110 feet.

Michelle. Guest: What is the direction from the airplane to the reef? Answer. I don't use a compass and don't give directions since the guests don't know how to use compasses.

Monty: Response to why they are sending guests to the airport 3+ hours before the flight. You won't have to stand in line for as long.

Michelle: Response to why one is diving on a near 100% dead reef. You can find the most amazing things in the unlikeliest of places. My personal corollary - stupid people say the dumbest things.

Monty and Michelle: We just work here and do what we are told by the office.

Some other observations.

While one of the Boat Managers goes on every dive they are not dive guides. They jump in the water and head off to do their own thing - usually with their camera in hand. This confirms their opening dive briefing were they state they can't be a dedicated dive guide for any one person. This is true - they don't act as dive guides for anyone.

It was next to impossble to get information on what was going to happen for the night dive - almost an attempt to discourage people from going.

 

[Humuhumunukunukuapua'a]

Wow, the lack of knowledge about Nitrox is downright scary. The diver should have known that 130 was too deep, too.

Bummer to hear this in general. Bilikiki has been on my short list of must-dos, and it's a drag to hear they aren't up to snuff.

 

[donacheson]

I was recently on the Bilikiki in the Solomons. Previously I have had several good trips on this boat. The Boat Managers, Monty and Michelle, have now been on the same boat doing the same trip for over six years. It shows.

Some examples of sad, disturbing, or just plain unenlightened behavior on the part of the Boat Managers.

Monty. I can lead you on this dive to the "truck". It is at 130+ feet. Question from guest. Can I do this on Nitrox? Answer: I do not see why not. Note: Bilikiki Nitrox log says Maximum Operating Depth for Nitrox is 110 feet.

Michelle. Guest: What is the direction from the airplane to the reef? Answer. I don't use a compass and don't give directions since the guests don't know how to use compasses.

Monty: Response to why they are sending guests to the airport 3+ hours before the flight. You won't have to stand in line for as long.

Michelle: Response to why one is diving on a near 100% dead reef. You can find the most amazing things in the unlikeliest of places. My personal corollary - stupid people say the dumbest things.

Monty and Michelle: We just work here and do what we are told by the office.

Some other observations.

While one of the Boat Managers goes on every dive they are not dive guides. They jump in the water and head off to do their own thing - usually with their camera in hand. This confirms their opening dive briefing were they state they can't be a dedicated dive guide for any one person. This is true - they don't act as dive guides for anyone.

It was next to impossble to get information on what was going to happen for the night dive - almost an attempt to discourage people from going.

All's not perfect in paradise, but I'd urge you to ponder who deserves the credit for making the Bilikiki easily the best liveaboard in my fairly extensive experience and certainly a favorite of many, many others.

Time for Monte and Michelle to go? They may leave proudly for their own reasons, but not for the trivial ones you cite.

 

[DontLieToMe]

There are many good aspects to the Bilikiki that are attributable to the current Boat Managers. Safety is never trivial.

 

[vetdiver]

Wow. This is the first negative thing I've seen about the Bilikiki. Sorry you were disappointed with your trip. We're off to do a 12-day trip with them in June, and I can't wait. Hope your negative experience was an isolated one.

(Gotta say, what Nitrox-certified person would ASK to dive to 130 ft??????? Scary all around...)

 

[donacheson]

There are many good aspects to the Bilikiki that are attributable to the current Boat Managers. Safety is never trivial.

Safety? Aside from possibly the nitrox question, for which you provided no info on the mix, I don't see any significant safety issues addressed by your remarks.

If you found the lack of close supervision during the dives a safety issue, you put yourself on the wrong boat. Many, if not most, of us find that one of the attractions of the Bilikiki.

 

[menemsha43]

I know a number of people who have been on this boat and I've heard nothing glowing reports. I'm surprised to see this

 

[leeaf]

I was on the Bilikiki in June 2004, so although my experience is now 18 months out of date, I have to say it is easily the best live aboard and overall diving experience I have had (and I have dived a lot of places). While Monty & Michelle can have their moments, I found them to be excellent overall and in particular Michelle provided the best food I have ever had on a dive boat. I agree with one of the previous writers, I personally like the freedom of loose supervision, but there was never any feeling that safety was being compromised.

 

[donacheson]

I know a number of people who have been on this boat and I've heard nothing glowing reports. I'm surprised to see this

Why the surprise? Surely you know other grumps who are impossible to please. His gripes are trivial. Even the Nitrox issue he raised, 130 vs 110 feet, is probably for the use of Nitrox-32 for which the maximum depth is 130 feet if you limit yourself to a maximum O2 partial pressure of 1.6 atm, 110 feet if 1.4 atm. Of course, for those of us who learned on the US Navy tables, it was 2.0 atm. <G>

 

[peterjmaerz]

Have I lost my mind (or forgotten my training?)

I thought MOD for 32 was 132fsw. I don't have my log book with me, but I seem to remember using 30% or smaller mixtures on the Spirit of SOlomons. Anyway, don't know about the Monty and Michelle, but Grant and Sonia on the Spirit (Bilikiki sister ship) were fantastic, as was just about every aspect of the trip.

Of course, not every reef is perfect and I've never taken a trip to any island destination where there wasn't an issue with airport lines and waiting in general. That's part of the millieu. I'd personally rather hang around the airport for an extra hour or more to ensure making the flight.

While good briefings are a must (and they were very detailed on the Spirit, covering every possible contingency) I think divers who embark on a liveaboard trip should be aware of and responsible for their own safety.

Best,