VUANA GUEST HOUSE INFORMATION ---- operated by Solomon Dive adventures ---- We have 2 "bungalows" to house our guests, both of which sit ALMOST ( but not quite) in the sea. The older of the 2 (VUANA) is lovely, homey and very comfortable. If you go onto our WEB site, click on "Story of a Dream", and the section on guest House, there's a good, if old, photo of it there. It has 2 BR- 1 with a big double bed or 2 singles, 1 with 2 singles. A small LR with couch, table and chairs, bookshelves with a ton of books ( no shortage of reading material of all types), and a deck where most guests spend the bulk of their time. Our new, larger, airy room (BREEZE) with its large attached"breezeway" for dining, relaxing, playing games, table tennis, etc. is now in great use. We have a "campus" kitchen behind the GH, where Reliance, our Guest House manager., prepares delicious and healthy meals ( well, most of the time- the fish 'n' chips are great! Then there's the pineapple fritters). We strive to serve well balanced meals with lots and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, so our guests will feel at their best to enjoy their diving and other activities. We have power ( both 110 and 240)- lights and ceiling fans and plugs for computers, chargers, etc. AND- best of all- we want you to feel part of our family and make yourselves completely at home. Simple snacks and fruits, coffee and tea are always available. There are 2 toilet-shower houses- 1 on either side and behind- a 30-45 second walk. The new addition will soon have its own toilet shower, and additional one for the older guest house. There is an outdoor shower, and a water tank with shower just in case there is ever a problem with the village water system. We have a kayak and will have real dugout canoes available on request. An advantage for most of our guests out here at Vuana ( the name of our area) is that here you are a part of our little community ( we're located about a 3 minute walk outside of the village proper on the eastern end). You have a much greater opportunity to really meet and become friends with our staff, other villagers and their families- not just the people who serve you. Our Headstart Program ( preschool and kindy) is in our library, which is behind the kitchen. Most of our guests lose a part of their hearts there, and leave with lots of precious photos. Because of our location out here on the point, we are blessed with way more breeze than they get in the village proper. When you hit our sand road, the temperature drops noticeably- we're almost always about 5 deg. F cooler out here. There is a great beach trail leading out to Piti Piti Point, then onto Medali Beach. I go out to Piti Piti with my 2 pups almost every evening for their ( and my) walk.
A disadvantage for some is that, because of our location, and the fact that we are a Seventh Day Adventist village with its prohibition on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, I respect and honor that rule out here on our campus. Personally, I have seen too much of the ravages and pain that alcohol has wrought on islanders not equipped to handle it, so I am very comfortable with just not having it around for temptation. If someone needs to smoke, we ask them to walk off "campus" to do so. Most of our guests seem to enjoy having a "drug-free" atmosphere. In addition to the SCUBA diving, which is our specialty, we can offer bush walks, fishing, cultural tours to other villages, snorkeling trips. etc. Making your holiday the best that it can possibly be is our top priority. We want our guests to have the kind of vacation we would like to have, and to have such a good time that they will return- and become more than guests, become friends and part of our family. SOLOMON DIVE ADVENTURES DIVING WITH A DIFFERENCE-----WE CARE I just don't know where to begin with the superlatives. Perhaps, suffice it to say, I have around 14,000 dives under my weight belt, and the diving here continually blows my mind. The sheer diversity and beauty- from our golden soft coral walls, our giant fans, our big fish and shark laden points, endless hard coral beds, to our favorite muck diving sites endlessly excite me. I am convinced that our position at the "Gateway To Marovo", affording us open ocean and protected lagoon exposures is instrumental in the superb quality of our diving. I have the sheer joy of being able to run charters as we did 30 + years ago in Kona- very small, very personal, no limitations save diving within your training and experience. We do our best to map your diving with us according to your interests and abilities. Your schedule is our schedule- we dive when you want to where you want to. Our crew of Solomon Islanders are well trained PADI Divemasters and the only Solomon Islander PADI Instructor with a good grounding in marine biology and incredible enthusiasm about sharing their underwater world with you. Between myself, with 36 years of guiding experience, and our Solomon Island guides, with 5 full years each, we offer you over 50 years of experience in helping our divers to get the most out of their diving experience with us. We DO NOT race you around underwater. We DO love long, slow dives, sharing our knowledge of marine life with you. If you don't know how to breathe effeiciently, we teach you, so you'll get more for your diving dollars. We have had more than 1 diver with us who have doubled their bottom times- from around 30 minutes to over an hour. Our briefings are
already famous- we show you photos and teach you hand signs for the special animals and behaviors we are looking for underwater. For us, it's all about teaching people and learning ourselves about what's going on underwater- or who's doing what to whom and why. Log on to You Tube and type in "Magic of Marovo" to meet our crew and get a tiny idea of our magical world. We are currently privileged to be the ONLY village based dive operation in the country. Here you will have a chance to get to know your crew outside of your diving. I deal with many "crying hearts" on return trips from the airstrip- especially when someone has been with us for a couple of weeks and has settled into our family. PRICES AND PAYMENT: ALL PRICES CURRENT AS OF AUGUST, 2011, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. We require 50% of lodging down payment to confirm your reservation. This can be done via bank transfer to my bank in the Solomons, or to my bank in the US by check or transfer. The balance accomodations and transfers are due in our account 2 weeks prior to arrival. For diving, and other activities, I LOVE good old fashioned traveler's cheques, cash or bank transfer/check. VUANA GUEST HOUSE- $700 SBD per night per person- includes all meals and snacks. Soft drinks are $15 SBD per. THE BREEZE- $800 SBD per night per person. Same as above. DIVING! I HATE tying people into X # of dives, then someone gets sick, or, what happens here is people succumb to the pure magic and serenity of this place and want to spend the afternoon in the hammock with a book, or visiting with village friends, or go hiking, or, or, or. So- we have a "DO IT YOURSELF" package. I like to call it " Pay as you Play". 1 TANK DAY BOAT DIVE ----------------------------------------------------------- $550 SBD 2 TANK DAY BOAT DIVE-----includes snacks ------------------------------------ $1100 SBD 1 TANK INTRODUCTORY DIVE --includes gear and instruction ------------- $1000 SBD
ALL DAY, 2 TANK PICNIC TRIPS TO KICHA ISLAND** ------------------------------------------------------------------ $1200 SBD NIGHT BOAT DIVE ------------------------------------------------------------------- $650 SBD GUIDED SHORE DIVE ----------------------------------------------------------------$400 SBD NIGHT SHORE DIVE ------------------------------------------------------------------ $550 SBD All the above include tanks, weights and guides. Rental gear available at $80 SBD per item- rental is for 24 hours. SNORKELERS (1 SITE) --------------------------------------------------------------- $300 SBD SNORKELERS (2 SITES) ------------------------------------------------------------- $450 SBD SNORKELERS (KICHA ISLAND TRIP) ------------------------------------------- $600 SBD PADI PRIVATE OPEN WATER DIVE COURSE (MAX- 2 STUDENTS) (INCLUDES ALL GEAR, 6 DIVES) ------------------------------------------------- $4500 SBD PADI ADVANCED OPEN WATER (INCLUDES ALL GEAR- 5 DIVES) --- $3600 SBD **Kicha Island, our "crown jewel", has been designated by Peava as a marine and terrestrial protected area. The village is engaged in creating picnic areas, trails with interpretive signs, a ranger station, hiring and training rangers to both act as guides and prevent poaching. It is a marvelously rich area both below and above the sea. The land portion is a major nesting area for Solomon Island pigeons (Kuru Kuru), red-eye starlings, and various sea birds. We have found a turtle nesting area, and megapode nests ( a bird like a giant chicken that digs deep holes and buries its eggs). News alert!! On 7 Dec., 2011, our first verified hawksbill turtle hatchling made its laborious way safely to the sea. Divers will be charged a $25 SBD for each dive they do. This money will go to support the M & T PA. We are proud to be a part of this village based effort.
GETTING HERE!!!! Most of our guests arrive via Solomon Airlines. We have an airstrip at Sobiro ( GTA is code) just across the bay- about a 20 min. ride in most conditions. MOST OF THE TIME the planes can land, but it is NOT an all weather strip. In times of heavy rains, you may be changed to a flight to Seghe ( EGM). If this happens, we WILL come and pick you up. However, there are extra charges on both ends. Sol air might apply an extra charge of approximately $75 SBD. Our transfer charges are: Sobiro ( GTA) $250 SBD for the first 2 people, $25 each additional; Seghe ( EGM) is a 2 1/2-4 hour ( depends on weather and water conditions) trip through the lagoon- $2000 SBD for the first 2 people; $200 for each additional person. We do our best to hold the line, but THESE PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE- THEY ARE STRICTLY FUEL COST DEPENDENT. SHOULD YOU BOOK A ROOM, AND NOT ARRIVE ON SCHEDULE DUE TO AIRLINE ISSUES, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FULL PRICE FOR THAT NIGHT. WE HAVE GONE TO THE EXPENSE OF PREPARING YOUR ROOM(S), GETTING MARKET IN, PREPARING MEALS, ETC., AND HAVING STAFF HERE TO CARE FOR YOU. IF WE SEND A BOAT TO EITHER OF THE AIRSTRIP S AND YOU DO NOT ARRIVE, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE TRIP. ALWAYS, ALWAYS CHECK WITH SOL AIR EARLY IN THE MORNING OF YOUR FLIGHT FOR ANY CHANGES. THEY ARE FREQUENT AND OFTEN THEY ARE EARLIER. IT IS JUST A FACT OF LIFE FOR A SMALL AIRLINE TRYING TO SERVICE AS MANY PLACES AS POSSIBLE WITH WIDELY VARYING LOADS. CHECK AND DOUBLE CHECK. Call Sol Air Operations at 36049 early in the morning of your flight, or the afternoon before if you have an early morning flight and say you're checking on the flight to Gatokae. Some guests choose to come by ship. Express Pelican (5 1/2 hours) comes most Sundays, but is not at all reliable, arrives at Bunikalo (transfer charge $250 plus $25 each over 2)); slower ships Uta Princess and Estrella (approx. 12 hours) come in on Sunday nights- they come right into our lagoon- $100 transfer charge.