Lost $11,000 in Video Gear & Almost My Life: My Solomon Islands Survival Story
Вставка
- Опубліковано 14 лип 2024
- Our adventure in the Solomon Islands was a wake-up call. We were one of the first big tour groups to visit since the pandemic and what we experienced was a shocker. During our trip, we encountered major safety challenges and even experienced a traumatic event. We were lucky to survive due to the lack of proper rescue infrastructure. Despite our meeting with the tourism office, their promises to address the situation have gone unfulfilled, and it's unacceptable. I also want to emphasize that GPS devices are unreliable in this region, further highlighting the urgent need for the local government to establish a dependable rescue system if the tourism industry wants to thrive. It's time for the industry to take action and ensure that tourists are protected. We deserve to have peace of mind when traveling, and it's time for our voices to be heard.
INSURE YOUR EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT! We highly recommend Professional Photographers of America:
www.ppa.com/
The sea was not rough,. It was the inexperienced skipper. The water comes in from the front. The skipper should have slow down and control the boa.t On the other hand the height of the boat might be heavy and after 3rd waves the boat sunk. Next time get boys from Gela who knew about their sea well.
You are right. The skipper was inexperienced. He shoukld have sideways instead of going directlyt to the wave.. Or as you have said he should uave slow down to control the boat against the wave.
Been a Solomon Islander, it's sad to learn your ordeal but glad that you all are safe.
Thank you Makili!
For me of there were lessons to take back... Risks were presented before they left point A. Yet they ignored it. No one really is to blame but themselves.
What do you mean no one is to blame?
The captain has a duty of care towards passengers, same as taxi driver's duty of care towards its clients. That duty of care was breached when the captain ignored the overloding and overcrowding of the boat thereby resulting in the damages caused to the passangers.
I heard about this story on the news last year. Only now am I hearing the details. You guys were really lucky that it happened close to the shore. This type of insurance isn't available in SI either. You thought about protecting your gear, but not your lives. Complaints fall on deaf ears obviously in SI. Need a chisel and a hammer to knock some sense into them. Anyway, thank your good fortune to be alive and talk about it. Cheers mate!
Anupiya thanks for your comment. Yeah, it was definitely a scary experience, but we were lucky that we were close to the shore. It's a lesson learned. As for the complaints, we did our best to communicate our concerns, but it was tough. Still, we're grateful to be alive and able to share our story. Thanks again for your kind words and support, cheers!
Glad to see, no one got seriously hurt. 2 boats would have been better. Thankyou for sharing the video- it serves as a reminder to anyone who is thinking of coming to visit the Solomon Islands to always check with the visitors bureau regarding local transport services. I appreciate the fact that you tried to make this a successful story of survival rather than focussing only on the obvious lack of proper pre departure preparations including ensuring there is enough life jackets on board.hopefully your crew will return again to the Solomons in the future😃
Thank you for reminder . We will work on it on our next return
Hey Emire, thanks for leaving a comment! I'm really glad things turned out the way they did, too. And yeah, having two boats definitely would have been a better option in hindsight. I definitely wanted to focus on the positive side of things, and I appreciate you noticing that. Hopefully, we'll be able to return to the Solomon Islands in the future too. Thanks again for your input!
Neal, sorry you had to experience that, but in the Solomons that is put down to the cost of learning. All the old crew expats carry anything like that in Pelican cases (waterproof). Also, ALWAYS take your own life jacket. I did IT support in the Western Province for six months, travelling between ports by ray boat (the ones you were in), and never expected a life jacket, which is why I carried my own (cheap insurance for US$50). I also (when travelling in the Solomons) carry a backpack with a couple of tins of tuna, a few packets of dry biscuits, a head torch, multi tool, change of clothes, big bottle of water, a wad of cash, and a book to read. If it's not the boat sinking, it's the boat not turning up, the plane not turning up, plans changing, or the unexpected happening (which should always be expected).
Nick, yes! Safety and being prepared are absolutely key. Just to clarify, we were more than ready for anything that could happen, with extra food, water, a GPS, medication, and dry bags to keep our personal belongings safe. We even had a big tarp at the front of the ray boat to hold everything in place. Just so you know, we were all set to stay overnight. It was great to have some ex-military guys in our group who were really vigilant about safety and kept everyone calm during the situation. This was not my first time traveling in the Solomon Islands, and I understand the potential risks and dangers of the area. Even though we were prepared for anything, our captain still managed to take us into some really sketchy waters and ignored the fact that we were in danger. To top it off, he decided to switch fuel tanks when it was the worst possible moment, which ultimately led to us capsizing. I just want to emphasize that accidents can happen to anyone, no matter how much you've planned for them. That's why I made this video, to remind people about the importance of being prepared and taking safety seriously when traveling.
@@howlandnealas an individual who frequent those routes, changing fuel tanks when there are high swoles is very risky as the boat would be stationary. The captain was very inexperienced. I don't even think he frequent that route to know it well enough to make decissions. I've seen and been through worse weathers, i personally think the weather was fine - the captain is to blame for overloading and lack of experience.
Dude this is my biggest fear and there was a reason why i came across this video. I plan to traverse the pacific islands and feared something like this happening. Gear insurance is def something I am going to look into. 🙇♂
Definitely worth having! I know now that it's always better to be safe than sorry, especially when you're far from home. I'm glad this helped provide some insight for you, be safe out there and have an amazing trip!
Glad you got your SD cards rescued. Great documentary of the most memorable part of the trip!
Kevin! Thank you so much for the footage and photos, couldn't have made this without all of that. You rock!
I am from the Solomon Islands and I am deeply ashamed of this situation, as it highlights greed (as rightfully stated), and total disregard from the Authorities in terms of policing sea transports. This would probably be a criminal case if reported to the police upon your arrival in Honiara. Anyways, I'm glad there's no fatalities.
Glad it all worked out with insurance, and happy to see some footage is here as well to remember shipwreck cove :) Max
We are so lucky, man! Good to see you saw this, hope you're doing well!
So sorry for your loss.
The skipper and his crew looks inexperienced.
They should have noticed the overload at the start, and look for a second boat to assist.
Definitely, there were many mistakes made that day.
The boat slipper looked very inexperienced or he did it on purpose. The sea wasn't that bad.
wow! What an experience I for one who experienced a similar case back in the mid 80's...similar boat journey which we spent two nights drift in the ocean..area between Honiara and Ngella and I know how it feels..not nice however our ordeal is somewhat different, as for this recent incident a total underestimation to everything. That being said, another lesson to draw from this incident is...having life jackets does not fully address "safety" its the number of passengers onboard, # 1 rule. This is a major lesson for Solomon Island mariners.
You were very lucky to have survived without serious injury or death. Plenty of locals tragically die each year from travelling on the sea. When you travel to a third world country like the Solomons you need to be acutely aware that you are personally responsible for making decisions to manage risk to your personal wellbeing. When I travel on the sea in the Solomons I take my own life jacket and my own EPIRB. Ask the authorities for advice and listen to them! If I feel uncomfortable with the conditions I don't travel. My life is not worth anything else.
Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with me. I completely agree that traveling to a country like the Solomons requires a heightened level of awareness and responsibility for managing personal risk. It's important to take necessary precautions such as carrying a life jacket and EPIRB, and seeking advice from local authorities. And if the conditions don't feel safe, it's always better to err on the side of caution and not travel. It's important to value our lives above all else, and to make responsible decisions when it comes to our personal wellbeing. Thank you for sharing your advice and knowledge with me.
i was there when you guys got in the boat and i was thinking, this boat will sink.
Sorry to hear about your experience and glad you made it out alive. There are unfortunately inherent risks associated with this sort of travel in the SI. Always use discretion and get recommendations from various sources. Glad you got reimbursed for all your gear! There are Facebook groups for expats travelling to certain places in the SI and the community members give good insight/recommendations for travel etc.
I agree with you! It's super important to be careful and do some research before going on any outdoor adventures while traveling. And if we can help others stay safe by sharing useful information, that's even better.
My God.. There should be two boats if the number of passengers exceeded 20. Thank God you're all okay and safe.
Thank you Peter. I know, it was awful. Thankful we all made it back to Honiara next day. Rax Boy is a clown show - pure greed over safety, we paid them a ton of money too. Still angers me to this day!
Neal Howland, thank you for sharing your story. It is sad that you and your team gone through that experience during your trip here int he Solomon Islands. I want to ask few questions so that you can provide a balance story of your ordeal.
1. Have you contacted a tour guide in the Solomon Islands to help you with your trip?
2. Why choose Raxboy Boat when there are reliable boats in Honiara with experience boat crews and safety equipment's?
3. Why boarding the Raxboy boat when they only have two lifejackets in the boat?
4. Have you considered the safety of your team and filming gears before crowding into that one small boat?
5. Is it possible to re-do your story and repost it once you have answers to the above questions.
I believe the situation could be different if the right people have been engaged in your trip.
Thank you and I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for your questions and concerns David. As a member of the group and not the planner, I don't have much control over the decisions made for the trip, including the choice of boat and tour guide. However, I can answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.
2: Raxboy was recommended to us by our colleague Aloysious Votu, who we trust and have a good working relationship with. Unfortunately, we were deceived by Ben Maneu, who took our money and made promises he did not keep.
3: We trusted that the boat would have enough life jackets as promised by Ben Maneu, but unfortunately, he was nowhere to be seen that morning. We did not have the opportunity to check for ourselves or make alternative arrangements due to our tight timeline.
4: We did consider the safety of our team and filming gear, and we trusted the captain to make the right decisions to keep us safe. Unfortunately, it was the captain who failed to ensure our safety by taking us out in rough weather conditions.
5: I don't have plans to remake the video. However, I hope that by sharing our experience, others can learn from our mistakes and take extra precautions to ensure their safety during similar trips in the Solomon Islands.
I appreciate your concern and hope that our story will raise awareness and prevent similar incidents from happening to others in the future.
@@howlandneal thanks for your response to my questions. Learning from your past ordeal I hope you and your team make arrangements through established tour operators in the country before planning your next trip to our country. We looking forward to have you back here in the future.
Sorry for the experience bro. The sea was not that rough the driver was just inexperience.
You guys should had get recommendation from Tourists Board before traveling. Even the boat you took never been register under the tourists board. Have they got life jacket? Always get recommendation from Tourism Solomons before traveling.
The tourism office wanted to send us in multiple banana boats but our group wanted to be all together. Like I say in the video, Ben Maneu promised us a boat big enough for 20ppl. We did nothing wrong, Ben is just a scumbag who only saw dollar signs looking at us.
@@howlandneal Do you deal with Tourism Operator and are they register under Tourism Solomons? Do they have life jackets? You are dealing with wrong people. You should have take boat driver from Central Province, who know this place instead of people in Honiara. You should have take 2 boat instead of one boat. You guys are overloaded.
@@PatrickSaraAs I'm sure you're aware, Ben Maneu and his guys had the responsibility to ensure that all passengers were equipped with life jackets and that the boat wasn't overloaded. Taking someone's money and assuming responsibility for their safety means that you're ultimately accountable for their well-being. Ben Maneu and Raxboys Fiberglass Unlimited fell short of their responsibilities and were in the wrong for violating our trust and safety regulations. Enough said!
Lucky the weather wasn't that bad,
Only skipper of the boat need to replace you can see it clearly in that video how he just run straight ahead for the waves ,high powered engines with open deck boats its dangerous you need to understand the nature and receives not go against.
Absolutely, safety should always be the top priority when operating any type of vessel on the water. Even seemingly small issues can quickly escalate into serious problems when boating, particularly when dealing with high-powered boats and rough water conditions
Hi Neal, I'm very sorry and disgusted by what my fellow countrymen have put you and your team through.
Raxboy and the skipper should be held liable for the damages and loss. The country's justice system at the moment is heavily influenced by corruption and bribery even in the law enforcement sector thereby hindering accountability.
However, It's good to know you and the team made it out ok. I'm also glad your equipments were covered. If you ever find yourself on our shores again, i think you should make some connections with our provincial premiers or churches who I believe would undoubtedly offer a helping hand to accomodate your needs.
There are other boats around Honiara why did you choose Rax boy?
Hey Wendy, thanks for your question. Yes, we know about other options in Honiara. However, we ended up going with Rax Boy because our colleague and driver recommended them and he agrees now that it was a mistake.
Should be 3 boats carrying at least 6 to 7 people in each boats when travelling that distance.
20 passengers together in one boat was just too much....surely anything can happen
glad you all survived! crazy story!
I was so hesitant to post it, then we finally got reimbursed for the film gear. I wanted it to be somewhat of a success story, lol.
Does the boat service provide life jackets...and how many times the skipper experience to travel in any weather situation.
sorry for the sad ordeal... I hope that cigar brings relief
Should have got one of Gizo marine's Boats
Next time better be luck besides constantly thinking preferably a right choice when it comes to selecting a way better boats than consider the odds first for the transportation before left off the shore
So sorry guys. But I hope it's a step up for you.
Thank you Cathlina.
@@howlandneal I know that black guy #ALO, he is a full time taxi driver, he is not a professional sea man or even a local sea man. When I saw him with u, I knew that nothing will go well. right.
I was there in tulage village Solomon islands,,, Godbless
Thank you Salvador, Tulagi is a really lovely place, so peaceful and serene. Hope to go back there soon.
CrewMan Alo should jump inside sea na hahahaha mekem water no kam in tumas
Why not ship
Useless driver 😑 indeed
Just by seeing Che Guevara imprinted on that boat I woulda stayed back.
useless skipper, He should use the boat to cut the waves not go foward .
Wow... I could only watch to the 3 min point. Lets go to the third world, charter an undersized boat with no life jackets and go out into open surf.
This is just too dumb to believe. I would be embarrassed to share this.
The skipper is so useless. Nil experience
Your fault, you accepted to go in a boat without enough life jackets and overloaded it. Yes you were lied to but you accepted it and did not take the advice of the SI tourism, also you probably went for cheap as well. The driver looks inexperienced and not someone aware of central province. It would have been worse, you should accept a lot of the responsibility yourself.
Sure big man, thanks for sharing your comment.
You are just mean and grumpy. I mean the guy mentions gratitude too in the video and shares his expérience to help other ans you are bitching about what happened to him. What's your point ? To show you are smarter ? Well,you ain't helpful at all that's for sure
Sir, you are too friendly and compassionate
You should never have got on the boat. You made bad decisions at every point. It was your greed and stupidity that ultimately led to this result as you chose an option against the advice of locals and got on a boat that was too small and did not have life jackets. If it was a car would you have crammed yourselves in and been happy with no seat belt ?
Listen up, Chris. You can have your opinions, but if you don't have all the facts, your comments are baseless. Our safety and security were the responsibility of Ben Maneu and Raxboys, and they failed us. We didn't come to the Solomon Islands out of greed, we put a lot of money and effort into traveling to the Solomon Islands, so your accusations of greed are just ridiculous. So, don't even try to suggest that. And for the record, no locals gave us any advice, so your claims are totally off-base. If you're going to speak up, make sure you have all the right details before spouting off.