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The Solomon Islands are a diver’s paradise, offering some of the most pristine reefs, diverse marine life, and historic wrecks in the Pacific. Scuba diving in the Solomon Islands allows you to explore dramatic underwater landscapes, from vibrant coral gardens to WWII relics resting on the ocean floor. With over 900 islands to explore, each dive provides a unique experience, whether you are swimming alongside manta rays, watching schools of fusiliers, or drifting through historical shipwrecks in Iron Bottom Sound.
These waters are part of the Coral Triangle, home to incredible biodiversity. Divers can encounter reef sharks, silvertip sharks, giant trevally, and massive schools of fish, while macro enthusiasts will delight in pygmy seahorses, pipefish, and colorful nudibranchs. The sense of seclusion is unmatched, as many dive sites are visited by only a handful of divers each year. This creates a rare opportunity to enjoy untouched underwater environments that few have explored.
Beyond marine life, diving in the Solomon Islands offers a glimpse into history. WWII wrecks, including cruisers, destroyers, and planes, are scattered across the islands, often lying in shallow depths perfect for exploration. These sites provide a fascinating mix of natural beauty and historical intrigue, making each dive both visually stunning and deeply meaningful. It is an adventure that combines the thrill of discovery with the serenity of tropical waters.
Diving in the Solomon Islands is best experienced through liveaboard diving cruises. These trips allow you to navigate between scattered islands efficiently, maximizing your exposure to a variety of dive sites. Because the region is remote and operators are limited, it is important to plan and book at least 12 months in advance.
Top planning tips:
These sites feature mild currents, excellent visibility (75-125 ft), and mostly calm surface conditions, making dives enjoyable and stress-free. Water temperatures are comfortable year-round at 82-86°F, allowing for extended bottom times. By planning carefully, you can balance adventure, photography, and historical exploration while experiencing the best the Solomons have to offer.
Proper preparation also ensures you encounter the iconic marine life that defines this region. Reef sharks patrol the reefs year-round, while schools of jacks, tunas, and fusiliers add movement and color to every dive. The combination of planning and timing allows divers to fully immerse themselves in the underwater world while avoiding crowds and ensuring safety.
Iron Bottom Sound, near Guadalcanal, is home to one of the most historically significant collections of wrecks in the Pacific. Named for the large number of ships and aircraft sunk during WWII, the sound offers an unparalleled opportunity to combine history with scuba diving adventure. Wrecks like the USS Minneapolis, RNZN Moa, and USS John Penn are scattered across the area, allowing divers to explore torpedo holes, cargo holds, and artillery placements while observing thriving marine life.
Divers can expect a variety of wreck types, from shallow explorations to deeper, more technical dives. Many structures are adorned with corals, sponges, and other marine growth, creating dramatic photographic subjects. Artifacts such as naval shells, machinery, and even cargo remain visible, connecting divers to the history of the battles that shaped the region.
Beyond the wrecks, the waters are alive with marine life. Schools of fusiliers, snapper, and trevally patrol the waters, while reef sharks and silvertip sharks glide along walls. Macro life abounds in crevices, including cuttlefish, ghost pipefish, and porcelain crabs. This combination of history and biodiversity makes Iron Bottom Sound one of the most compelling dive locations in the world.
The Florida Islands are near Honiara and feature a mix of WWII wrecks, macro sites, and vibrant reefs. Sites like the USS Minneapolis and Kashi Maru are shallow and well-lit, ideal for photography and exploration. Sandy channels, seagrass beds, and pinnacles offer diverse habitats that attract fish, sharks, and turtles.
Deeper wrecks, including the RNZN Moa and USS Aaron Ward, offer more challenging dives. These sites allow exploration of bomb damage, propellers, and structural features, often surrounded by schools of fish. Divers can witness historical artifacts while observing marine growth that has taken over the wrecks over decades.
Twin Tunnels is a standout reef dive, featuring ancient lava tube swimthroughs. Shafts of sunlight illuminate the tunnels, creating magical light patterns. Fusiliers, grey reef sharks, and tunas are frequently seen, while macro creatures such as mantis shrimp, cuttlefish, and octopus hide among the crevices.
Guadalcanal offers a variety of dive experiences, combining accessible shore-entry wrecks with deeper historical sites. The Bonegi wrecks, including Horkawa Maru, Kinugawa Maru, and Kysyu Maru, allow divers to explore torpedo holes, inspect cargo, and observe turtles, stingrays, and reef sharks. Smaller creatures such as cuttlefish, garden eels, and octopus are abundant.
The Japanese I-1 Submarine, resting between 33 and 82 ft, offers a unique historical dive. Salvaged partially in the 1960s, this vessel is recognizable despite damage and provides insights into WWII intelligence operations. Soft corals and schools of fish surround the structure, adding color and life to the dive.
Aircraft wrecks, including the B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber, are shallow and largely intact. Coral and sponges have encrusted the plane, creating a thriving habitat. Lionfish, shrimp, and schools of fairy basslets provide abundant photographic opportunities while adding to the unique character of the dive.
Marovo Lagoon is the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, renowned for coral diversity and abundant marine life. Sandy channels are home to pipefish, crocodilefish, and shrimps, while reef walls are covered with soft corals, anemones, and giant sea fans. Lava tube swimthroughs offer dramatic light and shadow effects, enhancing underwater photography.
Key dive highlights:
Diving in Marovo Lagoon provides both adventure and tranquility. The combination of dramatic walls, rich biodiversity, and occasional volcanic activity creates an experience that is unlike any other in the Pacific. This area is ideal for divers seeking both visual wonder and encounters with pelagics and macro life.
Mary Island, or Mborokua, is uninhabited and known for strong currents that attract schools of fish, turtles, and bumphead parrotfish. Jack Point, Barracuda Point, and Coral Gardens offer swimthroughs, caverns, and overhangs that highlight the diversity of underwater habitats.
The Munda area is less visited but equally spectacular. The Cave of the Custom Shark begins in a freshwater spring and exits into saltwater at 115 ft. Shark Point provides encounters with silvertip and hammerhead sharks along soft coral walls, while wrecks such as Kashi Maru and the Douglas SBD Dauntless Bomber are excellent for shallow exploration.
Russell Islands feature a mix of macro and big-picture diving. Rainbow Reef dazzles with fusiliers and anthias. Leru Cut is a soft coral canyon with sunlight filtering through. White Beach hosts a WWII supply dump turned artificial reef, while Custom Caves and Karumolun Point offer swimthroughs, pelagics, and macro life, including disco clams. The Ann wreck is an artificial reef teeming with lionfish, garden eels, and nudibranchs.
Dive The World provides expertly designed liveaboard tours throughout the Solomon Islands. Our team has extensive knowledge of local dive sites, from Iron Bottom Sound to remote reefs and lagoons, ensuring divers visit the most pristine locations.
Key services include:
Our focus on small group experiences ensures quality dives without crowds. Dive The World provides both safety and local expertise, enhancing every underwater adventure and allowing scuba divers to enjoy the full beauty and history of the Solomon Islands.
A liveaboard cruise, such as the Emperor Bilikiki, is the most efficient way to experience multiple dive regions, including New Georgia, Tulagi, the Florida Islands, Russell Islands, and Iron Bottom Sound. Most divers enjoy water temperatures of 82-86°F and visibility of 75-125 ft. Currents are mild, and surface conditions are typically calm.
Essential information:
Planning ensures divers maximize their time on-site, experience peak marine life encounters, and safely explore both shallow and deep wrecks. With careful preparation, every dive becomes an unforgettable part of a complete Solomon Islands adventure.
Diving in the Solomon Islands combines pristine marine environments with dramatic underwater history. From the iconic wrecks of Iron Bottom Sound to the soft coral walls of Marovo Lagoon and Russell Islands, every dive offers a new adventure. Large schools of fish, reef sharks, silvertip sharks, manta rays, and colorful macro creatures make the underwater landscapes truly unforgettable.
The region also provides a deep sense of discovery. WWII wrecks, lava tube swimthroughs, and artificial reefs allow divers to explore both historical and natural wonders. Unique photographic opportunities, shafts of sunlight, and diverse reef structures make every dive visually stunning and full of surprises.
We encourage you to get in touch with Dive The World to plan your ultimate Solomon Islands dive adventure. Their expertise, personalized service, and knowledge of the best dive sites ensure safe, memorable, and well-organized trips. Let’s explore the Solomons together and experience this incredible underwater world firsthand.
