Scuba Diving The Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are a diver's paradise and an eco-tourism destination that's unspoiled, unhurried and absolutely unforgettable. As beautiful below as it is above... warm sparkling clear waters and all round dive destination with wrecks, big fish, colorful corals, mantas and more, hold a visual feast to delight the most fastidious diving or snorkeling enthusiast.
Within a few yards of each other, individually or in schools anemone fish, angel fish, butterfly fish, humphead parrot fish and other reef dwellers can be spotted while just a short distance away schools of barracuda, big-eye trevally and other pelagics cruise in the blue waters. Popular with underwater photographers and those with a keen eye for the small and unusual critters are "muck dives". The amount and variety of sea-life is astounding. Manta shrimp, ghost pipefish, and pygmy seahorses are only a few examples of what you may find.

If you decide to travel to Solomon Island you’ll find the amazing Uepi Island Resort on a pristine, palm-fringed white beach overlooking the world’s largest lagoon. You could also  or go for a liveaboard with MV Bilikiki or MV Spirit of Solomons. These liveaboards are among the best in the world, and are sure to make your Solomon Islands live-aboard scuba diving trip one that you’ll never forget. Ask us about the best deals available.

To most, mentioning the Solomon Islands stirs up images of massive WWII naval battles thundering through the Guadalcanal; today you will find an underwater environment as pristine and untouched as anywhere on earth. Most of the wrecks are beyond the reach of recreational divers but a few are accessible. These coral encrusted wrecks are home to cruising pelagics and an abundance of marine life while the majority of dives take place along soft-coral covered walls and bommies, fissured pinnacles and caverns with marine life ranging from rare macro critters to sharks, mantas, dolphins and huge schools of barracuda. A Solomon Island adventure has a worldwide reputation for excellent diving.

World War II legacy was to leave the Solomon Islands one of the world’s greatest collections of wreck dives. Comprising of 900 mountainous islands and low lying coral atolls, they stretch some 1500 kilometers south west from Papua New Guinea into the Southwest Pacific and Coral Sea the Solomon Islands are a source of cultural delights and vast blue waters to explore.


VISA For most nationalities a visa is not necessary, a 30-day visitors permit is issued on arrival. However, all visitors must have a current passport, return or onward ticket and adequate funds to support the duration of their stay.

LANGUAGE English is the official language. Pidgin English and over 80 different local dialects are also spoken.

TIME GMT +11

CURRENCY The official currency is the Solomon Islands Dollar, or SBD.
Money can be changed at banks, bureaux de change, some hotels, and larger shops and restaurants. Automated foreign exchange machines are available in Honiara. All major credit cards are widely accepted in hotels and tourist resorts. There are three ATMs in Honiara. Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at banks, of which there are three in the major towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Australian Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

CLIMATE Solomon Islands have a semi-tropical climate. Mainly hot and humid, with little annual variation in temperature. The wet season is from November to April.

VACCINES Check with your embassy or consulate, as well as with a knowledgeable doctor, for detailed information on current health issues.

ELECTRICITY 230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Australian-type flat three-pin plugs are in use.

AIRPORT TAX An airport tax of SI$40 (approximately 5 US$) is levied on international flights (usually included in the price of a ticket). Children under two years of age and passengers in transit are exempt.