The Solomon Islands are a safe destination to travel to and engage in tours and other activities. The people are very friendly and keen to share their way of life with visitors. The 992 islands cover about 80,000 square kilometres, making the Solomons the 3rd largest archipelago in the South Pacific.  Some other unique qualities include the world’s largest salt-water lagoon in Morova as well as the world’s second largest atoll in Ontong Java.   The crystal clear waters of Solomon Islands are perfect for enjoying the proliferation of marine life surrounding you on every dive. The capital of Solomon Islands is Honiara, located on the north coast of Guadalcanal, which is the largest island in the Solomon.  Honiara is where people from all over the country come to work, shop, or take their holidays.  You can reach Honiara, via Nadi (Fiji); Brisbane (Australia) or Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea).

Endless Discovery Awaits

When you are not diving, some other things you might enjoy at Solomon Islands include surfing, fishing, hiking and kayaking.  However, the most popular activities are diving, snorkelling and swimming, so if you haven’t gotten wet, your trip will not be complete!   You will find so much diversity at Solomon Islands, from the unique paradise to the marine life, to the wild interior of local village treks.  Enjoy the adventure and sunbathe in rustic resorts and islands.

Beauty Above And Beauty Below

When you dive the Solomon Islands, you can discover the submerged volcano or explore the watery graves of the undisturbed World War II relics.  The warm sparking waters hold a visual feast to delight the most fastidious diver. You will experience an extraordinary array of structures and bio-assemblage; including ledges and gutters, shallow and deep coral gardens with magnificent drop-offs, all manner of light game fish and an enormous range or reef fish.  Common sights include eagle rays, mantas and turtles, and many types of sharks including friendly Hammerheads. An endless variety of dive sites to suit all tastes and levels of experience can be found throughout these magic islands.  The warm crystal clear waters of the Solomon Islands also make it a great place to learn to dive.  Diving the Solomons is best done from a liveaboard, and there are currently 2 alternatives available.

World War II Sites

Most of the WWII historical sites in Solomon Islands are located in and around Honiara and Western Province and they still show evidence of the battle grounds of World War II both above water and below.  To get to the war sites you can hire a taxi, get a rental vehicle or join/organize a day tours or excursion offered by one the major tour operators in Honiara. In the Western Province, the main historical sites are located in Gizo, Munda, Treasury Island and Balalae. For divers there are also a few wrecks within recreational limits. Most of the wrecks are far too deep, even for well experienced divers, but the dives included are, The Ann in the Russell Islands (a more recent wreck, not W.W.II) and Japanese transports in Marovo Lagoon.

Quick Facts:

  • Official Language: English
  • Population: 581,318 (estimated July 2008)
  • Best Time of Year:  mid January to early March
  • Water Temperature: 82F (27 C)  to 85 F (29 C);
  • Average Temperature:  29 C
  • Number of Islands:  992
  • Liveaboards: Yes
  • Departure Port:Honiara
  • Wrecks:  The Ann in the Russell Islands and Japanese transports in Marovo Lagoon
  • Big Life: Yes
  • Macro Life: Yes
  • Electricity: 230/240 Volts AC, 50Hz