Here’s a great destination to consider if you’re an avid wreck diver
and looking for an alternative in Asia to the renowned wrecks of Truk or Palau.
The Solomon Islands, an archipelago of mountainous islands and low-lying coral
atolls scattered across the Coral Sea to the northeast of Queensland, were the
site of some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific during World War II, including
a famous and bloody American victory — after very heavy losses — at
Guadalcanal. Although less well-known among divers in north Asia, the area is
familiar to Australian divers as one of the top wreck sites in the southern hemisphere,
boasting an array of Japanese and American ship and aircraft wrecks every bit
as impressive as that of its Micronesian counterparts to the north.
As an added bonus, the all-round diving in the Solomons is right up there with
the best of tropical Asian dive spots. Divers can expect to see majestic coral-
and fan-encrusted walls, reef passes patrolled by schools of barracuda, jacks
and other pelagics, a variety of underwater formations that include pinnacles,
eaves and coral gardens, and endless schools of multicoloured reef fish. In the
waters around Gizo Island you can also often see rays and turtles. Several live-aboards
operate around the Solomon Islands. They give divers the opportunity to live in
luxury on the open sea and dive remote and otherwise inaccessible areas. The MV
Bilikiki and the MV Spirit of the Solomons are both run by Bilikiki Cruises. A
full range of hire equipment and diving courses are available. If you want to
dive the wrecks in Gizo.
The main international airport of the Solomons is 15mins outside the capital,
Honiara, on Guadalcanal Island. Flights are operated by Solomon Airlines, Qantas,
Air Nauru, Air Pacific and Air Niugini. Direct flights go from Hong Kong, Japan,
Taiwan and Australia.
The clear waters of the Solomon Islands boast a dazzling array of World War
II wrecks — many of them very well preserved Andy Belcher