REEFS
Tulagi Based Reefs

TWIN TUNNELS
A coral bombie approximately 120m in diameter, the top of reef in 12-16m and features two tunnels eroded in the edge of the reef descending down to a common cavern, exit to the bombie wall at 35- 40m. Excellent dive for pelagics, strong current often present. Out of the current at top of reef at the end of the dive lots of macros to delight.

THE TEAST
One edge of this reef is shear wall dropping from 8m down to 50m. The top of the reef is covered with anemones, and a colourful coral garden. At the point near the mooring is a great place to see some sharks up close.

MANTA PASSAGE
Drift dive, 9-22m sand bottom with long fingers of rock, lots of fans, barrel sponges and anemones. Giant Manta rays are seen here occasionally hence the name, but also look out for the barracuda, tuna, kingfish and reef sharks.
 

THE "T" SPOT
This dive starts at 8m at the top of the reef, dropping over the edge leads to a gentle sloping bottom at 32m. Drifting along the reefs edge you navigate around several groins covered with sea fans, clouds of baitfish and game fish. At the deepest part of this dive you will find a landing craft left at the end of the war.

DOUBLE ISLAND
Two sites here, both have excellent coral gardens, small fans, an abundance of colour and rare nudibranchs, 3-28m. Light currents occur here to make it a tranquil drift dive.

PRESENTATION POINT
An underwater maze, the reef wall cuts into the shore with swim throughs and plenty of canyon corridors to explore. Excellent photo opportunities with light shafts created by the canyon walls. Keep an eye out for turtles and pelagics on the outside wall.

ORCHARD ROCK
Wall, flat reef, and swim throughs this site has them all. A dive to relax and savour the tropical waters. The main feature of the site is the exposed pinnacle of rock (with a bush orchard of course).

SANDFLY PASSAGE
A wall drift dive, this site has fans, anemones, clouds of reef fish and pelagics passing in the current. The current can pull hard, but makes it an exiting experience as a kaleidoscope of colour passes you by.

WRECKS
Tulagi Based Wrecks

USS AARON WARD
You want guns, we’ve got guns. 4 x 5” Mounts, 2 x 40mm Bofors, 7 x 20mm cannons and 5 torpedoes. Sitting upright in 70m of water, the top of the bridge sits at 49m and is 348m long. The ‘Ward’ is one of the worlds premier wreck sites, visibility on average is 20-30m.

SS KANAWHA
The first US Fleet oiler 476’ long, though it lies in 60m it is only 40m to the forward deck and 45m to the stern deck, excellent dive with lots to explore, this was also a supply vessel for the US Marines.

HMNZS MOA
New Zealand minesweeper, lies in 36-42m water. Vis can be poor (for the tropics that is), but well worth the visit. Be sure to check out the Depth Charge racks at the stern and the 4” gun at the bow, the depth allows lots of time to explore.
 

KAWANISHI SEA PLANES
Japanese 4 engine reconnaissance/VIP transport seaplane, there were 13 aircraft sunk. The two main sites lie in 30m and wrecks are big enough to keep you occupied for an entire non-decompression dive and more.

USS MINNEAPOLIS
This Heavy Cruiser is torpedoed early in the Solomon’s conflict, the bow section lies at the back end of the bay, 14-24m. It was badly damaged by the explosions, but a very interesting dive, lots of junk to explore, as this was also the location the “C Bee’s” shipyard.

Honiara Based Wrecks

 HIROKAWA MARU

Also known as the Bonegi 1, this Japanese transport ship lies in 5-50m water. Lots of macros in the shallows and loads to explore in the rear holds (check the field gun mounts and barrels).

KINAGAWA MARU
Also known as the Bonegi 2 this Japanese transport is only 1100m from the Bonegi 1. The engine block protrudes from the water and stern lies in 20m plus, excellent photo opportunities here, particularly in the aft section of engine room (the cathedral). Lots of blue spotted rays on the sand.

AZUMASAN MARU
Japanese transport, sits upright in 39-50m at bow and 80m plus at the stern, lots of colour and soft corals and good photo opportunities (check the bow looking back to the wreck from the sand). Motorbikes and sidecars in second hold.

SUSSAKA MARU

Japanese transport lying on its port side, the side is in 58m of water and the bottom in 85m. An excellent dive, rarely dived due its depth, for the very experienced diver.

SS JOHN PENN
US transport lying off Lunga Point on its starboard side. The side of the wreck is in 35m and the bottom in 60m. Current is often present at this site which attracts lots of pelagics (barracuda, tuna, kingfish, trevally and sharks). Makes a great second dive to the Azumasan.

Buena Vista  Based Wrecks

TAMA MARU
Japanese Mine sweeper, lies in 68-75m water, visibility is normally awesome at this site, 40-50m average. There are many artefacts on this wreck, lanterns in the rear hold and hemi-spherical mines mid-ships, if you tire of this then the fish life will enthral. This is a site for the very advanced diver, but the size of the site does allow it to be covered in the dive.