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The Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in the South Pacific. The islands have many WWII-era sites. Guadalcanal, a province and one of the archipelago’s largest islands, honors fallen Allied soldiers at its U.S. War Memorial. Guadalcanal is also home to the nation’s capital, Honiara. The capital city has a bustling Central Market that is famous for the islands’ produce and traditional handicrafts.

Solomon Islanders share a diverse history and cultural background. The population is mostly of Melanesian descent but is also made up of Polynesians, Micronesians, Chinese and Europeans. There are approximately 550,000 people living in the Solomons and about 70,000 live in the capital city. The islands have been settled since at least some time between 30,000 and 28,800 BCE, with later waves of migrants, notably the Lapita people, mixing and producing the modern indigenous Solomon Islanders population. 

Located in the Coral Triangle, the Solomon Islands are known for their diverse aquatic life, ranging from macro to pelagic life. In fact, roughly 75% of the ocean’s coral species are found in the Coral Triangle. As an emerging tourist destination, Solomon’s reefs are untouched, and the waters generally aren't overcrowded with divers.

Leru Cut

Leru Cut is one of Solomon’s most famous dive sites, known for its canyon that sits high above the water and dives deep into the ocean. Ideal diving time is between 11 am and 2 pm as the sun trickles into the cut and illuminates the underwater vegetation, making this a stunning stop for photographers. Divers can search for hidden nudibranchs and octopi or swim over to the nearby wall teeming with sharks, turtles, and schools of triggerfish. The cut can only be accessed by liveaboard and is located in the Eastern Russell Islands.

The history of World War II is apparent in Solomon’s waters, with wrecks and artifacts resting on the sandy bottom. Six months of warfare took place in the Pacific, resulting in nearly 70 ships and almost 700 planes being destroyed. Currently, these wrecks live on as habitats for marine life and as sites for divers to explore. In Wickham Lagoon, there are multiple unidentified Japanese cargo vessels. In the Florida Islands, there are several Japanese and US aircraft wrecks. Hai Island’s site, White Beach, named after a US military code, has a reef constructed of trucks, tractors, bulldozers, and ammo. The artificial reef is now home to jawfish, archerfish, harlequin shrimp, and more. This site is ideal for wreck fanatics, history buffs, and macro lovers. 

Off the coast of the Florida Islands are several exciting dives like the northern wall, sandy channel, and two abandoned wrecks with countless glassfish, anthias, and damsels. There is a coral garden with giant clams, peacock mantis shrimp dens, and cuttlefish on the eastern side. The Devil’s Highway is close to the shore and is home to giant manta rays. Near this manta haven is a shallow reef where visitors often drift as they experience the pelagic life feed and swim. Divers looking for a thrill can visit Mary Island and feel the rumbles from the underwater volcano. Barracuda, jacks, and sharks are often spotted at this site. 

The Galapagos Islands are scattered across the equator and have warm weather year-round. While diving in the Pacific waters surrounding the islands is great all year, December to May is the warmest season with the calmest waters and highest visibility. Divers during this season most often see hammerhead sharks and manta rays. July to November is ideal for more advanced divers hoping for more intense, choppier waters. Although the ocean is generally a bit colder during this season, it is known for nutrient-rich water that attracts all kinds of sea life, specifically whale sharks. Diving in the Galapagos is done on liveaboards from tenders or Zodiacs, and guests are able to have a unique experience living out on the open waters. 

2) Socorro Island - Mexico

Socorro Island is the largest island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago and is famous for its vibrant wildlife, both on and off the shore. The volcanic island does not have an airport, making it a popular spot for liveaboards. The diving season lasts from November to May as that is when the water is at its calmest. Throughout this season, divers often get to see hammerhead sharks, manta rays, whale sharks, and humpback whales. From January to March, there are even frequent sightings of bottlenose dolphins. In addition to these, sightings of silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and silvertip sharks are possible as well. Getting to the Socorros requires an open ocean crossing about 22 hours from Cabo San Lucas, Baja California.

3) Raja Ampat - Indonesia

Located off the coast of Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua, Raja Ampat is an Indonesian archipelago that is known for its extensive biodiversity. The islands form part of the Coral Triangle — an area known as a home to 76% of known coral species. In Raja Ampat’s waters, there is countless marine life and stunning coral reefs to see. The most popular sights include manta rays, reef sharks, walking sharks, turtles, nudibranchs, and so much more. Diving in Raja Ampat is ideal from October to April as it has the driest weather with calm seas that make for smooth liveaboard sailing. The clear waters consistently have a visibility of 80-100 ft all year long, which is perfect for spotting even the smallest of critters. 

4) Tubbataha Reef - Philippines

Tubbataha Reef is a protected marine park in the Philippines’ Sula Sea. It is known for being a nesting ground for green sea turtles and is made up of a northern atoll, southern atoll, and the Jessie Beazley Reef.  Visitors can only explore the clear waters from a liveaboard as it is located over 10 hours away from land. The diving season takes place from mid-March to mid-June as that is when the water is at its calmest and clearest with a visibility of up to 114 feet. The reef is known for its vast biodiversity as it is reported to have over 1,200 species — 181 of which are threatened.

Chuuk Lagoon is a mountainous island that was once a former Japanese naval base during the second world war. The island’s history has been kept alive in its own waters with its array of sunken treasure, submerged ships teeming with marine life, and even human remains. Divers in the Lagoon’s Pacific waters get to explore part of this history, and often even find artifacts such as ammunition or guns. The wrecks vary in their depth, making them accessible for just about any level of diver. The temperature is consistently warm year-round; however, December to April is ideal due to the lack of rainfall and wind during this season.