Solomon Islands — Facts & Data

The **Solomon Islands**, an archipelago of nearly 1,000 islands east of Papua New Guinea, sit firmly within the Coral Triangle — the world's epicenter of marine biodiversity. With a population of just over 700,000 spread across 28,400 square kilometers of land and infinitely more reef, this is one of the least-dived major destinations on Earth, where many sites still see fewer than 200 divers per year. **Mary Island** (Mborokua) rises from deep water roughly halfway between New Georgia and Russell Islands and is a legendary current-swept seamount. Schooling barracuda, trevally, and grey reef sharks circle the slopes, while hammerheads patrol the deeper drops. The island itself is uninhabited, surrounded by some of the healthiest hard coral cover in the Pacific. The **Russell Islands** offer a remarkable mix of WWII history and pristine reef. Wreck dives on Japanese and American vessels lie alongside coral gardens that have grown over the structures for 80 years. Leru Cut and Mirror Pond are unique freshwater-cavern dives where surface lily pads filter sunlight into cathedral-like beams of light. **Marovo Lagoon**, the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, contains hundreds of small islands and reef systems. The protected waters host endemic species, healthy populations of reef sharks and turtles, and traditional Solomon Islander villages where wood carving and shell-money making continue largely unchanged. Many liveaboards include cultural visits as part of their itineraries. **Florida Islands** and the famous **Iron Bottom Sound** off Guadalcanal contain the highest concentration of WWII shipwrecks anywhere in the Pacific — over 200 ships and aircraft were lost during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942–43. Recreational divers can explore the USS Aaron Ward, the I-1 Japanese submarine, and Bonegi I and II — large freighters now teeming with marine life. **Munda** and **Gizo** in the Western Province are the country's most accessible dive bases, offering reef walls, channel dives with strong pelagic action, and additional WWII wrecks including a complete Hellcat fighter at 30 meters. With water temperatures of 27–30°C year-round, visibility regularly above 30 meters, and almost no tourist crowds, the Solomon Islands remain a destination for divers seeking what the Pacific looked like before mass tourism.