When is the best time to dive Solomon Islands?

The best months to dive Solomon Islands are April, November, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Solomon Islands?

Solomon Islands requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically moderate and the maximum depth reaches 40 m.

How much does it cost to dive Solomon Islands?

A 2-tank dive at Solomon Islands averages around $150 USD. The destination is in our mid range tier.

What will I see diving Solomon Islands?

Solomon Islands is known for manta ray, whale shark, reef shark, grouper, whale, with 9–30 m visibility and 27–30°C water temperatures.

Why does Solomon Islands score 63.7/100 on OkToDive?

Solomon Islands earns a 63.7/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 200 operator reviews.

Solomon Islands Diving — WWII Wrecks & Pristine Reef

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World Class

Intermediate

Solomon Islands

Solomon IslandsPacific

63.7

SCORE

-8.3600°N

157.1200°E

The Solomon Islands' Iron Bottom Sound earned its name from the dozens of WWII ships and planes that litter the seabed — many now spectacular dive sites covered in coral. Beyond the wrecks, the reefs are pristine and virtually undived. This is one of the Pacific's last true frontier dive destinations.

Melanesia's Untouched WWII Dive Frontier

Visibility9–30 m

Temperature27–30°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$150

Best MonthsApril, November

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

60.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine Life Diversity

60.0

Coral & Reef Health

72.0

Visibility & Conditions

70.0

Dive Site Variety

59.0

Water Temperature

74.0

Depth & Access

62.0

Operator Quality

73.0

Topside Experience

64.0

Getting There

68.0

Value & Cost

43.0

Crowding

59.0

Social Proof

57.0

Key Species

manta ray whale shark reef shark grouper whale

Dive Types

reefdriftpelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

WWII battlefield toursskull island visit (Munda)snorkelingvillage cultural visitswaterfall hikes

Nearby Cultural Sites

Vilu War Museum (Honiara)
Skull Island (Munda)
Mataniko Falls

Non-Diver Partner Score

4/10

Limited topside — plan ahead for non-diving partners.

Family FriendlyNot recommended

Restaurants & Nightlifebasic

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber2000 km — Townsville Hospital Hyperbaric Unit (Australia)

Nearest Hospital10 km

No chamber in-country; evacuation to Australia or Fiji; very limited medical infrastructure

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Dive Munda

PADI

4.7

80 reviewsNITROX

Bilikiki Cruises

PADI

4.8

120 reviewsNITROX

Compare This Dive Site

Current conditions

4/10Fair

Waves3.02 m

Swell2.88 m

Wind12.5 km/h

Air28.1°C

OvercastHigh waves (3.02m), Heavy swell (2.88m)

9d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

40+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“WWII wrecks and pristine reef in the Pacific's least-visited dive destination.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~2000 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.
→Remote, basic infrastructure, malaria risk. Expedition diving with tropical disease prevention.

What will surprise you

→Short dive season — only 2 months worth going (April, November). Book well ahead or miss it.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: Apr-Nov best conditions. Hot and humid year-round. Malaria precautions required..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
mild
Crowd
light

WWII wreck graveyard
pristine reef
wide angle

More WWII wrecks per square mile than anywhere in the Pacific. Morning on Bonegi wrecks near Honiara.

Afternoon

Viz
high
Current
mild
Crowd
moderate

Marovo Lagoon
reef diving
manta encounters

World's largest saltwater lagoon with pristine reef. Mantas visit outer channels.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	12–20	29	Mod	Chop	Wet	65%	conditions vary
Feb	12–17	29	Mod	Chop	Wet	65%	conditions vary
Mar	12–20	29	Mod	Chop	Wet	78%	conditions vary
Apr	13–24	29	Mod	Chop	Light	88%	conditions vary
May	14–26	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Jun	15–28	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	65%	conditions vary
Jul	15–30	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	55%	conditions vary
Aug	15–30	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	55%	conditions vary
Sep	15–28	28	Mod	Calm	Dry	65%	conditions vary
Oct	14–26	29	Mod	Calm	Dry	78%	conditions vary
Nov	13–24	29	Mod	Calm	Dry	88%	conditions vary
Dec	12–20	29	Mod	Chop	Light	78%	conditions vary

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects29

Wide angle68

Viz stability51

Hover friendliness55

Natural light49

Recommended kit

→General reef kit — mid-range wide or a 60mm macro depending on the specific site

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Pacific WWII history
foundational
Guadalcanal campaign underwater.
Remote Pacific diving
intermediate
Minimal infrastructure. Self-sufficiency and medical prep.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$2,900–$4,000

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,350–$1,650
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $130–$150
Food / day: $30–$55
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Mid-range

$4,300–$6,300

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,900–$2,300
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $150–$200
Food / day: $60–$120
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Splurge

$6,900–$10,600

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,700–$3,300
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $200–$260
Food / day: $130–$250
Transfers + misc: $80–$230

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Solomon Islands Diving — Solomon Islands