Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks… Located at the eastern tip of the famed Coral Triangle, the Solomon Islands form a long chain of tropical islands surrounded by deep ocean trenches and the vast expanse of the Pacific. These waters offer two distinct but equally exceptional diving experiences – pristine reefs nourished by nutrient-rich currents, and haunting WWII wrecks that serve as silent memorials to one of the fiercest campaigns of the Pacific War.
I really wanted to dive as many of those wrecks as I could and decided to start with the recreational wrecks. Mainly (in full disclosure) because Master Liveaboards made it an easy decision by inviting me on the Solomons Master for one of their dedicated WWII Wreck Weeks!
Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks – The History
Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, its forces swept across the western Pacific. Papua New Guinea was their initial target, where Rabaul became a heavily fortified headquarters with air and naval bases across New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville.
The next strategic step was the Solomon Islands. The Japanese aimed to form an outer defensive ring protecting Rabaul while threatening Allied supply routes to Australia and New Zealand. In March 1942 they established airstrips across the islands, seizing Tulagi in May to build a seaplane base, and beginning construction of a major airfield on Guadalcanal in June.
When the tide of war shifted after the naval battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, the Allies went on the offensive. From August 1942 until August 1943, brutal battles raged across land, sea, and air. The Allies lost more than 7,000 men, 29 ships, and over 600 aircraft, while Japanese losses were even greater – around 31,000 men, 38 ships, and 683 aircraft.
So many vessels were sunk in the waters north of Honiara that the area became known as Iron Bottom Sound. Many wrecks remain undiscovered, but dozens have been located, making the Solomon Islands one of the richest concentrations of WWII shipwrecks in the world.
Iron Bottom Sound – Heart of the Solomon Islands’ Wreck Diving
The wrecks scattered across roughly 7,000 km² of Iron Bottom Sound are a remarkable mix of transports, warships, and aircraft. The best way to dive those within recreational limits is by liveaboard, and Master Liveaboards’ Wreck Week itinerary is purpose-built for that.
Over the course of a week, it’s possible to visit sites off Guadalcanal, the Russell Islands, and the Florida Islands, each with its own stories and relics of war now reclaimed by coral and marine life.
The Russell Islands – White Beach’s Underwater Graveyard
Located about 100 km northwest of Honiara, the Russell Islands comprise two main islands, Pavuvu and Mbanika, along with more than 50 smaller ones. After the victory at Guadalcanal, they became strategically vital to the Allies preparing for the next campaign against New Georgia.
In February 1943 the archipelago was occupied and transformed into a forward operating base, complete with roads, radar stations, PT-boat facilities, hospitals, housing, and airfields.
Once home to fewer than 350 people, it became a wartime city hosting over 16,000 personnel.
White Beach, the Allied code name for their initial landing site, is now the centrepiece of wreck diving in the Russells.
Ironically, there is no beach, white or otherwise…
When the war ended, everything that couldn’t fly or sail away was dumped off the main jetty, and the barges that formed it were scuttled. Today, this underwater scrapyard is an extraordinary artificial reef.
Trucks, jeeps, bulldozers, tractors, ammunition, and even Coca-Cola bottles lie scattered in 5–30 metres of water just offshore. The site is easily accessible, fascinating to explore, and alive with coral and fish life.
The Florida Islands
Roughly halfway between Guadalcanal and Malaita, the Florida Islands group consists of Nggela Sule and Nggela Pile, divided by the narrow Mboli Passage, and several smaller islands including Tulagi – the former capital of the Solomon Islands.
These waters contain some of the best-known WWII wrecks in the country, including the HMNZS Moa and a well-preserved Catalina seaplane.
HMNZS Moa: In December 1942 the New Zealand Navy deployed three Bird Class minesweepers – Moa, Kiwi, and Tui – to Guadalcanal, basing them at Tulagi for anti-submarine patrols.
Late in January 1943, Moa and Kiwi fought a fierce battle with the Japanese submarine I-1, eventually forcing it aground (more on that wreck later).
A few months later, in April 1943, Moa was refuelling near Tulagi Harbour when Japanese aircraft attacked.
Two 500-lb bombs hit the vessel, which sank within minutes. Five men were killed and 15 wounded.
The wreck rests on a silty bottom in about 40 metres, with the bow partially buried. Despite some salvage in the late 1970s, Moa remains a fascinating dive.
The key features include the large 4-inch gun near the bow, the iron propeller and rudder, and twin depth-charge racks still in place.
Catalina: The Catalina wreck off the southeast tip of Tulagi likely crashed after hitting a small boat while landing at night in November 1943 after a rescue mission.
It flipped, righted itself as it sank, and now rests upright with the nose in 26m and the tail in 34m.
Because it was discovered after the major salvage period, much of the plane remains intact.
Three machine guns and several boxes of ammunition can still be seen, making it one of the most atmospheric aircraft wrecks in the region.
Mavis 5 and 6 Seaplanes: The Kawanishi H6K flying boat “Mavis” was the Japanese equivalent of the Catalina – a large, four-engine flying boat with exceptional range. On the morning of the Allied invasion of Tulagi, seven Mavis and eight Rufe’s amphibious Zeros were moored at nearby Gavutu and Tanambogo Islands.
A surprise air raid by F4F Wildcats destroyed all 15 aircraft. Of the seven Mavis, four remain recognisable; the two most intact – known as Mavis 5 and Mavis 6 – are excellent dives, rich with detail and marine growth.
Guadalcanal
Control of the airfield near Honiara was key to victory in the Guadalcanal campaign. From August 1942 through early 1943, three major land battles, seven naval engagements, and near-daily air combat culminated in the decisive Battle of Guadalcanal. By December, Japan abandoned its efforts to retake the island.
I-1 Submarine: Among the most historically significant wrecks here is the Japanese submarine I-1. Launched in 1924 and assigned to the 6th Fleet, it arrived in the Solomons in early 1943 as part of the resupply missions dubbed the “Tokyo Express.”
When I-1 encountered Moa and Kiwi during a night battle, the New Zealanders rammed it three times, forcing the submarine to beach itself.
Sixty-six crew survived, but crucially, its code books were left aboard.
Two subsequent Japanese attempts to destroy the wreck – first with depth charges, then by air raid – failed.
U.S. forces recovered the code books, which enabled the interception of messages revealing Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s flight plan to Bougainville.
His death in the resulting ambush marked a turning point in the Pacific War.
Today, the I-1 lies heavily damaged but still recognisable. At nearly 100m long, it is a compelling dive for those interested in WWII naval history.
Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks – Logistics
The Solomon Islands are both scenic and remote, with travel logistics that require patience and flexibility. Honiara, the capital, is the main gateway, with regular international flights from Brisbane on Qantas and Solomon Airlines. Domestic flights, however, can be unpredictable. Schedule changes and cancellations are common, and arrival times often require an overnight stop in Honiara.
This is where liveaboard diving truly shines. Master Liveaboards’ Solomon Islands Wreck Week begins and ends in Honiara, and is carefully timed to match international connections.
The itinerary covers key the WWII wreck diving areas – Iron Bottom Sound, the Russell Islands, and the Florida Islands – making it the most efficient and rewarding way to experience these historic sites.
Water temperatures range from 28 °C to 30 °C year-round, and visibility averages 20–30 metres. Most wrecks lie within recreational limits, though technical divers can explore deeper sites scattered across Iron Bottom Sound.
Why Dive the Solomon Islands’ WWII Wrecks
Few destinations offer such a compelling blend of tropical beauty and wartime history. Each site tells a story of fierce battles, human endurance, and the ocean’s slow reclamation of man-made relics. Coral now covers guns and propellers, reef fish weave through twisted hulls, and the silence below belies the chaos that once raged above.
Compared with other Pacific wreck destinations, the Solomon Islands hold their own. Papua New Guinea has a wealth of WWII sites, and Truk Lagoon is legendary, but the Solomons combine accessibility, diversity, and a powerful sense of place.
My week aboard Solomons Master offered only a glimpse of what lies beneath. There are far more wrecks than can be visited in one trip – enough to lure any diver back. I left with some great images and a much deeper appreciation for the region’s pivotal role in shaping the Pacific War.
The Solomon Islands remain one of the world’s great underwater museums – a place where history, culture, and nature intersect beneath warm, clear seas. For any diver fascinated by WWII shipwrecks, this destination is simply unmissable.
Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks – Scuba Diver Article
Scuba Diver magazine have just published a five-page article of mine on Diving the Solomon Islands WWII Wrecks, which you can download using the link provided.
