Solomon Islands
Just to add to the Shore Dives available past Boneghi 3 (B3) are the B17E Flying Fortress, I have just provided a Road Sign for George the Local Landowner. He charges SBD 50 (USD 8) to dive. He is now selling a 25 minute Video of the Wreckage that is a complete swim around. The wreck is the cockpit and fuselage to past the wing section and the full wing with all four engines. The tail section past the wing was recovered in 1944 by the SeaBees. The aircrafts' name is "Bessie : The Jap Basher" and crashed some seven weeks after the Marines landed on Guadalcanal (7AUG42) on 24SEP1942. Depth is 20m and it is a 70m swim offshore.
The next Wreck up the road at approx. 40klms from Honiara is the Japanese Submarine I-1 that was attacked by two New Zealand naval vessels in early 1943. Unfortunately salvage attempts resulted in the destruction of the the Bow Section, but the stern motors and Battery sections have some shape of a Submarine. It is laying against the shore reef on a slope. Anthony is the Local Landowner and again the charge is SBD50. It is a long snorkel (300 m) so hiring a local canoe is a good idea. Not sure of the depth but 35-40m is approx. The small bay has an amazing range of Clown Fish in a small area, well worth a snorkel
The local dive shop Solomon Island Dive (Tulagi Dive) has day trips to all the wrecks NW of Honiara and the Submarine and B17 is a popular day's diving.
Currently there are two Liveaboards operating from Honiara : Bilikiki Cruises and Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions (SIDE) "Solomon Star". Both have multiple dive itinieres and the 10-14 day expeditions that go further up "The Slot" towards Bouganville in Papua New Guinea are the most sought after.
Other deep diveable wrecks are SE of Honiara and include the USS John Penn and multiple wrecks in Tulagi area.
