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The Solomon Islands are a dive traveller's dream. An undeveloped, uncrowded and very beautiful country spread across the Solomon Sea just below the Equator. There is an incredible marine bio-diversity found around the islands and you’ll find any Indo Pacific species here you care to name, fish or invertebrate.
 Maravagi Resort is situated in the Florida Islands in the central province of the Solomon Islands. The voyage takes approximately 3 hours from the port in Honiara across the world famous “Iron Bottom Sound”. Between 1941 and 1945, this swath of ocean off the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal saw some of the fiercest fighting of World War II, with American and Japanese forces clashing almost daily at times. For some, the name still conjures up memories of pain, bravery, and brushes with death.
 Today, however, Iron Bottom Sound is best known as a mecca for scuba divers, who can explore the dozens of war wrecks that litter its bottom. From fighter planes and tanks, to cargo ships and destroyers, Iron Bottom Sound has become a kind of underwater museum. You’ll also find caves, unspoilt reefs, soft corals, drop offs, huge fans and giant sponges.
The Diving
Some of the more popular dive sites in The Florida Islands
TWIN TUNNELS:
These are ancient lava tubes beginning on top of a patch reef and dropping vertically down to about 35m. The twin tunnels then join into one horizontal tunnel that exits on the reef wall at 40m. Here you’ll find a mass of fish swarming around the reef and some major pelagic action including Sharks, Dogtooth Tuna, Giant Trevally and Barracuda
BABY CAKE (VELVIIA):
An incredible diversity of fish and invertebrate are concentrated on this small reef only 2 minutes from Maravagi. Here you’ll find unusual varieties such as crocodile fish, Scorpion leaf fish, Stonefish, and lionfish. A dream reef for naturalists or underwater photographers.
CRAYFISH CAVES:
These aptly named caves lie at 24 metres and feature a large number of both adult and juvenile crayfish.
SANDFLY PASSAGE:
This dive brings you to a beautiful coral garden studded with big red and yellow fans, and a great diversity of World-class coral and marine life. The garden turns into a dramatic wall when reaching Tanavula Point. Big Bumphead parrots are common around this dive.
PASSAGE ROCK:
This is a dangerous reef for passing ships, but it is a great spot for pelagic fish. A long vertical drop off, from 3 to 40metres in depth, the reef is renowned for big Dog Tooth Tuna, Kingfish, and Sharks. The top of the reef is often washed by strong currents, patrolled by friendly Nurse Sharks and is covered by good soft corals.
KOVUHIKA ISLAND:
This drift dive will bring you along a small wall into the middle of a forest of giant red and yellow fans before ending on top of a colourful reef lying at a depth of 3m to 40m. Here Sharks, pelagic and large school of fusiliers are waiting for you.
SOGHONARA ISLAND:
There are two dive sites on this Island, ranging from 3m to 40m. The currents attract turtles, sharks and pelagic along a succession of small walls and slots.
NJANJELAKALAU ISLAND:
Also known as Pigeon Island, this dramatic drop off features pelagic, shark, giant clam, fans and a magnificent reef, all in one place! There’s also a lovely beach around the Island that’s perfect for a BBQ or rest between dives.
MANGALONGA TASAU BAY:
This is a good drift dive along an impressive and very colourful reef in shallow water at the edge of a wall, where big dogtooth, eagle ray and giant Bumphead parrots abound.
MBEASIRI POINT:
A magnificent colourful wall dive at 5m to 40m with a lot of fish action. Here you’ll find large schools of sardines, big Groupers, Bumphead Parrots and some pelagic.
INDUMAMU REEF:
There’s a good diversity and concentration of marine life centred around this reef , which is washed by very strong currents. Sharks are numerous here and Gray, silver and black tip can sometimes be found in big groups. Large schools of Big Eyes share the place with big Maori fish. Under each rock numerous Squirrel and Sweetlips can be found.
THE DEVILS HIGHWAY
An outstanding dive where you can experience the thrill of 15 – 20 resident giant manta rays feeding in the strong current provided by the passage between islands. This really is a unique opportunity to come close to some of nature’s most graceful and impressive creatures. The strong drift dive starts in 3m with most of the action taking place on the edge of the wall at around 10 m.
MARAVAGI RESORT REEF
This reef is just off the beach in front of the resort. It is an easy dive at 2 – 15 mtrs where students are introduced to scuba diving. Night dives are also conducted on this reef.
US B24 BOMBER
Dive on this ditched Liberator bomber then continue with a reef dive.
WRECKS
During WWII the Japanese were determined to reach Australia. The Allies were even more determined to stop them, and several battles were fought across the Pacific. Battles fought in The Solomon Islands were pivotal to ending Japanese domination of the region, and the Battle of Guadalcanal was a turning point, eventually leading to a Japanese withdrawal, and the end of the war.
With over fifty warships sunk during World War II, the Solomons are now a wreck divers paradise. So many wrecks lie in the waters off Guadalcanal that it was nicknamed “Iron Bottom Sound”.
HONIARA WRECKS
Hirokawa Maru, also known as “Bonegi 1”
The Japanese transport “Hirokawa Maru”, built in 1940 and originally about 146 metres long, was sunk in November 1942 close to the beach near Bonegi Creek, approximately 13 km west of Honiara. The ship lies on a steep slope on its port side with the bow completely shattered and the stern section in reasonable condition.
You’ll find excellent coral growth and fish life here, and it is considered one of the best wreck dives in the Solomons.
KINAGAWA MARU, also known as “Bonegi 2”
 This Japanese transport was beached in an attempt to off load supplies and the wreck lies close to Bonegi 1. The engine block protrudes from the water, making easy access for snorkellers and good swim throughs for divers, while the stern lies in 20m plus. There are some excellent photo opportunities, particularly in the aft section of engine room (the cathedral), while lots of blue spotted rays bask on the sand.
USS John Penn
The huge American transporter USS John Penn measured 140mtr long and 18mtr wide. It was sunk in 1943 by a torpedo which set off a secondary explosion. Severe damage caused the stern to separate and it can be found 365mtrs away from the main part of the ship.
The wreck lies on its starboard side at Lungga Point, east of Honiara, in 60 metre of water.
The ship is in two parts with most dives done on the bow section. A deep dive, for experienced divers only.
B-17
This Flying Fortress ditched just short of its destination after returning from the Shortland Islands. The plane lies on a sandy bottom and is almost intact, though its tail is missing. 2. machine gun turrets are visible, with access into one of them. The wreck is now home to many fish, and garden eels can be found in the sand nearby.
FLORIDA ISLAND WRECKS
New wreck to explore in the Florida Island group.
AARON WARD
 The “Aaron Ward” is the only diveable Destroyer in the Solomon Islands, but is only for the very experienced diver. Mortally wounded by Japanese aircraft on April 7th 1943 she limped as far as Tinete point where she went down in 53m - 74mtrs of water with 27 of her crew. This impressive wreck is sitting upright and intact on the sandy bottom. Possessing an extensive arsenal of big guns, this is one awesome dive..
KANAWHA
 A huge American Oil tanker of 14500 tons, the “Kanawha” was sunk in Tulagi Harbour on the same day as the Aaron Ward. Sitting upright on a flat bottom, the deck is at 4Om and strewn with artefacts, debris and wreckage. Many interesting penetrations lead divers into areas such as the engine room, kitchens, tool rooms and crew quarters.
THE MOA
Also in Tulagi Harbour rests the wreck of the only diveable New Zealand ship in the Solomons: the HMNZ Moa, a corvette that was influential in the sinking of the Japanese Sub at Cape Esperance. She's in good condition, upright on a sandy bottom at a depth of .
35m - 45mtrs.
KAWANISHI H6K5 FLOAT PLANE No. 1
Lying in the sand just off the flying boat base at Ghavutu, this Japanese float plane lies upside down with its huge mooring float nearby.
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