The island of Guadalcanal is the Solomon Islands largest and home to the international airport and capital, Honiara. It is most famous for the Battle of Guadalcanal, one of the most significant battles of the Second World War in the Pacific.

Most divers come to Honiara to dive the wrecks left from World War II and there are many in Iron Bottom Sound, the area between Guadalcanal, Savo and the Florida Islands. Most are too deep to dive but the ones along the shores of Guadalcanal are often dived as are those in Tulagi in the Florida Islands. The most famous dive spots around Guadalcanal are the Hirokawa and Kinugawa Maru at Bonegi beach but there is also the Kyushu Maru, a B17 bomber and the I-1 submarine all in recreational diving depths. The USS John Penn and USS Atlanta are other deeper wrecks but still done as technical dives.

As well as their historical significance the wrecks are also great dives for marine life, especially the Bonegi wrecks. There is beautiful hard corals shallower and soft corals and fans down deeper. There are schools of sweetlips, jacks, and fusiliers as well as the occasional turtle or shark. There is tons of macro life too, including shrimps, gobies, nudibranch and anemone fish galore. 

There is great diving around Guadalcanal but due to the exposed nature of the island Bilikiki Cruises does not dive around Guadalcanal on every trip. Tulagi Dive is the local dive shop but, since Covid, is not currently open for recreational diving, hopefully it will be soon.

As well as diving, Guadalcanal also has interesting things to do on land too. There is beautiful scenery, tours to visit the World War Two sites and walks up to waterfalls. If you are visiting Honiara for a day or two before boarding your trip with Bilikiki then there is plenty to do. For places to stay check out the Hotels page on our website.