Marovo Lagoon / Tetepare

Hi!

I will have 7 days (i.e. 5 full days) in the Solomons in April and would like to dive in Marovo Lagoon.

Can anyone recommend where to go / where to dive and what's the best way to get there? I understand there are two airports serving the region (Seghe and Gatokae Island).

Is there any connection to Tetepare Island from there?

Regards, Gaston

Gaston,
three years ago i went to Tetepare. It's worth to be there. TOP. Big secret of the pacific.
How i get there?

Took the plane to Seghe.
Then a boat from Tetepare picked me op.
You have to mail to the people of Tetepare for a pick up.

Questions, let me know.
Stefaan

There are two places that offer diving in the Marovo. Uepi Island Resort & Wilderness Lodge. Uepi pick you up from Seghe, or you can transfer there from Tetepare. Wilderness is way dowen the other end of the lagoon and you would fly into Gatokae. I'm not sure if you could transfer there from Tetepare - and even if you could, it would take many hours as it's such a long way.

There are more flights to Seghe than Gatokae. Be aware though, that flights can be unreliable due to plane or weather issues. Seghe is serviced by a Dash 8, so can be a bit more reliable. You will obviously need to do your diving at the beginning of your trip to offgas, so suggest Uepi first, then Tetepare can collect you from there, and return you to Seghe for your departure. 5 days is not really long enough in the Solomons where travel plans are easily disrupted.

It is possible to hire a dingy with outboard motor from Gatokae to Tetepare. The trip takes 3+hours in good weather. Unfortunately it is very expencive. I paid around 3000SBD for the trip arranged by Ropiko Lodge. The trip probably is a little bit shorter from Wilderness Lodge.

If you fly from Honiara to Gatokae, be shure to check departure times a day or two in advance. I had a ticket for wednesday, but on arrival at the airport wednesday morning I was told that the Gatokae flights left on fridays. But this weeks friday flight had for some reason (fortunately for me) been moved to thursday:-) By the way, an amazing "Islander" flight culminating with a spectacular landing on the sloping grass strip of Gatokae...

eflatjan
http://www.pbase.com/bolla49
http://my.flightmemory.com/eflatjan

Eflatjan's experience of changed flight dates and times is common in Solomon Islands. It is a good idea to allow yourself a day or two (at least) in Honiara (or somewhere easily accessible form there) before your flight home, to allow for delayed and cancelled flights to smaller domestic ports.

I just got back from Tetepare last week. It was fabulous! They can do transfers from either Munda or Seghe, both take around 1 hour 15 mins.

PS I'm pretty sure you can also dive through Agnes Lodge in Munda...

Munda is a more reliable airfield than Seghe, as it serves a bigger community. Also, they have daily flights.

LOL Ozzie, Munda is the only place I've been 'grounded' - twice. Okay, though, Solomon Air had to pick up the overstay costs :-)

Ooops, I forgot about being bounced off a flight from Honiara to Nadi - no good reason given other than I was going back to Vancouver - ??? I had to pick up the costs involved in the overstay, though, but no biggy, I was happy to stay on. However, I lost my room reservation in Nadi when I eventually got there, which actually ended up in my favour because when I, and another stranded passenger, decided to bunk down in the airport, people insisted on helping us find a place and I ended up in a nicer, cheaper place than the one I had a reservation for.

Edited by: Watsoff

Munda is a more reliable airfield than Seghe, but the boat trip from Tetepare to Seghe was amazing, and definitely worth doing one-way.

Becks, the OP said they wanted to dive Marovo, not Roviana lagoon, which is where Agnes Lodge is situated

Sure, but it's always good to have options ;)
If the OP is looking to combine diving with Tetepare.... that might be a good compromise to make.

The boattrip from Seghe to Tetepare began around 1700. I saw flying fish. It was so basic, beautifull, ....perhaps the nicest souvenir of the Solomon.
Stefaan