Best diving in the Solomon Islands and Tonga?

Hello everyone,

I've gotten some good advice from this forum before, so I thought I would pose my next question to you all: My brother and I are going to the Solomon Islands and Tonga for 3 weeks in July. Which islands within each country have the best diving? There are so many choices, and all the islands seem great, so it's been difficult figuring out where to go!

Thanks!!

Basically depends on whether you are interested in World War II wrecks or marine life, if you are in Solomon Islands, and also your budget.

we are interested in both WWII wrecks and marine life!! but my understanding is that some of the wrecks are really deep, and we're only recreational (not technical) divers, which means the deepest we can go is 130 ft/40 m.

for the purposes of answering this question, don't worry about budget. we are just curious about the best islands for diving. if we find the particular islands too expensive after doing more research about them, we will just choose different islands.

thanks!!

In the Solomons, Uepi is the very best resort, has the best marine life diving, the best food, and is possibly the most expensive, But you certainly get what you pay for. Small guest numbers, stunning reefs close by (some only 1 minute from the dive shop), and a very big and healthy shark population. No WW2 wrecks - except 2 planes at the end of the runway at Seghe, which are usually dived as part of a full day trip called "the Bapita trip" whcih also includes the wreck of a taiyo fishing boat.

Uepi is often booked out, so if you plan on maybe going, you should hop onto the web site (www.uepi.com) and contact them to see if there's anything available.

Carol

Tonga isn't known for its wrecks, but the marine life can be great. The Ha'apai chain and Vava'u chain both have good diving. I was very impressed with Dive Vava'u; so much so I booked a return trip 6 months after my first to dive with them again. In July the vis is good, and the DMs know their stuff- fire clams, pipefish, tiny juvenile groupers which look like algae, nudibranchs galore, fire clams... nothing seemed to get past them. Shark's tooth cave was a cavern dive and absolutely amazing. If you are more into big critters, we had a good shark count (nurse sharks and black and white tipped reef sharks) and pelagics such as baracuda. In July, you will be there for humpback whale season. Even if you don't see them, diving surrounded by whale song is magical. There are also companies which will take you whale watching (snorkelling rather than diving with the whales). The end of July is the best timing for whale encounters. Hang out at the Aquarium with the yachties and maybe crew on a yacht for a day for free. There is some nice but inexpensive accomodation too- let me know if you want more detail.

Another option in Solomon Islands are the liveaboard dive boats like Bilikiki, which travel around places in the Central Solomons, with both wrecks and marine life, eg the Russell Islands, which are beautiful.
They also cover a lot of Iron Bottom Sound, where most of the wrecks ar
(I am not a diver, but am very familiar with the Eastern and Central Solomons).