2000 Chapbook

One of the last countries to jump on the tourism bandwagon, the Solomon Islands' tourist infrastructure is nil except for a few small, remote dive resorts in beautiful settings like Uepi and the Gizo islands, although several live-aboards dive these waters.... There are plenty of wrecks from WWII, lots of pristine reefs and walls, an abundance of fish (big ones too), and even more unexplored territory (the Solomon Seahas been doing several exploratory trips into new waters).... The Russells stand out because of dramatic underwater scenery including rocks, caves, and cracks.... In the Florida Group don't miss a dive on Twin Shaft Pinnacles.... Diving is year-round with plenty of places to dive in the lee, but April and May are the best months, followed by October, November, and December.... The Solomons are a good add-on from Fiji (1300 miles to the southeast) or Papua New Guinea (700 miles to the west); Honiara is on the main island of Guadalcanal; use it only for overnighting.... Solomon Islanders produce fine wood carvings.... It looks like 1999's short-lived political flare-up is no longer a problem, but check with the State Department before traveling. . . .This is serious malaria country....

For full reviews of the following Solomon live-aboards, see:

Solomon Sea,In Depth- July 1995

Uepi Island, August 1998, Carlton and Ann Whitehead, CA. One hour Twin-Otter flight to Seghe Island from Honiara. Our hosts had failed to send a boat for us, but we contacted them on a radio in the shack on the landing field. 45 minute trip across open water to Uepi Island, 50 acres of raised coral covered with rain forest and spectacular coconut palms. In front of the dock and dive shack there is a dramatic drop off to 1000 feet providing wonderful snorkeling; clouds of Sergeant-Majors plus schools of big blue trevally jacks, tuna, groupers, sweetlips, gorgeous queen angels, and smaller sharks. One broad white sand beach. A dozen cabins, along with a few rooms in the lodge. Cabins reasonably spacious, adequate but not fancy, with a double bed, a set of bunks, bathroom and separate toilet and a sink with an electric water heater for tea or coffee. An outer deck runs around two sides. Breakfast and dinner served buffet style, where you share one of four tables with the other guests. Breakfast was continental fare, picnic lunch delivered to you each day feature sandwich-type things like quiche or meat rolls with cookies and fruit. Dinner, e.g., was ginger beef, jack, casaba, several vegetables and lemon meringue. Dive boat is a 26-ft. panga with high metal sides; exit in a backward roll and enter on a ladder over the side. Dives are within 15 minutes so passenger comfort is not vital. Uepi Point vis about 50 feet; dense schools of barred sergeant-majors, fusiliers, anthias and the usual crowd of reef fish. Gorgonia and soft corals all around. At 100 feet a large rock outcropping juts above an even steeper drop-off, with considerable current; we settled there and watched trevally, schooling barracuda, tuna and 4 or 5 large gray whaler sharks cruising back and forth, with smaller white-tips in the distance. On return, we drifted slowly back along the wall, admiring bright-colored nudibranchs the divemaster found. Two large cuttlefish and anemone-clownfish cooperatives. Nesting mustache trigger fish at 100 feet. At least eleven regular dives from the island but five or six custom dives are sometimes available, along with cultural trips to other island villages. Fishing off the dock, hiking, canoeing; most people (most were Australian or New Zealanders) were not scuba divers. 2 nights, including boat ride, board and room, $252/person. Boat dive $35. RT flight, $97/person. (Telephone 800-886-7321 or +677 415-2748925 or +677 23889; Fax +677 415-7810213)

Uepi Island, February 1999, Deiter Kleinhans (oceansu@psln.com), Portola, CA. Vis: 50 ft. Water: 79-82 degrees. Superb South Seas Island location, great diving and excellent service and meals. Wonderful place to relax, enjoy, and let the quiet atmosphere soak in. Accommodations spartan, but clean, refrig in cabin, bug spray furnished, but not many bugs or mosquitoes. No hot water for showers, except sun-heated bladders. Boats are open, good for diving, but not for airport transfers (35 minutes) when there is a tropical downpour.