Snorkeling the vibrant reefs of the Solomon Islands

The Solomon Islands are a NW-SE-oriented chain of islands located east of Papua New Guinea and north of Australia. Born of fire, the mostly volcanic islands were formed when the smaller Solomon Plate slid under the larger Pacific Plate (subduction). As part of the cultural sub-region of Melanesia, people of the Solomons share their origins with people of New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia. Evidence suggests that some of the earliest settlers arrived in the islands over 40,000 years ago, and that the Austronesian-speaking people who arrived roughly 6,000 years ago are direct ancestors to the present-day people of the Solomon Islands.
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Most of the islands, like few other places in the world, are beautiful examples of quiet, unaffected island life. Many of the villages throughout the islands exist in semi-isolation but are full of vibrant activity. Fishing, the primary source of food is performed by the men while the women tend to the family and home. Smiles are easy to come by, especially from the tireless children. The charm of the people is engaging for sure, and is equal only to the magic of the sea that surrounds them.
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The reefs around the Solomon Islands are some of the healthiest and diverse in the world. The islands define the entire eastern tip of the coral triangle, a geographic term to describe the area that possesses the world’s highest levels of marine biodiversity. Each island group showcases a wealth of habitats and the beauty of the islands only add to the pageantry of reef life below. Furthermore, because of its geographical location, the islands have a variety of endemic or range-restricted fishes. White bonnet anemonefish and hybrid butterflyfishes are often a treat to see amongst the thousands of varieties of reef fishes that are common within the Coral Triangle. There is no hesitation when we say that the Solomons Islands continue to wow us each and every time we visit. It is why we keep going back!

 

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ITINERARY

The Solomon Islands snorkeling tour begins and ends in Nadi, Fiji. One internal flight from Nadi, Fiji to Honiara, Solomon Islands. Please note we include two (2) nights in Fiji and the internal flight for this departure. We will provide updates about the carrier, route and dates, as soon as they are available. Our snorkeling journey in the Solomon Islands takes us to the Russell and Florida Island groups, and Mary Island. Please note that weather plays a significant role in determining the overall itinerary, and that the sample below may change as a result of weather considerations.

Day 1: Fiji Hotel
Meals provided: B,L,D
Meet at our group hotel in Fiji for our welcome dinner. Overnight Radisson Blu, Denarau Island

Day 2: Fiji / Solomon Islands
Meals provided: B,L,D
Our 3-hour fligh to the Solomon Islands takes place in the early afternoon and upon our arrival into Honiara we transfer to the Bilikiki via our group meeting area at the Kitano Menadana Hotel. Overnight M/V Bilikiki

Day 3: Russell Islands
Meals provided: B,L,D
The Russell Islands consist of two main islands with dozens of smaller satellite islands. The reef types vary from sheltered, shallow coral gardens to exposed fringing reefs. All of the reef types have several things in common: an amazing diversity and abundance of coral and reef fish. Some of the patches of coral are a mesmerizing cobalt blue while others are electric yellow. It will be obvious why we will return after a brief excursion… Overnight M/V Bilikiki

Day 4: Mary Island
Meals provided: B,L,D
Mary Island is a prehistoric-looking, extinct volcano located in open ocean between the Russell Islands and New Georgia Islands (Morovo Lagoon). The island is surrounded by a reef extends a few meters from shore and plunges quickly into the depths forming vertical walls that are completely covered with marine life. In the blue, look for large schools of bumphead parrotfish, barracudas, and jacks. Around the east side of Mary, the collapsed caldera creates a protected bay where fields of enormous boulder corals create a maze-like reef system. Some of these corals are well over 500 years old. Overnight M/V Bilikiki Overnight M/V Bilikiki

Day 5 – 7: Russell Islands / Bonegi Beach
Meals provided: B,L,D
We are back to the Russells to spend the next three days snorkeling reefs in a variety of unique settings. Leru Cut is located on a small limestone island. The cut is a fissure, forming a canyon-like feature in the island is about 2 meters (6 ft) wide, meanders into the island for about 40 meters (130 ft), and is about 15 meters (45 ft) deep. The jungle above filters sunlight that creates a surreal snorkeling environment. Some of the highlights are the abundance of lace corals at the entrance and cave-dwelling fish such as sweepers and cardinalfishes.

Another snorkel site is White Beach, a code name used by the US military during the war. This site is a mix of sand, rubble, and seagrass and offers us the chance to see critters common to these habitats. Archerfish and cardinalfish in the mangroves and crab-eye gobies in the sand and rubble are some of the more interesting fish we will see here. This is a great spot for invertebrates and unusual fish like pipefishes and scorpionfishes. We will also have the chance to visit a local village to learn about Solomon Island life and may be treated to their mesmerizing cultural dance presentations! Our snorkeling sites are immediately in front of the village, where some of the healthiest communities of soft and hard coral, sea grass, and sand/rubble can be found. If weather permits, we will snorkel the WWII-era Japanese wrecks near Bonegi Beach. Overnight M/V Bilikiki

Day 8 – 11: Florida Islands
Meals provided: B,L,D
The Florida Islands are separated from Guadalcanal by Savo Sound, or Ironbottom Sound as it was called during the war because of the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the Battle of Guadalcanal. The islands are stunning and the reefs, simply spectacular. We will spend at least one day around Maravaghi Bay where no less than six distinct marine habitats converge into one area. Mangroves, sand flats, coral reef flats, seaward reefs, fast moving channels, and a ship wreck. Sharks, rays, including the chance for manta rays, schools of reef fish like anthias and damsels, cryptic critters like scorpionfishes, amazing coral coverage including all of the usual reef fish associates, and six different species of anemonefishes are here! Maybe a full day isn’t long enough? Some of the other areas we will also visit are postcard-worthy Tanavula, Petrol Point, and Simon’s Nature Reserve. Overnight MV Bilikiki

Day 12: M/V Bilikiki / Fiji Hotel
Meals provided: B/D
Fly back to Fiji and check-in to group hotel. Farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight Radisson Blu, Denarau Island

Day 13: International flights
Meals provided: B
International flight connections and extensions.

DEPARTURES

December 5 – 17, 2025 ←One room available
Accommodations: M/V Bilikiki
Guides: Ethan Daniels, Lee Goldman
Length: 13 days

Prices and Payment schedule:
$9200 USD per person, double or twin-share occupancy

Reservation deposit: $500 USD
June 1, 2025: $4500 USD
September 1, 2025: $4200 USD

Tour cost includes:

• Accommodations on day 1 through day 13
• All meals on days 2 through 12 (dinner on day 1 – breakfast on day 13)
• All internal transfers including international arrival and departure transfers
• Non-alcoholic beverages
• All snorkeling and park fees
• All gratuities

Tour cost does not include:

• Round-trip international airfare
• Additional hotel accommodations and meals as a result of travel outside of the program dates
• Visa requirements including payments
• Alcoholic beverages
• International departure taxes
• Extra / overweight baggage fees
• Trip insurance (recommended; (we recommend Travel Guard, World Nomads, or Travel Insure)
• DAN insurance (required unless personal insurance program has worldwide emergency evacuation services)
• Additional accommodations while on tour in the event of flight schedule changes or events of force majeure
• Fuel surcharges (if applicable)

Cancellation policy:
180 – 91 days prior to departure: 50% of trip cost
90 days or less prior to departure: 100% of tour cost

Please see our Terms and Conditions