Solomon Islands Wreck Week

The WWII Wreck Week itinerary allows up to 22 dives exploring some of the best shipwrecks and plane wrecks of the Florida Islands, Russell Islands, Iron Bottom Sound and around Guadalcanal.

Although many of the wrecks are within recreational limits, to get the most out of this itinerary — and to see the deeper sections of some wrecks — you'll want to be certified to 50m or deeper. Wreck condition varies, from almost fully intact to broken apart from wartime damage; we focus on the wrecks with the most structure and interest to maximise everyone's enjoyment.

WWII Wrecks of Guadalcanal

The waters around Guadalcanal are littered with wrecks from the intense naval fighting of 1942–1943, making the area one of the world's most significant underwater WWII museums.

• Kinugawa Maru – A Japanese transport ship beached and destroyed during the Battle of Guadalcanal; today it is one of the most iconic and accessible wrecks in Iron Bottom Sound.
• USS Kanawha (AO-1) – A U.S. Navy oiler sunk by Japanese aircraft in December 1942 while supporting Allied operations.
• USS Aaron Ward (DM-34) – A U.S. destroyer-minelayer sunk by Japanese air attacks in April 1943; now a popular deep wreck dive.
• USS John Penn (DD-303) – A Clemson-class destroyer sunk by Japanese bombers in August 1942 while anchored near Lunga Point.
• Boneghi I, II & III – Three Japanese transport ships (including the Kinugawa Maru above) sunk by Allied aircraft in 1942; they lie close together and are often dived as a group.
• RNZS Moa (T-233) – A New Zealand Navy minesweeper sunk by Japanese aircraft in April 1943, representing New Zealand's contribution to the Guadalcanal campaign.

Together, these wrecks tell the story of the ferocious naval and air battles that earned the area its grim nickname: Iron Bottom Sound.

The Solomons Master Liveaboard

The Solomons Master is fully equipped to support open circuit and closed circuit divers, with mixed gas, rich Nitrox and 100% oxygen available. Deco, stage and rebreather cylinders in common sizes (Al80, Al40 and 3L), plus Molecular Products Sofnolime for CCRs, are also available on board.

The steel-hulled Solomons Master (formerly Truk Master) has eight double-occupancy cabins — Classic, Premium or Superior — for up to 16 guests, each with a private en-suite bathroom and individually controlled air-conditioning.

The dive deck is large and spacious, with individual set-up stations, under-bench storage and a rear platform with a deco bar — fully equipped for recreational, technical and rebreather divers.

The main deck has a spacious indoor dining room and a camera station with charging points and storage. Unwind after diving in the indoor lounge and bar with a plasma screen, or head out to the shaded relaxation area or the upper-deck sundeck.