DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

Solomon islands Magical diving in the Western Provence

dive the wreck of the Toa Maru, followed by two of the best reef dives around. The boat trip is very scenic as we motor past tropical isles and waterways lined with Coconut palms and jungle. Our dive guide, Greg, gave us an excellent dive briefing and run down on the 140 metre long wreck. He made the wreck come alive after a comprehensive dive brief which we followed to the letter. We dived past about ten highlights of the Toa Maru. He was a excellent dive guide and he made the wreck dive a really great adventure. We dived down to the wreck in the 29 degree clear tropical water. Greg showed us the remains of an anti-aircraft gun and then the collection of pill bottles, chalk, medical bottles, condoms and a Gas mask. Further down the wreck were giant hausers and the propellor. We followed our guide up inside the wreck to inspect a motor bike, then to the holds full of bags of concrete, saki bottles, the ships lanterns and the huge two man tank sitting on its side. Nearby boxes of shells rested

From the absolute get go, you meet the wonderful people from all across the Solomon Islands. I like to chat with wait staff and find out about them Very young people are being trained and skilled up in the Hotel Industry. As always, the local people here are very friendly and gentle and always help to make your visit that little bit more enchanting. The flight across to Gizo in the Western Province is a bit of a joy flight. You fly over hundreds of islands and coral reefs dotting the azure blue waters of the tropics. We spent the day diving from Dive Gizo with Danny Kennedy. He has been the dive operator in Gizo from 1985, making exactly forty years. Danny provides an excellent and highly professional dive operation. He has highly trained staff and a well maintained facility. There are some great dives close by including WW2 wreck and great reef dives. After sorting out our hire gear, we loaded the boat and checked our dive gear before headed off to

Japanese Tank resting on its side

92

Dive Log Australasia #412 June ‘25

www.divelog.net.au