When To Go · Country Guide
Remote Coral Triangle reefs, WWII wrecks and kastom-managed lagoons
When to go
Solomon Islands is hot and humid yearround, with small temperature changes and big local rainfall differences.
Best overall window
Drier, lower humidity, average coastal air near 27°C, southeast trades sometimes around 30 km/h over open water.
Outside that window
Northwest monsoon, heavier rain, hotter humidity, thunderstorms and possible tropical lows or cyclones.
Start with the overall answer, then switch only when scuba, freedive, snorkel, or topside timing changes the trip in a meaningful way.
The overall row stays visible so you can compare it against the currently selected scope.
| Scope | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Overall - Jan: Tradeoffs | Overall - Feb: Tradeoffs | Overall - Mar: Tradeoffs | Overall - Apr: Good | Overall - May: Best | Overall - Jun: Best | Overall - Jul: Best | Overall - Aug: Best | Overall - Sep: Best | Overall - Oct: Best | Overall - Nov: Good | Overall - Dec: Tradeoffs |
These do not replace the overall planner. Use them only if a specific animal or event is driving your trip dates.
Hawksbill Turtle Nesting at Arnavon
Best for Topside, Snorkel
May to Dec
Arnavon Community Marine Park is a key hawksbill turtle rookery, with peak nesting through May to December.
Leatherback and Green Turtle Monitoring at Tetepare and Rendova
Best for Topside, Snorkel
Sep to Apr
Tetepare and nearby Rendova support night patrols and ranger monitoring during the broader nesting season.
Fish Spawning and Eagle Ray Activity around Gizo
Best for Scuba, Snorkel
Feb to Jun
Newmoon periods around selected Western Province reefs can bring courtship and schooling behavior.
Uepi Hammerhead Window
Best for Scuba
May to Aug
Hammerhead sightings are never promised, but Uepi and Marovo Lagoon operators often talk about stronger chances in the midyear window near currentfed walls.
Reef Sharks, Turtles and Schooling Fish
Best for Scuba, Snorkel, Freedive
Year-round
Blacktip, whitetip and grey reef sharks, turtles, jacks, barracuda and reef fish can appear yearround, especially on points, passages and healthy outer reefs.
Guadalcanal WWII Commemorations
Best for Topside, Scuba
Aug
August is meaningful for travelers pairing Iron Bottom Sound wrecks with Guadalcanal history, memorials and battlefield interpretation.
North Pacific Surf Season
Best for Topside
Oct to Apr
Surf is most relevant during the North Pacific swell season, with breaks in Isabel, Malaita, Gizo and Makira.
Built from climate references, access rules, and destination operators. Wildlife timing and route flexibility can shift year to year.