Safety · Destination Guide
A remote Coral Triangle liveaboard route of jungle cuts, fish-choked walls, village anchorages, and World War II wrecks
Updated Apr 26, 2026 • 27 sources
The Solomon Islands reward conservative travelers. Diving is warm and often comfortable, but the route is remote, medical evacuation is difficult, and official advisories have warned travelers not to rely on Honiara chamber access without current confirmation. Conservation is also local: reefs, lagoons, and beaches are often village-managed, and protected places such as Tetepare depend on respectful visitors.
Use a reputable, licensed dive operator with oxygen, communications, trained crew, and clear emergency plans. Dive well within certification limits, especially on deep wrecks, cuts, caves, and current-prone points. Use a computer, SMB, audible signal, and torch. Avoid solo diving unless a boat explicitly permits it under a recognized standard. Maintain good buoyancy, do not touch wrecks or coral, and keep no-decompression limits conservative because evacuation from outer islands can be slow and expensive.
Medical facilities are limited outside Honiara. Current official travel advisories have warned that the Honiara hyperbaric chamber has been out of service, while some dive-industry materials have listed a chamber or recompression support. Treat that conflict conservatively: verify current chamber status with your operator and insurer before departure, carry dive accident and evacuation insurance, and be prepared for low-altitude transfer to Honiara followed by evacuation to Australia or New Zealand if required.
Do not rely on chamber access without verification
Official advisories and dive industry notes have differed on Honiara hyperbaric chamber status. Before booking, ask your operator and insurer for current treatment and evacuation procedures, including low-altitude transport and Australia or New Zealand evacuation scenarios.
Remote evacuation logistics
Many dives are far from Honiara. Keep profiles conservative, use nitrox only within training, avoid sawtooth multi-day profiles, and carry insurance that explicitly covers scuba, evacuation, and recompression costs.
Overhead terrain and deep wrecks
Cuts, caves, aircraft wrecks, and deep walls are highlights, but they add overhead, depth, gas, and navigation risk. Stay within certification limits and take the guide's site briefing seriously.
Wet-season disruption
January to March is the most fragile planning period for rain, storm disruption, airport delays, port changes, and vessel maintenance. Build extra buffer nights if booking then.
Follow no-touch, no-take diving. Do not stand on coral, chase turtles, harass sharks or rays, collect shells, or disturb wreck artifacts. Use moorings or established anchorages where available, support operators who pay village and conservation fees transparently, and follow local rules in no-take or community-managed areas. Tetepare's MPA, turtle patrols, and ranger work are good examples of why visitor fees and guide rules matter.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when do not rely on chamber access without verification. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Solomon Islands Police Force | Police emergency | 999 or +677 23666 | Emergency line; confirm local dialing with hotel or operator |
| St John Ambulance Solomon Islands | Ambulance emergency | 111, 911, or +677 7136000 | Nationwide toll-free ambulance guidance listed by St John; Honiara response most practical |
| Fire and Rescue | Fire emergency | 988 or +677 24476 | Emergency line; confirm locally |
| National emergency line | General emergency routing | 911 | Use when advised locally or by operator |
| DAN Emergency Hotline | Dive accident medical advice and evacuation coordination | +1 919 684 9111 | 24/7 international emergency hotline; membership or insurance details should be carried |
| Liveaboard cruise director or dive manager | First operational contact for dive incidents | Provided on board | During trip; carries current local evacuation, oxygen, and communication procedure |