The Solomon Islands consist of several groups of islands located east of Australia and south of New Guinea. The largest island, Gudalcanal, is best known as a World War II battle site. The Solomons have very healthy reefs, abundant fish life and very friendly, hospitable people.

These pictures were taken in September 2009 while on the dive boat Bilikiki. Our route took us from Honiara on Guadalcanal to the Russell Islands, the New Georgia islands and the Florida islands.

All photos were taken with a Nikon D300 digital camera, Nikon 105mm, 16mm and 18-200mm lenses in a Sea & Sea housing. Underwater light was provided by two Sea & Sea YS-120 strobes.

Click on the small image to see it full-size.           Click here for slideshow.           Google Maps
Map of the Solomons The Bilikiki at anchor Dive-flag toenails are de rigueur! Pooh under an overhang Square-spot Anthia
Wire-coral goby, about 1/2 inch long Yellow Anthia and a sea fan Two Two-Spot gobies Anthia hiding in coral at night Diver and school of jacks
Large school of jacks Gray Reef shark passing by Anemonefish on the reef Freckle-faced Blenny guards his hole Regal Angelfish
Peterson's Pufferfish Longnose Hawkfish in a sea fan Ghost Pipefish Nearly transparent anemone shrimp Spotted anemone shrimp
Falco Hawkfish on a red sea fan Dive buddies Pooh, Sara and Art On the skiff heading out for a dive Goby and blind shrimp Butterfly Fish
Anemonefish at home Picasso Triggerfish Tiny Cowrie on a sea fan Cuttlefish School of barracuda
Diver in a current Bi-Color Angelfish Juvenile Anemonefish Divers and a large sponge Anemonefish at home
Striped Butterflyfish Anemonefish on the reef Sea fan and baitfish Girl in a canoe House on the lagoon
Canoes and jungle Local boys and their canoe Green jungle and clear blue water Saltwater Crocodile Early morning cannoes
Buying produce from the locals Solomons sunset

The sea fans that grow in the Solomons are some of the largest I have ever seen. Some of them were
8 or 9 feet across. These huge fans are home to the pygmy seahorse, the smallest in the world.
These creatures are not much larger than a grain of rice and are almost impossible to see as they have the
same color and texture as the fan they live on. Like other seahorses the male carries the young before
birth. In some of the photos you can see the 'pregnant' male.

Bumpy seahorse Male and female Seahorse in her fan Male and female

The Solomons are home to hundreds of species of nudibranch. Nudibranchs are snails without shells, usually
less than two inches long and brightly colored to discourage predators. The tree-like structure seen on the
backs of some species are their lungs.

Ornate nudi Black and blue Smooth Mating nudis Another black and blue
Wild spots More spots


Return to the main page.