You’ve probably heard of the Solomon Islands. You might even be aware there is great diving on offer in the Solomon Islands. But do you actually know where the Solomon Islands are?
Come on, be honest now!
Well, let us help you with that and a few other interesting features of this often-overlooked nation.
The Solomons sit in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea and northeast of Australia. Or, if you want us to be specific in the Pacific, between latitudes 5° and 13° South and longitudes 155° and 170° East.
For context, in travels terms, if you’re coming from Australia it will take you around 3.5 hours to fly from Brisbane.
It is part of the Melanesia subregion and consists of nearly 1,000 islands, including six major ones – Guadalcanal, Malaita, New Georgia, Santa Isabel, Makira, and Choiseul. The capital city, Honiara, is located on the largest island, Guadalcanal.
The islands stretch across a distance of about 1,500 kilometres or 930 miles (think something along the lines of London to Rome as the crow flies) in a northwest-southeast direction, covering a total land area of around 28,400 square kilometres (10,965 square miles).
They are part of the broader region of Oceania, bordered by the Solomon Sea to the southwest and the Coral Sea to the south. The archipelago forms a natural extension of the Pacific Ring of Fire, meaning it is occasionally prone to seismic activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of the country is its linguistic diversity. There are over 70 distinct languages spoken across the archipelago which reflects the islands’ rich mix of indigenous cultures, each with unique traditions, customs, and histories.
The strong heritage of the Solomon Islands is also highlighted by the fact almost 90% of the land is held under customary ownership, meaning it is managed and owned collectively by local communities according to traditional laws and customs.
While the country often goes under the radar (something the divers who visit are very grateful for) if it were famous for anything it would probably be its value to the planet as an ecological asset alongside the importance it held during World War II.
In terms of nature, the Solomons possess stunning biodiversity with coral reefs, tropical rainforests, volcanoes, mangroves and much, much more making it a prime destination for eco-tourism.
Geographically its location is strategically important in the Pacific, so over the years it has played a key role both in politics and trade.
It was a major battleground during World War II, notably at Guadalcanal, and fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese forces have left a lasting historical legacy with many wrecks providing amazing relics of the not-so-distant past.
The combination of its marine diversity and military history makes it an incredible place for divers to explore.
So there you go. You now know where the Solomon Islands are and a little bit about its culture, nature and history.
The only thing left now is to come and visit for yourself.
If you would like to know more about the Solomon Islands, such as the diving on offer or how best to get there, please contact our team on [email protected] and they will be delighted to help.
We thank Matt Smith for the beautiful image of coral used with this story