Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck)
Protected Area
Rendova Harbor
Why dive here
With 292+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, sperm whales and whitetip reef sharks - Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck) offers some of Gizo & Western Province's richest wreck diving.
The Bell P39 Airacobra is one of those Solomon Islands wrecks we find ourselves recommending again and again, especially if you’re based out of Gizo. It’s not just a chunk of metal, it's a remarkably intact plane sitting upright at 26 metres, a true ghost of the Pacific War. We love how clearly you can make out the cockpit, the engine housing, and those distinctive tricycle landing gear struts. Sinking here sometime in 1942, the Airacobra has become an artificial reef, draped in colourful soft corals that sway gently in the mild currents. Look closely and you’ll spot gobies darting into holes, small nudibranchs inching across the metal, and often a grumpy stonefish hunkered down near the wingtip. Our favourite part has to be finning slowly along the fuselage, imagining the pilot’s last moments, before circling the tail section where schools of fusiliers often swirl. It’s an intermediate dive, perfect for those comfortable with depth and keen on exploring history without needing to penetrate. If you appreciate a clear, poignant wreck with a healthy dose of reef life, this one’s a winner.
Typical Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck) Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 26m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck) Wreck History
Year Sunk
1942
Vessel Type
aircraft
Cause
unknown
Resting in the warm waters off Gizo, this Bell P-39 Airacobra is a tangible relic of the intense aerial combat that defined the Solomon Islands campaign during World War II. The P-39 was a unique American fighter, distinctive for its car-style doors and the powerful 37mm cannon firing through its propeller hub. Thousands of these aircraft served in the Pacific theater, flying grueling missions against Japanese forces from hastily built island airfields.
The exact story of this particular aircraft's final flight has been lost to time, but it was likely lost during the fierce fighting of 1942 or 1943, either falling in combat or succumbing to mechanical failure. Today, it lies remarkably intact on a sandy seabed at 26 meters. Divers can clearly see the cockpit, the engine housing behind it, and the distinctive tricycle landing gear. Over the decades, the aluminum fuselage has become a thriving artificial reef, attracting schools of fish and providing a home for a variety of macro life, making it a poignant and beautiful dive into history.
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