Abyss’ Triggerfish - Iron Bottom Sound

Abyss’ Triggerfish, in Iron Bottom Sound, is our pick for a site that truly rewards patience. We recently spent an afternoon here, kicking around in the shallows, and it just kept giving. The current description calls it a "macro heaven," and we agree. This seamount starts at just 5m, then slopes down gently to about 20m, meaning you can spend ages just meticulously exploring the top without ever feeling rushed or needing to manage deep stops. We love dropping in and immediately finding ourselves surrounded by clouds of small fusiliers, which always makes a good first impression. But the real magic is in getting close to the substrate. We saw so many Ostrich Gobies, darting in and out of their burrows, and some really striking Latticed Butterflyfish. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff like Messmate Pipefish and Banded Blennies tucked into crevices. The visibility averages about 15m here, which is perfectly fine for hunting out those minute creatures. It’s a great spot for photographers who like to take their time and really dial in on the details, rather than chasing after big pelagics. We’d suggest going slow, bring a good macro lens, and be prepared to spend a full dive in just a small area.

Location: Iron Bottom Sound, Solomon Islands, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates: -8.337100, 157.342600

Marine Protected Area: Sasavele/NB

Best Time to Dive in Iron Bottom Sound

The warmest water temperatures in Iron Bottom Sound occur in January, averaging 30.5°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 30.5°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)
February: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
March: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
April: 30.5°C (air: 26.8°C)
May: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)
June: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
July: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
August: 30.5°C (air: 26.3°C)
September: 30.5°C (air: 26.5°C)
October: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
November: 30.5°C (air: 26.7°C)
December: 30.5°C (air: 26.9°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Iron Bottom Sound

Nearest Dive Centres to Abyss’ Triggerfish

Marine Life in Iron Bottom Sound

Home to 415 recorded species including 320 reef fish, 29 hard corals, 18 sea snails & nudibranchs, 16 sea cucumbers, 7 seagrass & algae, 5 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
Dusky Parrotfish (Scarus niger) - Reef Fish
beautiful fusilier (Caesio teres) - Reef Fish
Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
Rainbowfish (Halichoeres hortulanus) - Reef Fish
Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
Burrowing urchin (Echinometra mathaei) - Sea Urchins
Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii) - Reef Fish
Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
Black-barred Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) - Reef Fish
Mimic Surgeonfish (Acanthurus pyroferus) - Reef Fish
Triangular Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa) - Reef Fish
Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Abyss’ Triggerfish

Based on average water temperature of 30.5°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 30°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories