Blanche Wall - Iron Bottom Sound
Diving the Dauntless in Iron Bottom Sound feels less like visiting a wreck and more like an archaeology dig. We love how intact she is, sitting upright at 13 metres. You can practically imagine pilot Jim Dougherty’s landing. We usually drop onto the wing, then slowly make our way to the cockpit, peering in to see the gauges and controls still there. The real charm here, though, is the macro life. The Dauntless is a magnet for blennies – look closely in the crevices and you’ll spot Red-streaked Blennies peeking out. Tiny Bluestripe Pipefish weave through the coral growth on the fuselage, and we’ve often found a curious moray eel tucked into the bomb bay. It’s an easy, calm dive, usually with 17m visibility, and perfect for photographers who appreciate the details of history and the small wonders of the reef.
- Location
- Iron Bottom Sound, Solomon Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -7.620600, 158.841000
- Type
- wreck
Marine Protected Area: Kia
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
- Abyss’ Triggerfish (wall)
- Abyss’ Triggerfish
- Aichi D3A ’Val’ (Wreck) (wreck)
- Aichi D3A ’Val’ (Wreck) (wreck)
- Aussie Point (reef)
- Aussie Point (reef)
- Azumasan Maru (wreck)
- Azumasan Maru (drift)
- Baby Cakes Reef (pinnacle)
- Baby Cakes Reef (reef)
- Balydon Shoals (reef)
- Balydon Shoals (reef)
- Base 1 Muck Site (muck)
- Base 1 Muck Site (muck)
- Bell P39 Airacobra (Wreck) (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Blanche Wall
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 Blanche Wall
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