ELIZABETH ANN

Best months: Jul–Oct

Protected Area

Tulagi Island

Why dive here

With 391+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, blacktip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, humpback whales and orcas - ELIZABETH ANN offers some of Iron Bottom Sound's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 29-31°C, warmest January, April, December.

Best timeJul–Oct

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Blacktip Reef Sharks, Grey Reef Sharks, Humpback Whales and Orcas · 391+ species recorded

Water29-31°C · warmest January, April, December

CharacterWreck dive · max 2m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

If you fancy a break from the deep giants of Iron Bottom Sound, the *Elizabeth Ann* offers something completely different: a proper shore dive straight onto a wreck. We love this site for its accessibility and the sheer joy of poking around a wreck in just a couple of metres of water. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon, when you want more than just a snorkel but don’t feel like gearing up for a deep descent. She’s a fishing vessel, grounded back in ’76, and what’s left of her sits fast on the rocks just off Honiara. You can practically walk into the water and be on top of her. The bow section is still quite intact, providing fantastic nooks and crannies for exploration. We’ve spent ages just investigating the engine room, which is completely flooded, of course, and now home to swarms of small damselfish and gobies. Look closely in the shadowed crevices for moray eels – they’re almost always there. The shallow depth means ambient light is brilliant, picking out the colours of the sponges and soft corals that have colonised the exposed metal. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly if you're experimenting with wide-angle close-ups. Our favourite part is the stern, where the propeller is still visible, encrusted with growth and surrounded by busy schools of fusiliers. It's a truly relaxed dive, suiting anyone from beginners looking for an easy wreck experience to seasoned divers wanting to slow down and really observe.