PBY Catalina Seaplane (Wreck) - Iron Bottom Sound
Scotts Head Pinnacle offers a bit of everything for a relaxed dive. We usually start by dropping onto the sandy flats, keeping an eye out for Yellowhead Jawfish popping their heads from their burrows. The main attraction is the swim-through that carves into the volcanic rock, bringing you out onto a wall that doesn't drop too deep, maxing out at 21m. You’ll often spot schools of Creole wrasse here, and occasionally we’ve seen seahorses tucked away in the corals. It’s a good spot for divers who appreciate variety without needing extreme depths or challenging currents.
- Location
- Iron Bottom Sound, Solomon Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -9.113100, 160.164200
- Type
- pinnacle
Marine Protected Area: Tulagi Island
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 PBY Catalina Seaplane (Wreck)
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 PBY Catalina Seaplane (Wreck)
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