Diving Makira & Ulawa

About Makira & Ulawa (Southern Province)

Makira and Ulawa, in the remote Southern Province, are among the least-explored dive frontiers in the Solomon Islands, prized for pristine outer reefs that see only a handful of visitors each year. Makira's outer wall is a steep, current-washed drop-off alive with grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna and a dense pelagic cast, while Ulawa Atoll offers untouched coral, clear water, manta rays, turtles and massive schools of parrotfish inside a classic atoll lagoon. Few operators venture this far south, which is precisely the appeal: you dive reefs that feel genuinely first-discovered, with coral coverage and fish biomass that speak to decades of protection by local communities. For self-sufficient, adventurous divers prepared to travel far from the usual circuit, Makira and Ulawa deliver a raw, unfiltered slice of the Coral Triangle.

Highlights

• ✓Makira Outer Wall: a steep drop-off with grey reef sharks, dogtooth tuna and abundant pelagics.
• ✓Ulawa Atoll: an untouched coral atoll with manta rays, turtles and huge parrotfish schools.
• ✓Very few operators reach this remote southern frontier.
• ✓Pristine reefs with exceptional coral cover and fish biomass.

Getting There

Reach Makira via a domestic flight from Honiara to Kirakira (Makira) or by liveaboard from the central provinces. Ulawa is reached by boat from Makira or by charter. Local operators are scarce, so most visits are arranged through a liveaboard or a pre-booked expedition.