Bonegi I (Hirokawa Maru) - Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound

30m Max

15-30m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Bonegi I (Hirokawa Maru) is one of the signature dive sites of Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands. The 133 m Japanese transport Hirokawa Maru was beached in 1942 and now lies partly in the shallows, making it one of the world's finest shore-accessible wrecks, draped in dense soft coral with glassfish clouds and resident batfish. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 30 m, with an average depth near 18 m, and its wreck and slope topography is draped in metal and coral. Marine life is the headline attraction, with batfish, lionfish, glassfish, great barracuda, soft coral gardens, moray eel regularly recorded here, drawn in by the mild currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 15 to 30 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit intermediate divers, and with the right guide the site delivers both the drama of its wreck and slope and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Honiara, and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Bonegi I (Hirokawa Maru) a genuine standout on any Solomon Islands itinerary. Divers who time their visit to the calm season will find the most predictable conditions, though the site rewards repeat visits across the year.

Dive Briefing

"The dive at Bonegi I (Hirokawa Maru) begins with a thorough operator briefing covering the site layout, expected marine life and emergency procedures, followed by a controlled entry and a short transfer from Honiara. Descending toward the wreck and slope profile, divers are immediately surrounded by batfish, lionfish, glassfish, great barracuda, soft coral gardens, moray eel, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 30 m while the average sits near 18 m, so a dive computer and disciplined gas planning keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as mild, and the guide chooses the entry time to make the most of slack or mild flow, using a reef hook or DSMB when needed. Neutral buoyancy protects the fragile coral and the group stays close to manage depth and any surge. The safety stop is completed in open water on a DSMB, and the boat follows the bubbles to collect divers at the exit point for a relaxed return to base. Bonegi I is best dived as a shore entry on a calm morning, when light penetrates the shallow hold and the soft-coral encrustation glows. The site suits all tides but a gentle swell makes the sandy exit easier at slack water. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit is ample. Plan a slow profile to enjoy the 5 to 30 m range and to avoid silting the open structure with fin kicks."