Bonegi II (Kinugawa Maru) - Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound

35m Max

15-30m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Bonegi II (Kinugawa Maru) is one of the signature dive sites of Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands. The 122 m Kinugawa Maru sits just beyond its larger sister, a slightly smaller but superb shore wreck with a huge propeller, intact cargo holds and an engine room, now alive with schools of snappers, groupers and moray eels. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 35 m, with an average depth near 20 m, and its wreck topography is draped in metal and coral. Marine life is the headline attraction, with schooling snapper, grouper, moray eel, nudibranch, great barracuda, lionfish 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 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 II (Kinugawa 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 II (Kinugawa 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 profile, divers are immediately surrounded by schooling snapper, grouper, moray eel, nudibranch, great barracuda, lionfish, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 35 m while the average sits near 20 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 II is best dived as a shore entry on a calm day, with the huge propeller and intact holds most impressive on a morning dive when light is strongest. The site is forgiving in the shallows but the 35 m hull bottom demands good gas planning. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit is fine. A slack-tide entry makes the beach exit easiest."