Bonegi III (Kyusyu Maru) - Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound

20m Max

12-25m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Bonegi III (Kyusyu Maru) is one of the signature dive sites of Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands. The 40 m Kyusyu Maru is the smallest of the Bonegi wrecks and is mostly collapsed, but its rubble and plating make an excellent macro site for frogfish, ghost pipefish and seahorses close to Honiara. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 20 m, with an average depth near 14 m, and its wreck topography is draped in metal and coral. Marine life is the headline attraction, with frogfish, ghost pipefish, seahorse, nudibranch, moray eel, lionfish regularly recorded here, drawn in by the mild currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 12 to 25 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit beginner 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 III (Kyusyu 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 III (Kyusyu 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 frogfish, ghost pipefish, seahorse, nudibranch, moray eel, lionfish, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 20 m while the average sits near 14 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 III is best dived on a calm day when surge on the shallow plating is minimal, ideally on a high-slack window. The small freighter is mostly collapsed, so the appeal is macro rather than architecture. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is ample. A slow, shallow profile lets you work the rubble and plating for small life."