Japanese Transport Wrecks (Tulagi Harbour) - Tulagi & Florida Islands

25m Max

12-28m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Japanese Transport Wrecks (Tulagi Harbour) is one of the signature dive sites of Tulagi & Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands. Several smaller Japanese freighters and landing craft litter Tulagi Harbour at 12 to 25 m, coral-encrusted and alive with frogfish, lionfish and moray eels, making superb wreck-macro combinations. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 25 m, with an average depth near 18 m, and its wreck and reef topography is draped in metal and coral. Marine life is the headline attraction, with frogfish, lionfish, moray eel, nudibranch, soft coral, glassfish regularly recorded here, drawn in by the mild currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 12 to 28 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 reef and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Tulagi, and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Japanese Transport Wrecks (Tulagi Harbour) 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 Japanese Transport Wrecks (Tulagi Harbour) 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 Tulagi. Descending toward the wreck and reef profile, divers are immediately surrounded by frogfish, lionfish, moray eel, nudibranch, soft coral, glassfish, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 25 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. The Japanese transport wrecks in Tulagi Harbour are best dived as a relaxed shallow boat dive on a calm day, with the coral-encrusted freighters and landing craft most colourful on a slack window. The 12 to 25 m depth gives long bottom time. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is ample. A slow profile reveals both wreckage and the macro that cloaks it."