Kennedy Island (Plum Pudding Reef) - Gizo & Ghizo Island

18m Max

12-28m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Kennedy Island (Plum Pudding Reef) is one of the signature dive sites of Gizo & Ghizo Island in the Solomon Islands. Kennedy Island's Plum Pudding Reef is a shallow, calm lagoon of coral gardens with stingrays, cuttlefish and morays, linked to the PT-109 story but a lovely reef dive in its own right. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 18 m, with an average depth near 10 m, and its slope and garden topography is draped in coral and sand. Marine life is the headline attraction, with stingray, cuttlefish, moray eel, butterflyfish, parrotfish, nudibranch 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 slope and garden and intimate encounters with the smaller residents. Local operators run regular trips from Gizo, and the protected, low-tourism setting keeps coral cover dense and fish life abundant, making Kennedy Island (Plum Pudding Reef) 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 Kennedy Island (Plum Pudding Reef) 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 Gizo. Descending toward the slope and garden profile, divers are immediately surrounded by stingray, cuttlefish, moray eel, butterflyfish, parrotfish, nudibranch, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 18 m while the average sits near 10 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. Kennedy Island is best dived as a relaxed shallow dive on a calm day, when the lagoon coral gardens and their residents are most active. Mild currents and a slack window keep the water clear. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is plenty. A slow profile lets you enjoy the stingrays, cuttlefish and morays."