Turtle Point (Honiara) - Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound

22m Max

12-28m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Turtle Point (Honiara) is one of the signature dive sites of Guadalcanal – Honiara & Iron Bottom Sound in the Solomon Islands. Turtle Point is a gentle sloping reef just off Honiara where green and hawksbill turtles, stingrays and moray eels are regular residents, making it a favourite for check-out and refresher dives. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 22 m, with an average depth near 12 m, and its slope topography is draped in coral and sand. Marine life is the headline attraction, with green turtle, hawksbill turtle, stingray, moray eel, butterflyfish, parrotfish 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 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 Turtle Point (Honiara) 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 Turtle Point (Honiara) 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 slope profile, divers are immediately surrounded by green turtle, hawksbill turtle, stingray, moray eel, butterflyfish, parrotfish, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 22 m while the average sits near 12 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. Turtle Point is best dived as a relaxed shore or short-boat dive on a calm morning, when the sloping reef and its turtle residents are most active. Slack conditions keep the slope clear and the entry easy. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a 3 mm wetsuit is ample. A slow profile lets you work the coral for morays and rays."