USS Aaron Ward - Tulagi & Florida Islands

70m Max

20-40m Vis

boat

Site Overview

USS Aaron Ward is one of the signature dive sites of Tulagi & Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands. The 106 m US destroyer USS Aaron Ward was sunk in 1943 and lies at 40 to 70 m, an advanced technical dive with intact superstructure, visible torpedo tubes, massive resident groupers and grey reef sharks draped in deep-water gorgonians. The site reaches a maximum depth of about 70 m, with an average depth near 55 m, and its wreck and wall topography is draped in metal and coral. Marine life is the headline attraction, with grouper, grey reef shark, deep-water gorgonian, great barracuda, schooling snapper, soft coral regularly recorded here, drawn in by the moderate currents and the rich Coral Triangle productivity of the region. Visibility typically ranges from 20 to 40 m, while water temperatures hold a consistent 27 to 30°C year-round, comfortable in a 3 to 5 mm wetsuit. Conditions suit technical divers, and with the right guide the site delivers both the drama of its wreck and wall 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 USS Aaron Ward 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 USS Aaron Ward 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 wall profile, divers are immediately surrounded by grouper, grey reef shark, deep-water gorgonian, great barracuda, schooling snapper, soft coral, with the reef and structure revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 70 m while the average sits near 55 m, so a dive computer and disciplined gas planning keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as moderate, 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 USS Aaron Ward is best dived on a calm day from a liveaboard or technical operator, descending the 106 m destroyer from 40 to 70 m on a planned deco profile. Mild to moderate currents are easiest on a slack window, and a morning dive gives the best light on the superstructure. Water stays 27 to 30°C, and a drysuit or thick wetsuit plus deco gases are needed for the depth."