The Solomon Islands were the scene for some of the fiercest WWII battles in the South Pacific; with names such as Bloody Ridge, Red Beach, Skyline Ridge, and Henderson Field remaining to mark the brutal combat areas.
We will have the undisputed king of the deep solomon wrecks on this trip, Mr Neil Yates. Neil spend years on the island and single handedly developed the technical diving on these wrecks. Having him as a resource on this trip is invaluable!
Due to the important strategic location close to Australia, the Japanese invaded Guadalcanal in 1942. In reaction to this, the Allied Forces launched Operation Guadalcanal, better known as the Guadalcanal Campaign, and continued to fight until the Japanese finally withdrew from the islands in 1943.
Code named Operation Watchtower, the Battle of Guadalcanal turned out to be a significant strategic combined Allied victory in the Pacific theatre; Along with the Battle of Midway, it has been called a turning point in the South Pacific war against Japan.
The numerous WWII wrecks are in various conditions with the highest concentration in the area known as Iron Bottom Sound between Guadalcanal and Florida Island; some of the wrecks remain fully intact, while others are in pieces, or completely blown apart due to the damage suffered in battle.
Read about or friend Brett's trip here and some details of the wrecks. We are running a very similar itinerary to his trip!
Trip Focus:
This expedition will focus on the deeper technical diving wrecks of the Iron Bottom Sound.
USS Aaron Ward (DD-483)
Depth 50 to 70 metres
A Gleaves-class destroyer, the USS Aaron Ward was assigned to escort and screening duties for transport vessels in Guadalcanal. Having been called in to provide coverage for LST449 (Landing Ship Tank 449) from an in-coming Japanese air raid, she was hit during the ensuing manoeuvres just off Lunga Point near Henderson Field and suffered severe damage to the forward and aft boiler rooms and engine room spaces.
Believing that she could be saved, 'The Ward' was taken under tow to be repaired at the Seabees yard in Tulagi Harbour. However, it became increasingly apparent that she was not going to make it and she eventually slipped below the water off Tinete Point, roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) south-east of Tulagi, at 21:35 hours on 7th April 1943.
USS Aaron Ward now rests in 50 to 70 metres of water sitting upright on the bottom and still largely intact. The 4 x 5” Mounts, 2 x 40mm Bofors, 7 x 20mm cannons and 5 torpedoes are all still easily visible, along with the screws (not seen on many ships). She is 348 metres long, so even with the depth of water, a couple of dives will allow you to see the entire wreck comfortably.
USS Atlanta (CL-51)
Maximum depth 130 metres
The Atlanta is the deepest, most challenging wreck that is dived in the Solomon Islands and is the only diveable wreck that was sunk during the naval engagement known as 'The Barroom Brawl'.
This 152 metre (500ft) long anti-aircraft light cruiser, armed with 5-inch (127 mm) guns, served to provide protection for US naval forces in Midway and Eastern Solomons battles. She was heavily damaged by both enemy and friendly surface gunfire during a night attack on 13th November 1942 and was subsequently scuttled, on her captain’s orders, 5 km (3 mi) west of Lunga Point later the same day.
The Atlanta came to rest on her port side at a depth of 120 - 130 metres with her stern section broken off and her funnels resting on the sandy bottom. Very little exploration has been done on the wreck due to the training, logistics and support systems required to dive her so there is still much to discover. The damage she sustained is clearly visible although many other areas are still intact and well preserved. Her torpedo tubes remain loaded with torpedoes, dual-mount guns are still in place and pointing upwards, and her prop shafts extend from her damaged hull with the propellers still attached.
Certification Notes:
MANDATORY minimum certification and experience: TDI Extended Range with Trimix, or equivalent certification (60+ metres) with deep wreck diving experience.
IMPORTANT: Any guests who do not fulfil the minimum certification requirements stated above, or who our crew feel have insufficient experience or skills, will be denied participation in some or all dives.
