During my two weeks in the Solomon Islands, I explored Honiara, Gizo and literally took a 10min flight to Mundo from Gizo! My dive computer did not even recognize it as a flight we were so low in the sky. I had a window seat and took great photos and video. The Solomon Islands include 900 islands, 600,000 people, 90 languages and nine provinces. Where will you explore first?
VIDEO: It’s time to leave Gizo and Fly to Munda, Solomon Islands
Where to stay in Munda?
I stayed at Agnes Gateway Hotel which has been open for over fifty years and is owned by a local family. It is on the shore of the Roviana Lagoon and where you can find Dive Munda for all your dives! We ate at the restaurant on site and enjoyed incredible sunrises and sunsets over the water.
VIDEO: Where to stay in Munda? Agnes Gateway Hotel, Solomon Islands
Where to dive in Munda?
I was able to dive for two days with the team at Dive Munda. During a 71 min dive at Shark Point, we saw a turtle who stayed with us for awhile. There were both black tip and white tip reef sharks as well as all sizes clams, trigger fish guarding their eggs, juvenile spotted drum, three large moray eels, and many types anemone and clown fish!
VIDEO: Come underwater with Dive Munda and me
On my second day I went to wrecks and reefs. We saw sharks, an eagle ray, cuttlefish and many schools of fish. Our wreck dives included the Airacobra Wreck at 90 feet and a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber from World War 2. For our third dive we went to Barry’s Breakfast and saw a school of barracuda!
It was a great day and we had good fresh fish to eat too. During our surface interval we went to Lubaria island which was a forward base for JFK during World War 2 (see the video below).
VIDEO: Wreck Diving with Dive Munda Solomon Islands
What is there to do around Munda?
VIDEO: Discover Lubaria Island, JFK and World War 2
I went by boat to Lubaria Island where JFK was stationed during World War II.
A new monument was added at Lubaria Island on August 3, 2017
In the photo above taken by Susan K. Bejeckian: “Minister of Culture and Tourism (second from the left) Bartholowmew Parapola and Commander Dan Balsinger United States Senior Defense Official, Defense Attache (right) unveil a monument on Lubaria Island in the Western Province. Standing at (left) is Western Provincial Deputy Premier Maloney Lopoto. The unveiling of the monument is part of the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of World War II Battle of the Guadalcanal events held August 3, 2017 in the Solomon Islands.”
VIDEO: Seeing Skull Island and the history of Headhunting in the Solomon Islands
VIDEO: Visit the Peter Joseph WW2 Museum in Munda
VIDEO: Marvelous Munda Sunset at Agnes Gateway Hotel, Solomon Islands
Useful Phrases:
Thank you: Tanggio
Thank you very much: Tanggio tumas
Good: gud tumas, nambawan
How are you? Yu hao?
I am fine, Thanks: Mi Oraet, tanggio tumas
Thank you to the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau for arranging my trip and helping me learn about the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal.
Want to know more about the Solomon Islands?
Read my articles:
Saturday Evening Post: A World War II Hero Remembers Guadalcanal
Where to Go in Gizo, Solomon Islands?
What Famous History Happened in Honiara, Solomon Islands?
See my segment for The Jet Set TV on the Solomon Islands.
Thank you! Lisa Niver