DISCOVER
TEC DIVING
H O N I A R A
& T U L AG I
WHY TEC DIVING?
Technical diving (commonly known as tec diving) gives
experienced divers the incredible opportunity to expand their
diving skills, further their knowledge and most importantly,
experience new and exciting dive sites. Technical divers require
advanced training, extensive experience, specialized equipment
and often work with breathing gases other than air or standard
nitrox.
There are many reasons people choose to go on a tec diving trip,
whether it be to explore a certain wreck that goes deeper than
40m below the surface, dive on deep walls or those that simply
want to extend their bottom time. Regardless of their reason, tec
diving allows divers to explore areas of our ocean that very few
people have before.
“explore areas of our ocean that very few
people have before”
With ever developing technology and consistent equipment
improvements, we are gradually pushing past the conventional
limits of recreational scuba diving in terms of depth, time and
discovery!
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
www.allwaysdive.com.au | 1800 338 239 | [email protected]
A HISTORY
HONIARA & TULAGI
THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
The Solomon Islands are located to the north east of Australia and
are known for their beauty and remoteness. Compromising of 992
islands, ranging from low lying atolls to landmasses covered in rugged
mountainous terrain, they cover an area of approximately 1,667 kms.
The country has a tropical climate with average temperatures of 29-34
degrees and high humidity throughout the year.
The Solomon Islands offer extraordinary diving opportunities with
crystal clear waters encompassing prolific marine life that is home to
great varieties of fish and corals. These islands were the sites of many
WWII battles and as a result there are some outstanding wreck dives.
IRON BOTTOM SOUND
Iron Bottom Sound is located off the islands of Guadalcanal and gets
its name from the approximate 200 ships and 690 aircraft that lie in
the waters as a result of the Guadalcanal Campaign.
The Guadalcanal Campaign was the first major attack by the Allied
forces on the Japanese during WW2, and resulted in a win for the
Allies but not before countless ships had been sunk in the area.
The sound on average is about 600 meters deep making most ships
inaccessible to all divers however qualified divers are able to dive to
untouched areas in iron bottom sound where very few have been.
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
www.allwaysdive.com.au | 1800 338 239 | [email protected]
THE DIVING
HONIARA & TULAGI
Iron Bottom Sound is a rust lover’s paradise! There are multiple available for diving, from fighter planes and tanks to destroyers and
cargo ships. It is an underwater museum for its guests. Sites include USS Minneapolis, Kawanishi Sea Planes, RNZN Moa, USS Kanawha
and USS Aaron Ward in Tulagi. In Honiara the popular wrecks include USS Atlanta, USS Serpens, USS John Penn, Azumasan Maru,
Sasako Maru, Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru, I-1 Submarine and Kyusyu Maru!
Each wreck has its own interesting history, including its battle, the explanation as to why it sunk and of course the diving you can
experience on it today. Each wreck now houses a myriad of marine life and corals amongst their original shell, creating sites for endless
exploration and discovery.
WRECK: THE AARON WARD – TULAGI
WRECK: THE JOHN PENN - HONIARA
The USS Aaron Ward was sunk on the 7th April 1943. She was
called in to provide coverage for LST449 (Landing Ship Tank)
from an in coming Japanese air raid. The “Ward” was hit and
suffered severe damage to the forward and aft boiler rooms and
engine room spaces, just off Lunga Point near Henderson Field.
Japanese forces had long been evacuated off Guadalcanal
but air raids were still conducted on a regular basis. On the13
August 1943 three “Kate” torpedo bombers arrived at Lunga
Point just on dusk and, cunningly, turned on their navigation
lights and joined a returning American formation lining up to
land.
At first it was thought the “Ward” could be saved and she was
taken under tow for the Sea Bees yard at Tulagi. The closer they
got the more obvious it was that she was not going to make it
and she slipped below the water off Tinete Point in the Florida
islands at 21:35 hours.
The Aaron Ward can now be found in 60-70 metres of water
sitting upright on the bottom, still largely intact. The “Ward” was
located in 1995 by Ewan Stephenson, long after the era of the
fleet salvagers of the 1960-70’s, so she is mostly un-touched.
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 348m long, so even with the depth
of water, a couple of dives will allow you to see the entire wreck
comfortably. The “Ward” is one of the world’s great wreck sites
and very large on the wow factor - visibility is 20-30m.
At the last minute they peeled off and attacked the John Penn.
Three torpedos hit the engine room spaces severing the stern
from the main body of the ship - she sank quickly from the stern
but not before taking one of her attackers with her.
The Penn lies on her starboard side, 35m to the upper hull and
58m on the bottom. Current is often present at this site which
attracts lots of pelagics (barracuda, tuna, kingfish, trevally and
sharks). It is due to the fish attracted to the wreck that makes
it very popular with the local fishermen, resulting in it being
festooned in fishing line - keep your line cutter close at hand.
Though a popular site, there is still a lot of artefacts on the wreck
and a very photogenic two ton truck on the sand aft of the
funnel area.
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
www.allwaysdive.com.au | 1800 338 239 | [email protected]
THE DIVING
HONIARA & TULAGI
WRECK: THE USS ATLANTA - HONIARA
This is the deepest and most challenging wreck that is dived in the Solomon’s and is the only divable wreck sunk form the naval
engagement known as “The Barroom Brawl”. On the 12th November a Japanese surface force was detected steaming south toward
Guadalcanal to shell Henderson Field.
Admiral Callaghan’s support group (including the Atlanta) was to “cover retiring transports and cargo vessels against enemy attack.”
They departed Lunga Point at about 1800 and steamed eastward through Sealark Channel, covering the withdrawal of the transports.
An hour before midnight, Callaghan’s ships reversed course and headed westward. USS Helena’s radar picked up the first contact with
the Japanese Battle Group at a range of 24,000m. As the range closed, Atlanta’s surface search radar, followed by her gunnery radars,
picked up a contact on the enemy ships.
Admiral Callaghan’s order for a course change caused problems immediately, as Atlanta had to turn left immediately to avoid a
collision with one of the four destroyers in the van, the latter having apparently executed a “ships left” rather than “column left”
movement. As Atlanta began moving to resume her station ahead of San Francisco, Akatsuki illuminated the Atlanta and fired
torpedoes. Atlanta shifted her battery to fire at the enemy destroyer, opening fire at a range of about 1,600yd (1,500m).
As two other Japanese destroyers crossed her line, Atlanta engaged both with her forward 5in (130mm) mounts, while her after
mounts continued to blast away at the illuminated ship. In addition, an unidentified assailant also opened up on the light cruiser from
the northeast. At about that time, at least one of Akatsuki’s torpedoes ploughed into Atlanta’s forward engine room from the port side.
She lost all but auxiliary diesel power and had to shift steering control to the steering engine room aft. Atlanta shot out Akatsuki’s
searchlight, and the enemy ship, battered by San Francisco’s gunfire as well, sank with all hands.
Soon after her duel with Akatsuki, Atlanta was hit by an estimated 19 8in (200mm) shells when San Francisco, “in the urgency of
battle, darkness, and confused intermingling of friend or foe”, fired at her. Atlanta prepared to return fire on her new assailant, but San
Francisco’s own gun flashes disclosed a distinctly “non-Japanese hull profile” that resulted in a suspension of those efforts. After the
8in (200mm) fire ceased, Atlanta’s Captain Jenkins took stock of the situation, and, having only a minor foot wound, made his way aft
to Battle II.
Come daylight, Atlanta, drifting toward the enemy-held shore east of Cape Esperance, dropped her starboard anchor, and her
captain sent a message to Portland explaining the light cruiser’s condition. Boats from Guadalcanal came out to take her most critically
wounded. By mid-morning, all of those had been taken.
After an attempt to tow the ship to Lunga Point, the severe damage she had taken made it difficult to save the ship. Authorized by
Commander, South Pacific Forces, to act at his own discretion regarding the destruction of the ship, Jenkins ordered that Atlanta be
abandoned and sunk with a demolition charge. Ultimately, at 2015 on 13 November 1942, Atlanta sank 3mi (5km) west of Lunga Point
in about 400ft (120m) of water.
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
www.allwaysdive.com.au | 1800 338 239 | [email protected]
THE DIVE SHOP
SOLOMON ISLANDS DIVING
Tulagi Dive is a well-equipped dive shop, with a large arrange of
dive equipment and spares for recreational and technical diving.
They have extremely knowledgeable and friendly dive masters who
extensively educate divers on both the diving and the interesting
local history of the area. They offer boat and shore dives, both of
which get fantastic reviews from their guests. They can cater to
divers from novice to experienced tec divers; regardless of which,
you are sure of an incredible experience!
Equipment:
• Full hire gear: Regulators; BCD’s; Uwatec dive computers; mask,
snorkel, fins, weight belts
• PADI and TDI instruction from Open Water to Advanced Trimix
• 11lt cylinders available with DIN and Yoke valves
• 7lt tanks for stage bottles
• 15 x 2.5lt pony bottles for single tank decompression dives
• 2 x sets Buddy Inspiration cylinders
• 8 x Isolation manifolds setts
• 8 x sets twin bands
• CCR scrubber media
• Nitrox to 100%
• Gas booster pump (for 200bar fills)
• Trimix available on request (14 weeks’ notice required for
delivery)
• Divetek Oxygen and helium analysers
• Power outlet adaptors for plugs other than Australian
specification
• 2 x K14 Bauer air compressors
• Hydrostatic testing station
If you can’t find what you need please contact:
Allways Dive Expeditions on 1800 338 239
or your tour leader Jason on (03) 5258 1188.
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
www.allwaysdive.com.au | 1800 338 239 | [email protected]
DIVE VIC TORIA PRESENT
THE SOLOMON ISLANDS 2016
| HONIARA |
TOUR LEADER: JASON
ACCOMMODATION
• 7 nights Kitano Mendana Hotel - Honiara
• Gardenview room - twin share
• Return airport transfers
DIVING
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Solomon Island Diving - Honiara
14 boat dives per person (7 days)
Includes tanks, weights, airfills
Professional dive guide
Minimum 08 diver rate*
DIVER - $ 3,289 NON DIVER - $ 2,885
ADD FLIGHTS
• Return airfares Melbourne to Honiara via Brisbane
• Flying Solomon Airlines
• Includes airline taxes and fuel surcharges
DIVER - $ 4,399 NON DIVER - $ 3,995
DIVING HONIARA
The Solomon Islands offer extraordinary diving opportunities; crystal clear
waters with prolific marine life home to an amazing varieties of fish and
corals. In addition, these islands were the site of many WWII battles, as a
result there are some outstanding wrecks to be seen. A small sample below:
The USS Aaron Ward
The Aaron Ward can be found in 60 -70m of water, sitting upright and
still largely intact. She is 348 metres long so even with the depth
of the water; a couple of dives will allow you to see the wreck
comfortably. The Ward is a world-famous wreck and very high on the ‘wow
factor’. The visibility around the wreck is generally 20-30 metres.
USS John Penn
The Penn lies on her starboard side, 35m to the upper hull and 58m on the
bottom. Due to the consistent currents passing through the area the wreck
is has turned into pelagic city, boasting barracuda, tuna, kingfish, trevally
and sharks. There are still many in situ artefacts including a very
photogenic two ton truck.
BOOKING REFERENCE: DI8611
TRAVEL DATES : 12 - 21 OCTOBER 2016
Optional Upgrades:
Seaview West additional $105 per person, twin share
*Please note that price increases may occur if under 08 divers for the diving component.
DIVE VICTORIA
QUEENSCLIFF
Queenscliff Dive Centre
37 Learmonth St, Queenscliff
03 5984 3155
[email protected]
DIVE VICTORIA USE
THE WHOLESALE SERVICES OF
ALLWAYS DIVE EXPEDITIONS
DISCOVER YOUR UNDERWATER WORLD
[email protected]
www.allwaysdive.com.au
PH : 03 9510 6166
TOLL FREE : 1800 338 239
Lic # 32311