The Solomon Islands: a rugged, jungle-clad island chain in the South Pacific. Remembered for fierce land and sea battles during WW2, but largely overlooked in the decades since. This tropical archipelago is home to a splendid diversity of island peoples, many still leading a traditional village life. The islands are also home to a rich diversity of wildlife, while the seas support kaleidoscopic coral reefs and an astonishing array of cetaceans.

Join us on an exploratory wildlife cruise through the Solomon Islands. Starting from the capital, Honiara, we sail amongst the islands, in search of whales and dolphins. Alongside all the expected tropical species there are also reports of unidentified beaked whales. But a particular target will be Omura’s Whale, a tropical baleen whale which was unknown to science before 2004, when it was first described from the Solomons.

Day 1

‍Board our expedition vessel in Honiara and cruise out into the adjacent Iron Bottom Sound, where, with just a little luck, we can expect our first cetacean encounters. We should anchor in good time for an introductory snorkel before sunset, and this evening there will be an orientation talk.

Days 2-9

‍We explore the waters and islands of the Western and Central Provinces, although our itinerary will be very flexible to take full advantage of local conditions and wildlife sightings. Most days will start with a choice of a visit ashore (to a local village and/or for birding) or a snorkel on a nearby coral reef. Back on board for breakfast, and then we will be off, spending much of each day out at sea in search of cetaceans, seabirds and other oceanic life. We will anchor mid- to late-afternoon, in time for another island visit or snorkel. Most evenings there will be an illustrated talk.

Day 10

‍A final full day of sea watching as we make our way back towards our anchorage at Honiara for our last night on board.

Day 11

‍After breakfast we disembark and transfer to accommodation ashore or to the International Airport for flights home. (There are several flight options, but the easiest are via Brisbane).

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CETACEANS

The Solomon Islands are home to an extraordinary diversity and abundance of tropical cetaceans, with an average of 15 species seen on each of our trips, and a total of 19 species recorded so far. This is the type locality of Omura’s Whale (i.e. the place from which the first scientific specimens were obtained) and we do keep a particular look-out for this species on all our trips.

Bryde’s Whale Balaenoptera brydei

Omura’s Whale Balaenoptera omurai

Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus

Dwarf Sperm Whale Kogia sima

Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris

Spotted Dolphin Stenella attenuata

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus

Indo-pacific Bottlenose Tursiops aduncus

Fraser’s Dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei

Rough-toothed Dolphin Steno bredanensis

Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus

Shortfin Pilot Whale Globicephala macrorhynchus

Melon-headed Whale Peponocephala electra

Pygmy Killer Whale Feresa attenuata

Killer Whale Orcinus orca

Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris

Dense-beaked Whale Mesoplodon densirostris

Deraniyagala’s Beaked Mesoplodon hotaula

Birds

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Destination

Solomon Islands

CETACEANS

Birds

Whale & Dolphin Company

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