Dear Team Member,

I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and well.

Our inaugural Solomon Islands wreck expedition embarks today and the excitement among #teamdd has reached fever pitch… Our dive team woke up this morning in Honiara with the view above and the anticipation is palpable!

We would like to give you a sneak peek at some of the highlights on our custom-made wreck itinerary to give you a better idea of why we cannot wait to dive into this absolute gem of a wreck destination.

THE WRECKS

USS Aaron Ward

Gleaves-class destroyer -  Length: 106m/348ft | Tonnage: 2,060 | Depth to seabed: 70m/229ft

Not discovered until 1995, the USS Aaron Ward avoided the attention of salvagers in the 70s and so the wreck is in relatively good condition. Today, she lies upright in warm, clear water with her deck at approximately 60m and the bottom at 70m.

The bridge has been completely destroyed, leaving a pile of debris in its place with the last remaining searchlight sitting upright on the deck.

USS John Penn

Attack transport - Length: 145m/475ft | Tonnage: 9,360 | Depth to seabed: 56m/183ft

The wreck lies on her starboard side with the port hull in about 36m/118ft of water. This is a fascinating wreck with plenty of memorabilia to discover, both inside and outside.

However, strong tidal currents and a covering of silt can make for a more challenging dive.

USS Kanawha

Kanawha-class fleet replenishment oiler -  Length: 145m/475ft | Tonnage: 14,800 (full load) | Depth to seabed: 57m/187ft

The wreck of the oil tanker USS Kanawha lies north east of Soghonangola Island at the entrance to Tulagi Harbour. She faces the island upright (south) and is on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of about 57m/187ft.

There are a number of guns still in position and large amounts of ammunition around the bridge.

USS Atlanta

The first question we get asked when talking about Solomon Islands is - are you planning to dive the USS Atlanta?

The short answer is ‘Yes, in due course’. We are evaluating our operator and conditions for a dive on the USS Atlanta on our inaugural trip and will keep you posted.

WANT TO JOIN US IN 2025?

JOIN US IN THE SOLOMONS IN 2025 by clicking the button below to discover more information about pricing and inclusions for our trip 18 - 28 October 2025.

That wraps it up for this week. As always we look forward to some great adventures with you in the years to come and as always, don’t forget, if you are feeling lonely, then we are here to chat Dirty.

Best,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team