Finding the Treasure of the Solomon Islands
November 2017

If you are a cetacean-lover, you won’t be disappointed by joining Dr Charles (Chas) Anderson’s tours.  This is indeed the 5th time I join Chas’ tours.

On arrival to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, the first thing I feel is the heat and humidity.  It’s not a surprise given its tropical location.  We were picked up by the boat company at the airport for transferring to the hotel in town.  On the following day, we went to the Honiara Post Office which sold the world’s most beautiful wildlife stamps /stamp sheetlets.  Then we got on the MV Bilikiki in the afternoon.

Cetaceans we encountered:

Pantropical Spotted Dolphins

Melon-headed Whales

Pilot Whales

Sperm Whale

Spinner Dolphins

Fraser's Dolphins

Pygmy Killer Whale

Dolphin hunting tradition
When I first heard about the Solomon Islands, it was about their dolphin hunting rituals. Every year, around 1,000-2,000 dolphins are hunted in the Malaita province for their meat and teeth.  Dolphin teeth are used as jewellery or local currency.  More details can be found here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-21/dolphin-hunt-solomon-islands-ancient-tradition/105181698
https://www.dolphinproject.com/blog/mass-slaughter-in-the-solomons/

Our cetacean watching tour here is to show the local people the alternative economic value of dolphins and whales.  The dolphins I encountered are all happy friendly dolphins, and it hurts to see them becoming the unsuspecting victims of this outdated ritual.  The underwater world here is superb, and if ecotourism can be developed here and bring in real cash for improving people’s quality of life, hopefully the so-called ritual can die out.

Underwater garden
Due to its remote location, the Solomon Islands boast some of the best snorkeling sites in the world.  We went snorkeling almost every day.

Other animals encountered

Flying fish

Blyth's Hornbill

Lesser Frigatebird

Brown Booby

Local culture

Kids like hanging around when we are berthed

People come over to sell locally grown fruits and vegetables

Tribal dance show

Food served on the boat

While the Solomon Islands are in the remote part of the Pacific Ocean, we can still see rubbish on the corals.

Travel Information:
Dr Charles Anderson’s tours: www.whale-and-dolphin.com
Flight route: Brisbane, Australia -> Honiara, the Solomon Islands
Note: Visa is required for changing flights in Australia

The Solomon Islands is a Malaria high risk area.  Before you sign up, please check out https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries and visit a travel clinic for advice before you go.