Dive Gizo - The Dive Sites

Dive Gizo - For the most diverse and exciting diving in the world

Gizo is renowned for having the most diverse and exciting diving to be found anywhere in the world: from World War II wrecks to numerous offshore reefs, spectacular coral formations, plummeting walls, manta rays and abundant marine life.

All dives are boat dives. Water temperature averages 28C. Visibility is usually upwards of 20 metres. Troublesome currents are rare. (All divers must show certification cards.)

Click here to view a map of the where the dive sites are located around Gizo.

Toa Maru
A twenty minute boat ride from Gizo is one of the South Pacific's most popular diveable WWII shipwrecks. This reasonably intact Japanese transport ship of some 140m (450') length is lying on its starboard site. It was run aground after suffering damage from an American attack. The dive starts at an easy 7 metres and slants to 37 metres. Interesting artefacts adorn this vessel that sunk before it could be unloaded. Some of the trinkets include saki bottles, medical supplies, office equipment and rounds of ammunition. The larger objects include bombs, a motorbike, a type 21 tank. For the more experienced divers a guided tour inside the wreck to the bridge, crew quarters, engine room and medical supply room is a must do adventure.

For a detailed plan of the Tao Maru site and its features, click on low resolution (38K) or high resolution (122K). These maps will open in a new window, which you can close when you've finished with them.

Diving over the Tao Maru. Photo: Michael Cufer

Photo: Fred Baverdam

The propeller of the Tokyo Maru 11. Click to enlarge

Grand Central Station
If its underwater action you need then this is the place. The most north-western tip of the Gizo islands is the merge point for oceanic currents and it's here where the fishlife, big and small, is at it's best. In the big currents the waters are patrolled by sharks, trevally and batfish. A relatively easy dive for all levels of experience and there is no need to go deep to see all the activity.

American Hellcat Fighter Plane
The plane is completely intact and lying in ten metres of water. A comprehensive history of the plane is available and the dive is high on the list for underwater photographers.

Top view of the American Hellcat Fighter Plane. Photo: Michael Cufer

Photo: Peter Lange

Photo: Michael Cufer

American Corsair Fighter Plane
The pilot of this plane crashed into the sea at great speed and the aircraft is in five recognisable large pieces around the 27 metre level. However the attraction is not only the wreck but the fantastic marine life on or around it. The reef slope back to the boat is interesting and has its own attraction in a bommie called clown fish city at the safety stop level.

Plum Pudding Island
Or Kennedy Island as it is known as, was named after the late US President who captained the PT109 during the Pacific War. This dive site offers shallow coral reefs for novice divers and great snorkelling, as well as deeper drift dives for the experienced.

Kennedy Island. Photo: MY Meduse Crew

The Manta Dive
An Adventure Sports Gizo exclusive, this site is visited on request and if the time is right then it's one show you wouldn't want to miss.

The Manta Dive. Photo: Michael Cufer

The Beach Dive
For the devoted drift divers this can clock up to 1.2 kilometres. Start at the beach and watch the reef glide by on an armchair ride to a coral reef delight.

The Beach Dive. Photo: Michael Cufer

The Gap
The ultimate drift dive. Drop down on the outside of Naru Wall and drift through the schools of fish that welcome you into the Gizo lagoon.Well Know for its fish action!

One Tree Island
This dive site would have to be one of the most beautiful reefs in the Gizo area. Multitudes of hard and soft corals, large gorgonian sea fans and multitudes of reef fish.

One Tree Island. Photo: Norbert Wu

Hot Spot
This small pinnacle, one of our discoveries in 1995, comes up to 5m from the oceans depths of 300-400m. On the swing of the tide, pelagic's come into feed on the shoals of bait fish that congregate in and around this off-shore dive site. Following the earthquake and tsunami in 2007 we have lost many of our hard and soft corals on this site, but the fish have remained.

Japanese Zero
Although not originally found in Gizo Harbour, the plane still makes an interesting dive with resident lion fish.

Japanese Zero plane. Photo: Tina Aydon

Petaj
Originally commissioned as the coastal patrol boat ML 805 during WW11. She was purchased and sunk in front of our dive shop as a 'house reef' for the purpose of training dives and easy access to night dives from the shore. Following the 2007 earthquake and tsunami, the wreck is now opened up but is still home to lion fish, schools of batfish, puffer and surrounded by anenomes on the sandy bottom.Following

Photo's of the wreck of Petaj.

Yellow Corner
The yellow corner is an extension of Naru Wall. As you drift to the south along the wall, a large knoll extends out into the deeper water. This knoll is covered with small yellow soft corals. Out of all the dive sites we dive, this is the only one that features these iridescent yellow corals. For the more experienced diver, when the current is running.

Tokyo Maru 11
Sunk in 1988 after hitting a reef entering the Vona Vona Lagoon. This 100' Japanese tuna fishing vessel is still completely intact with propeller and all equipment on board. The dive site is more advanced at 140', positioned mid lagoon away from any reefs.

Tokyo Maru 11 Prop