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Dive Review of Solomon Dive Adventures/Minado Eco Lodge in
Solomon Islands

Solomon Dive Adventures/Minado Eco Lodge: "Super easy, awesome diving", Jun, 2018,

by Lisa Jabusch and Steve Nieters, TN, US (Sr. Contributor Sr. Contributor 23 reports with 8 Helpful votes). Report 10301.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 4 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 5 stars
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 5 stars
Value for $$ 5 stars
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments This is concierge diving at its easiest. There are two guest rooms, but only rarely are they both booked at the same time, so you essentially get the dive guides to yourself. Cost of the room includes 3 meals a day. Be aware that this is an island of Seventh Day Adventists, so there is no alcohol, as well as no diving on Saturday.

The diving is spectacular, with almost too much to take in, at times. The owner of the Lodge is Lisa Choquette, who is a well known guide to many who knew her in Hawaii, and who loves to introduce people to fish and animal behavior, rather than just pointing out different species (although she's excellent at that, as well). They use steel 80 tanks, which give 1 - 1 1/2 hour dives, and the sites are rarely more than 5-10 minutes away by fast covered "tinny". There is very little current most of the time, but gorgeously healthy hard and soft corals, as well as myriad fish species in phenomenal numbers.

The lodge is rustic, with no AC, but good netting over the beds, and the 2 guest rooms share the separate toilet and shower rooms. The schedule of meals and diving is up to you, and they provide plenty of filling food. Don't expect haute cuisine, but just good, basic home cooking. The staff love to take care of you, and you very quickly feel like members of their family.

Currently, the 2 ways to arrive are by Solomon Air prop plane to Seghe or take the Fair Glory ferry to Mbunikalo from Honiara (takes about 10 hours, but much cheaper than flying).
Websites Solomon Dive Adventures   

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Fiji, French Polynesia, Cozumel, Belize, Hawaii, Cayman Islands, Great Barrier Reef, and other Caribbean locations
Closest Airport Seghe Getting There Honiara to Seghe, then 70 minute boat ride to lodge

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, windy, rainy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 83-85°F / 28-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 25-75 Ft/ 8-23 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions come up with 300-500 psi
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? no

What I Saw

Sharks Lots Mantas None
Dolphins Schools Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 5 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments The rinse bucket for cameras is back at the lodge, and is a plastic trashcan. There is no dedicated area for cameras, but you could probably take over an end of the dining table, and there is ample area for charging batteries. You should probably bring your own power strip.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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