Reef Fish Heaven in the Solomon Islands

Want to dive on remote, pristine reefs with an abundance of fish species and no other divers in sight? The Solomon Islands is the place. The archipelago of 990 islands lies in the South Pacific Ocean just east of Papua New Guinea on the eastern edge of the Coral Triangle. The six main islands are volcanic in origin and are surrounded by barrier, patch, lagoon, and fringing reefs. Mangrove forests and seagrass beds are widespread. This highly variable marine habitat creates one of the most diverse coral reef ecosystems on the planet.

Soft coral reef scene in the Solomon Islands.

The dive industry in Solomon Islands is very limited. You won’t run into any strangers underwater. Luckily, the islands are home to one of my favorite liveaboards – the MV Bilikiki. The Bilikiki is 125′ steel boat with comfortable layout. The crew is friendly, experienced and do their job well. The food is tasty. Throw in five dives a day and complete freedom underwater and you have the perfect platform to explore and photograph the underwater world.

November is larval fish recruitment time in the Solomon Islands and the reefs are loaded with juvenile surgeonfish. Juvenile striped surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) are especially common on open ocean reef flats in less than 3 feet of water. This is one of my favorite Acanthurids. — Juvenile striped surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) are especially common on open ocean reef flats in less than 3 feet of water. This is one of my favorite Acanthurids.

I dove off the Bilikiki in November, which is spring in the Solomon Islands. The reefs were loaded with juvenile fish. I spent the daylight hours combing the underwater terrain for novel fish species and nights searching for fish larvae in the water column.

Fish larvae are interesting animals, especially the way they differ from juveniles in shape and color – even when they are just a few days before transformation. Many fish larvae are attracted to light at night, which I use to lure the tiny fishes in for the photo.

The Solomon Islands are a heaven for fish photographers or anyone who appreciates a diversity of hard corals and fish, especially juvenile and larval fish. With light current on most dives, it’s easy to search for and photograph fish with a macro lens. I was able to add 94 new fish species to my database from this trip. Here are my favorite images from the Solomon Islands:

November is larval fish recruitment time in the Solomon Islands and the reefs are loaded with juvenile surgeonfish. Juvenile striped surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) are especially common on open ocean reef flats in less than 3 feet of water. This is one of my favorite Acanthurids. Solomon Islands.

Peacock flounder (Bothus mancus) larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands. Note that the right eye still needs to migrate to the left side before the fish is considered a juvenile. Solomon Islands.

Soft coral reef scene in the Solomon Islands.

I found a large aggregation of several hundred moon jellyfish in the lee of a small island in open ocean. Moon jellyfish aggregate under favorable (slack current) conditions to reproduce sexually. Solomon Islands.

Reef squid in defense posture on a blackwater dive. Solomon Islands.

A reef squid on a bonfire dive in the Solomon Islands.

An octopus larva hitches a ride on a leaf on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

Squid larva feeding on a larval mantis shrimp. Solomon Islands.

The rare sight of a leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriace) feeding on thimble jellyfish. Solomon Islands.

Two clownfish (A. ocellaris) in an orange mantled anemone. Solomon Islands.

Three clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in an orange mantled anemone in the Solomon Islands.

A male Beau's wrasse (Cirrhilabrus beauperryi). Solomon Islands.

A titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) breaks up coral to feed on hidden reef invertebrates under afternoon sunrays. Solomon Islands..

A pair of orange-finned anemonefish (A. chrysopterus) under sun rays settle in for the night. Solomon Islands.

Healthy, unbleached hard coral reefs are widepsread in the Solomon Islands.

A spotted sweetlip (P.chaetodonoides) under a gorgonian. Solomon Islands.

A tree as seen through snell's window. Solomon Islands.

Chromis schooling on a reef in the Solomon Islands.

Three clownfish (A. perideraion) line up in their anemone home. Solomon Islands.

The beautuful redbreasted wrasse (C. fasciatus) on a reef in the Solomon Islands.

A clown triggerfish (Balistoides conspicillum) races across the reef in the Solomon islands.

A female Beau's wrasse (Cirrhilabrus beauperryi). Solomon Islands.

A yawning honeyhead damsel (Dischistodus prosopotaenia). Solomon Islands.

Mmm...Yummy! A yellow dog-faced puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) samples the tip of a Montipora coral. In puffers, the beak forms from 4 front teeth that fuse during juvenile development. Solomon Islands.

A spinecheek anemonefish female (Premnas biaculeatus) fanning its eggs as the male looks on in the background. Solomon Islands.

An anemone and its resident clownfish under palm trees and blue skies in the Solomon Islands.

Moray eel larva on a bonfire dive in the Solomon Islands.

Blacktail barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) school on a reef in the Solomon Islands.

Head on view of twospot lizardfish (Synodus binotatus). Solomon Islands.

Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) motion blur. Solomon Islands.

Three pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) peek out from their balled up host anemone. Solomon Islands.

Princess damsel (Pomacentrus vaiuli). What a gorgeous fish! Solomon Islands.

Cornetfish Fistularia commersonii) larva on a bonfire dive in the Solomon Islands.

A pair of orange-dashed gobies (Valenciennea puellaris) in the Solomon Islands.

Squirrelfish larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

A male reef lizardifish (Synodus variegatus) yawns with the female close behind. Lizardfish live a solitary lifestyle, except when spawning. Solomon Islands.

Cardinalfish larva from below on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

Longfin spadefish (Platax teira) juveniles on a shallow reef in the Solomon Islands.

Longfin spadefish (Platax teira) juveniles reflect off the surface in the Solomon Islands. Solomon Islands.

Oblique-lined dottyback (Cypho purpurascens) color morph. The body color of this species is usally more reddish-pink. Solomon Islands.

A recently settled juvenile Meyer's butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyersi). Solomon Islands.

A checkerboard wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanu) races across the reef. Solomon Islands.

This Meyer's butterflyfish (Chaetodon meyersi) larva is about to settle on the reef. At close to 2", Meyer's butterflyfish settle out much larger than other butterflyfishes. Solomon Islands.

Goatfish larva (about 2") on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

A cardinalfish larva shows off its beatiful fan-like pelvic fins on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

Blenny larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

A greensnout parrotfish (Scarus spinus) on a reef in the Solomon Islands. Parrotfish have mesmorizing color patterns!

Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) in the Solomon Islands.

Wassinki cardinalfish (Apogon wassinki). Solomon Islands.

Basslet larva (Liopropoma sp.) showing off its very elongate second dorsal fin spine. The banner distracts potential predators from the body of the larva. It might also function in predator deception, by increasing the apparent size of the larva. Solomon Islands.

Lizardfish larva on a bonfire dive in the Solomon Islands.

Peacock flounder (Bothus mancus) juvenile on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands. Note both eyes are on the same side of the body - hence the fish is considered a juvenile, despite still being pelagic. Solomon Islands.

Surgeonfish larva about to settle on a reef in the Solomon Islands.

White-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus) larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands.

An aggrevated white-spotted puffer (Arothron hispidus) larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands. The fish puffed up to about 1/2" in diamter after I accidentally touched it with my lens port. Solomon Islands.

Bluestriped fangblenny (Plagiotemus rhinorrhynchos) larva on a blackwater dive in the Solomon Islands. Body length is about 2", which is much larger than most blennies at settlement.