Solomon Islands
solomonislands.com.sb
Reef Islands, Solomon Islands
Temotu Province
The Reef Islands are a group of 16 small coral islands located 80 km NNE of Santa Cruz island in the eastern Solomons. The islands cover 4000 sq km of ocean with land consisting of only 29 sq km in area.
The islands are densely populated with 5484 inhabitants in the last 1999 census (189 people / sq km). Traditionally daring ocean voyages were undertaken from the Reef Islands to locations such as Rennell Islands 775 km away.
The islands subject to tidal surges caused by cyclones and volcanic activity from nearby Tinakula volcano. There is evidence of uplift in the east with Fenualoa and lomlom showing elevations of 20 m above sea level. The soils are shallow but fertile. Concave sea cliffs are caused by the weathering active of waves. Forest Passage is narrow and deep bounded by 15 m high cliffs.
Lapita pottery and obsidian dated 985 BC has been found in the main Reef Islands at Nenumbo on Ngawa Island. In 1595 Mendana was the first European explorer to reach the Reef Islands. In 1828 De Tromelin on the ship "Baionaise" identified 9 of the 11 main islands.
The islands periodically suffer from food shortages. About 1000 of the people are Polynesian, the other 5000 are Melanesian.
The main anchorage is at Mohawk Bay near Pigeon Island. Pigeon Island contains a small guesthouse operated by the Hepworth family since 1960's. The guesthouse is a good base for diving the extensive reef system in the islands. All reef is custom land, so permission must be obtained from villagers before diving.
Reef Islands - Lomlom, Nifiloli, Fenualoa, Matema, Pigeon, Gnimbanga Temoa, and Gnimbanga Nende. The large islands are raised coral limestone with sand cays on the lee side. There is no evidence of volcanic rocks in the islands.
Outer Reef Islands - Nupani, Nukapu, Pileni and Makalom. The outer reef islands are small sandy islets only a few metres above sea level. The population is mainly Polynesian.
Fringing reefs - Great Reef, Forest Reef, Malani Reef, Malim Reef, Manuwa Reef, Matumbi Reef and Patteson Shoal.
Adventure Tours
John Seach has been providing unique tours to the Solomon Islands since 1989.
More info on tours...