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Located at the heart of Nono Lagoon and close to Marovo Lagoon, Nggatirana is in one of the most beautiful regions for snorkeling in Solomon Islands. This small island of just 15 hectares, covered by a luxurious forest, is bordered by a well preserved coral reef where small sharks, beautiful giant clams and many anemonefish live.

Spinecheek anemonefish at Nggatirana Island
The Spinecheek anemonefish is one of the several clownfish species living at Nggatirana Reef. It is only found in Entacmaea quadricolor sea anemones.

How to get to Nggatirana Island snorkeling spot?

Nggatirana is a small private island located a few hundred meters away from the western coast of Vangunu Island. The only way to visit Nggatirana is to book your stay with Evis Resort at Nggatirana Island, the hotel located on the island.

From Honiara, the most direct way to reach the island is by booking a flight to Seghe. The resort’s boat will come pick you up.

Evis Resort at Nggatirana Island snorkeling map
Evis Resort at Nggatirana Island snorkeling map.

Water entrance for snorkeling Nggatirana Island

Enter the water from Evis Resort Beach.

Nggatirana Island snorkeling exploration tips

The recommended snorkeling area extends all along the northern coast of Nggatirana, bordered by a coral reef and well protected from the waves.

The reef starts west of the beach (on your left when facing the ocean) and stretches for about 300m. Beyond that, we reach the western tip of the island, where the sea may be rougher.

Giant clam at Nggatirana Island
Beautiful Gigas clams are living in the Nggatirana reef shallow areas.

From the beach, we recommend snorkeling towards the west, while following the outer side of the reef.

The well-preserved reef gently slopes into the blue. There is a wide variety of corals, especially blue fluorescent branching corals, huge table corals, and beautiful massive coral bommies. In many sections of the reef, we discover beautiful specimens of giant clams. Some of them might be longer than a meter.

Squirrelfish at Nggatirana Island
A squirrelfish hiding in porites coral at Nggatirana reef.

Sling-jaw wrasse, platax, pufferfish, butterflyfish and surgeonfish are some of the most common types of fish one might observe on Nggatirana reef. Several species of anemonefish also live on the slopes, especially orange clownfish, Clark’s anemonefish, and Spinecheek anemonefish.

As you snorkel along the reef, you might have the chance to encounter small reef sharks, which are nevertheless very fearful.

Restaurants and accommodation

Evis Resort at Nggatirana Island is the only hotel on the island. It has a restaurant and a bar.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Protected areaMarovo - Tetepare Complex
  • Maximum depth10ft/3m on the reef flat, 25ft/8m on the drop off
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • Potential DangersLionfish
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsStay at Evis Resort
  • Restaurants nearbyYes
  • Public toilets & showersYes

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.