UEPI POINT
Charapoana Passage meets the 'Slot' at Uepi Point. A near vertical slope coated profusely with corals especially gorgonian fans and colourful spiky soft corals. At 30m a peninsular juts out before the wall steeply drops off. This provides the stage for a spectacular procession of pelagics including schooling barracuda and sharks. Overhead, large schools of trevally, jacks and fusiliers feed. Families of garden eels, an array of colourful gobies and a diverse collection of invertebrate life inhabit the sand patches of

CHARAPOANA DRIFT
From Uepi Point back to the Dive Shed pier, allow yourself the courtesy of the incoming tide. The 'slot' wall curves to the passage floor at about 50m. Large gorgonians, huge Amphora basket sponges, soft coral trees and small hard corals cram the slope. You'll encounter schools of trevally, rainbowrunners, barracuda and other pelagics like mackerel, tuna and sharks, along with an abundance of reef fish including basslets, angelfish, unicornfish, surgeons, fusiliers and the resident butterfly cods and trigger fish.

INSIDE POINT
A steeply sloping wall on the face of one of Marovo's nearby lagoonal reefs. From the near surface to the sandy depths are fields of large green tree corals, gorgonians and comb corals. Turtles, sharks and other pelagics are common.

UEPI PIER
From flashing 'scallops' in a cave directly below the pier, to 'shark bommie' in just over 30m, to a 15m wall clustered with fans. Rated as one of the best shore dives yet you'll see a variety of game fish and large cow tail rays resting on the sand, whilst under continual surveillance by the resident grey whalers. The wall is great for a night dive with common sightings of sponge crabs, spindle cowries, basket stars, hawkfish..... the list goes on! Has anybody seen a gorgonian fan larger than 18.5 feet across?

THE ELBOW
A sheer wall dropping to well over 600M with two distinct projections festooned with hard and soft corals. The colour of the softs and their associated symbionts will fascinate the night diver. Keep an eye seaward as you are bound to see a variety of creatures swim by, including eagle rays, tuna, barracuda, king trevally, darts and of course sharks - particularly the seasonal hammerheads.

ELBOW CAVES
Deep gutters through the reef wall, almost totally enclosed in sections, make this dive memorable. A large school of diamond fish hide the entrance to one cavern often with barracuda flying through for a meal.

Between the gutters, the upper wall curves inward forming ledges with abundant fans and dripping webs of sponges. Again, keep one eye seaward for those travelling pelagics, but be sure you don't miss the resting turtle, commonly found here.

NORTH LOG and SOUTH LOG
At times the wall seems so steep as to curve inwards. You won't be alone along this wall. Each site has its interest in caverns and ledges. North Log in particular has ledges profuse in coral life and associated aquarium fish including damsels, pullers, Chaetodonts and basslets. A superb night dive on these ledges, their ceilings blanketed in small soft corals. A night dive on South Log is always remembered for its glittering schools of flashlight fish and the innumerable crustaceans.

LANGARA GARDENS
Take a tour of the upper reef wall and swim through the many gutters to a lagoonal garden of hard corals. A variety of anemones and associated clown fish, damsels and cleaning shrimps to delight the photographer.

Giant Tridacna clams and bullnose rays, along with small reef sharks, cod, trout, flutemouths, down to the smaller coral inhabitants like damsels and pullers, nudibrancs, flatworms, and other invertibrates.

MANTA LAGOON
Topography similar to Langara Gardens, although the lagoonal basin is depper and has become a site for seasonal small manta rays. The branching corals of the shallower waters provide a suitable habitat not only for its marine inhabitants, but also the budding marine biologist.

LANDORO GARDENS
The top of Uepi's fringing reef wall takes a drastic change. You'll feel like you're flying from peak to peak across Landoro's rolling hill tops, grassed in bushy hard and soft corals. The valleys between are are highways for the larger fish species, like Trevally, darts, snapper, surgeon, and unicornfish, parrots and wrasses. Look for their cleaning stations. The coral life doesn't stop there, tabulate and sheet corals adorn the walls down to 30 meters.

MONGGO PASSAGE
(24km) An enormous drop-off, simply breathtaking. Featuring sharks and barracuda, curious and sometimes aggressive because it is a rarely dived site. A beautiful assemblage of gorgonia corals and the dive is completed in a diversely populated shallow garden.

USA P38 PLANE WRECK and two USA LANDING BARGES
Wartime relics (no souvenirs)

A river trip is a wonderful way to throw yourself into the local environs and the choice of rivers caters for a variety of interests and activity levels.

Kolo river trip (the story of the trees)
as the canoe takes you up this ancient river one can easily see it as a spiritual experience, entering into a river jungle, virtually untouched by destructive hands. The variety of plants is astounding and local expert Robert Fox fills you with information as you drift quietly back downstream.

Onne river & village
the canoe takes you up this jungle clad river and while you are preparing for some aerobic action the stately trees cool you. An energetic hike up the hill is rewarded by swimming in a small mountain pool with a waterfall. Some Tambu shrines are nearby but you will need to inform the management in advance if you wish to view them. A visit to Onne village is an additional treat on this trip.

Hire river (Vakabo Village)
This is a wider river strewn with large rocks. The canoe takes you to the shallow water and you need to disembark onto the rocks and walk through the water to the bank. This is a trip for the adventurous who don't mind getting their feet wet but the walking is not strenuous and the swimming pool at the end is deep and the surrounds romantic. A visit to the extensive Vakabo village completes this trip.

Chenana river trip and Chuchulu villaqe
This trip includes a more extensive trip by canoe through the Marovo lagoon and the quiet jungle river is as welcoming as the smiles of the chuchulu people.

Marovo lagoon communities abound with cultural skills, carving being one of them. Some villages specialise in this activity and the ebony, coconut and other masterpieces are collector items. These villages are rich in other traditions and skills and some have agreed to allow visitors to share experiences with them,

Telina Village
You will be met by special hosts who will escort you around the village and maybe show you their own house. A bamboo band will play some of the local music and you will have the opportunity to visit a Tambu shrine.
You will be able to watch some of the skilled craftsmen at work as they carve using the rare ebony, queen ebony, kerosene wood, rosewood and coconut. If you wish to purchase some carvings just let your host know and they will ensure that you have a choice. A coconut drink and a small portion of Motu food ( food cooked in the earth ) will be offered to you before you are escorted back to the boat to the sound of the bamboo band.

John Wayne's
John is a local identity who's fame has come through his unusual and exquisite carvings, however there is a lot more to see at John's place. The legend of his ancestor is proudly told and John will escort you to a special Tambu shrine as part of the story. A packed lunch from Uepi can be eaten by the river and John is also a master of the bamboo band. Telina and John's place adjoin and the day can be complete with the two destinations.

Sasaqhana villaqe
Sasaghana residents are preparing a guest house on a charming raised knoll
overlooking the Marovo lagoon. You can choose to be guests at Sasaghana for a night of authentic Solomon village life or you can visit this island to purchase carvings from the many skilled carvers.

Chubikopi village
Chubi is most famous for its spectacular program which includes fierce warriors, a hand crafted war canoe and some excellent local dancing. Chubi folk are renowned for their enthusiastic and often humorous welcome. carvings will be offered for sale and visitors can be escorted along the picturesque waterfront before they return to Cepi.

Chea village
Nestled at the base of Marovo mountain, the village of Chea houses the energetic people who have prepared a trail up to "The Tower'at the top. The walk up this hill is spiced with legends and stories and the view at the summit is breathtaking. Traditional story tellers, fierce warriors and custom drums are part of the program.

Rukutu villaqe
the traditional art of Buka weaving can be viewed and some carvings will be on display at this small community.

Bisuana villaqe
Carving
Waterfall
Bamboo band

Some other unique experiences are on offer:

Ngepai villaqe
the approach to Ngepai is reminiscent of " African Queen " and the Paramount Chief will greet you, willing to show his collection of custom tools. The charm of this experience depends upon your input as the chief's wisdom and knowledge are far reaching, needing only the stimulus of your particular interests.

Sila's place
Perfectly poised on a small peninsular, you will feel the welcome surround you upon your arrival. Sila is the perfect hostess and while you are involved with stories and Tambu sites she will be cooking a traditional motu meal for you. This is a process not to be hurried so relax and enjoy.

Veuru island
During the headhunting days the local people had several places to conceal themselves from the raiding parties. The cave at Veuru is one such place.

Billy Ghizo's island ( Levichi )
The snorkelling around this island is excellent. Billy will proudly show you the bat cave and you can walk and picnic around this tiny scenic island.