Dive Operators in Solomon Islands Form Association

The main dive operators in the Solomon Islands have agreed to combine resources and create a formal representative body - Dive Operators Solomon Islands (DOSI).

The move follows a recent forum in Honiara facilitated by Strongim Bisnis, an Australian government initiative working in partnership with local companies and operators to promote business growth.

Forum attendees included Tulagi Dive, Raiders Hotel & Dive, Driftwood Solomon Islands, Biliki Cruises, Dive Munda/Solomon Islands Dive Expeditions, Yawana Dive, Dive Gizo and Uepi Island Resort.

Gizo-based Sanbis Resort and Solomon Dive Adventures are also expected to become DOSI members.

Other stakeholders taking part included the Ministry of Culture & Tourism, Tourism Solomons, Solomon Airlines, and the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Representatives from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade and NZAid also attended.

Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto, said, “Tourism continues to grow in importance as a key economical driver for the Solomon Islands and with international divers making up a large percentage of the 28,000 international visitors we host every year, we need to do all possible to ensure we maximise the opportunity. Having a strong, uniform voice with the ability to help raise and tackle pertinent issues affecting this key sector is timely. This voice in synch with stakeholders will enable us jointly to drive what has the potential to act as a very powerful industry lobby.”

The Solomon Islands is renowned as one of the world’s foremost dive locations.

Just last December the Solomons Islands was named one of the world’s top 10 dive destination’s in the prestigious annual ‘Dive Travel Awards’ conducted by the British-based Dive Magazine UK. In 2017 CNN Travel ranked the Solomon Islands as one of its 10 best snorkelling locations.

The destination’s 992 islands and unspoiled coral reefs teem with huge numbers and unique varieties of marine life. Add to this the dozens of WWII shipwrecks and downed aircraft that litter the seabed, so much so that in one area just a short journey from the country’s capital Honiara has been renamed ‘Iron Bottom Sound’.

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