Scuba Diver Ocean Planet Issue 06/2016 | Page 88

ISLANDS AND LIVEABOARDS SOLOMON ISLANDS Mary Island 32 A large school of jacks at Mary Island Text and images by ANDY DEITSCH These days it is challenging for divers to find truly isolated dive locations, but Mary Island – known locally as Mborokua – is one such haven. You are very unlikely to run into any other people in this stunning location. Part of the Solomon Islands, a country consisting of over 900 islands, Mary is an uninhabited volcanic island located 30 kilometres west of the Russell Islands. A crescent-shaped island about four square kilometres in size, Mary is reachable only by liveaboard. Due to its isolation and extreme remoteness in a large body of water, any bad weather prevents boats from getting there. On the other hand, it means that Mary is often exposed to currents which bring in huge schools and some mesmerising fish life. Therefore, a visit to Mary is truly both a fantastic and fortunate opportunity. The div