In 2012, WT ran its first exploratory snorkeling trip to the Solomon Islands, an adventure I had the pleasure of leading along with Lee Goldman. Lying in the easternmost corner of the Coral Triangle, these islands have been virtually ignored by the outside world since World War II, when the region played such an important role.
I had never explored this part of the planet and was impressed from the get-go by the traditional Melanesian culture and dramatic World War II remnants. But most of all, it was the underwater attractions that wowed me—the magic of the reefs with more than 500 species of reef-building corals. We even saw mantas and a dugong (a relative of the manatee)!