Eerie wreck of abandoned cruise ship lies just yards from a tourist beach
The Solomon Islands are known for their endless pristine shore lines and turquoise waters and a culture of hospitality second to none. But there's one hidden treasure that tourists can't get enough of.
Hidden among the mangrove-like beach front on a secluded island near the capital Honiara lays a rusting cruise ship sprouting greenery from its decks. Tourists can book a day tour of the MS World Discoverer, which measures 287ft (87m), and snorkel around the wreck or picnic on land.
Tourists can also rent nearby over-water bungalows which offer front-row views of the majestic ship which has lain on Roderick Bay for over 20 years.
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The wreck can be found on Roderick Bay Beach in the Solomon Islands (Shutterstock / Ethan Daniels)The mystery ship was built in a German shipyard in 1974 and sold to a Dutch company known as BEWA Cruises. In its heyday, the cruiser carried 140 passengers, boasted an impressive observation deck, a library, a sun deck fitted with a swimming pool and a small fitness centre.
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It was built for Antarctic voyages and came equipped with dinghies that passengers could use to get up close to ice sheets. But on April, 30, 2000, the vessel struck an unchartered reef while sailing through the Solomon Islands' Sandfly Passage, forcing passengers to flee on lifeboats.
The ship was later taken to Roderick Bay off the coast of Nggela Sule Island where it has laid abandoned ever since despite several attempts to salvage it. The ship was then looted and surveyors later discovered it was too damaged to save.
David Wright, a Brit passenger on board when the cruiser struck reef, told The Herald Newspaper the ship rammed into the beach, breaking trees in the forest. He said: "It was quite spectacular. And when we reached the beach, we could see a tree hanging from the prow of the ship."
Some 23 years on and the wreck has become a tourist hotspot. Thrill-seekers can book an hour-and-a-half transfer from Honiara and spend the day exploring the waters around the wreck or enjoying a relaxed meal ashore.
There is also a zipline from the top of the vessel to the shore but exploring the wreck itself is off limits, according to local magazine Fly Solomon. Holidaymakers can stay in one of the Roderick Bay Beach Bungalows for an affordable £35 a night.
Instagram user Justin Jamieson stayed in one and described the view as "both eerie and spectacular". Xploradora80 said it was a "real sight to see", adding: "The lagoon is stunning".
It's estimated there are around 200 wrecks scattered across the Islands which was a contested battleground between Japanese forces and Allied troops during World War II. Japanese vessels Hirokawa Maru and Kinugawa Maru litter the shorelines of west Honiara adding to Pacific islands' draw as mecca for divers.
There are also hundreds of sunken WWII aircraft including a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero long ranger fighter aircraft, an America Grumman F6F 3-Hellcat and a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
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