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Western Province · Solomon Islands

Uepi Island tide times

Tide is currently rising — next high at 03:00

1.21 m
Next high · 03:00 GMT+11
Heights relative to MSL · 2026-05-19Solunar 4/5

Next 24 hours at Uepi Island

0.2 m0.8 m1.3 mHeight (MSL)15:0019:0023:0003:0007:0011:0019 May20 May☀ Sunrise 06:33☾ Sunset 18:15H 03:00nowTime (Pacific/Guadalcanal)

Predictions: Open-Meteo Marine (MeteoFrance SMOC, 0.08° grid) — heights relative to MSL (not chart datum / LAT). Model-derived.

Model-derived from a global ocean grid. Useful indication; expect about ±45 minutes on average vs. a local harmonic gauge, individual stations vary widely. See /methodology for per-region detail. Not for navigation.

Sun, moon and conditions on Tue 19 May

Sunrise
06:33
Sunset
18:15
Moon
Waxing crescent
4% illuminated
Wind
13.9 m/s
147°
Swell
1.4 m
8 s period
Water temp
29.6 °C

Conditions as of 15:00 local time. Refreshes daily.

Highs and lows next 7 days

Today

Wed

1.2m03:00
0.3m15:00
Coef. 100

Thu

Fri

1.2m04:00

Sat

Sun

0.7m10:00

Mon

All extrema (7 days)
DayTypeTimeHeightCoef.
Wed 20 MayHigh03:001.2m100
Low15:000.3m
Fri 22 MayHigh04:001.2m
Sun 24 MayLow10:000.7m

Predictions: Open-Meteo Marine (MeteoFrance SMOC, 0.08° grid) — heights relative to MSL (not chart datum / LAT). Model-derived. · Not for navigation.

Today's solunar windows

The angler tradition for major/minor fishing windows: major ≈3-hour windows around moon transit and opposition; minor ≈2-hour windows around moonrise and moonset. Times are Pacific/Guadalcanal local. Folk tradition, not a scientific forecast.

Major
12:09-15:09
00:42-03:42
Minor
18:35-20:35
07:50-09:50
7-day window outlook
  • Tue
    2 M / 2 m
  • Wed
    2 M / 2 m
  • Thu
    2 M / 2 m
  • Fri
    2 M / 1 m
  • Sat
    2 M / 2 m
  • Sun
    2 M / 2 m
  • Mon
    2 M / 2 m

About tides at Uepi Island

Uepi Island is a small, narrow island — approximately 2 kilometres long and 200 metres wide — in the middle of Marovo Lagoon, Western Province, Solomon Islands. The island hosts a small resort that has been operating since the 1990s and is the established base for diving the inner and outer reef systems of the lagoon. The resort's maximum capacity is around 16 guests, giving it the feel and access of a private island without the isolation of genuinely private island operations. The tidal regime at Uepi follows the same mixed semidiurnal system as the wider Marovo Lagoon: spring range approximately 1.0 to 1.5 metres. The island's position in the lagoon, between the inner and outer barrier reefs, means it sits in the zone of tidal exchange — the water quality improves on the incoming tide as clean Pacific water floods through the outer barrier. The dive sites immediately adjacent to the island show this gradient clearly: the outer-facing wall (lagoon side toward the outer barrier) has better visibility and denser soft coral on the incoming tide than the inner-facing side. The drop-off wall on the outer lagoon side of Uepi is the resort's signature dive. The wall descends from the reef crest at 3 metres to a sand and rubble slope at 60 metres on a near-vertical face. Soft coral — Dendronephthya, Melithaea — covers the wall in sections where the tidal current concentrates on the outer face. Barracuda (Sphyraena qenie and Sphyraena jello) aggregate in mixed schools of 50 to 200 at the wall corner on the incoming tide; grey reef shark patrol at 20 to 35 metres. Bumphead parrotfish — the largest parrotfish species, reaching 1.3 metres — are regularly seen on the outer reef flat at high water, where they feed on the coral heads exposed at low water. The adjacent channel passage — the gap between Uepi and the next island — is a tidal dive site in its own right. At spring tides, the current through the passage reaches 1 to 1.5 knots, channelling fish into the passage for feeding. Barracuda and grey reef shark stack in the current at the passage entrance. The passage dive is timed to the peak flood or ebb, depending on the desired current direction, by the resort dive guides. For non-divers, snorkelling directly from the island shoreline on the outer side gives access to the upper 5 metres of the drop-off wall — the coral communities in this shallow section are accessible without scuba gear and are as well-developed as the deeper sections. The inner lagoon side of the island is calm for swimming at all tide states and has a sandy beach. Woodcarving villages are accessible by short boat trip from Uepi — the resort operates guided village excursions to carving communities on neighbouring islands. The combination of diving quality, lagoon setting, and cultural access to living Marovo carving tradition makes Uepi a comprehensive Solomons experience. Predictions on this page come from Open-Meteo Marine, a gridded global ocean model. Accuracy is typically within plus or minus 45 minutes on timing and 0.2 to 0.3 metres on height — model-derived, not from a local gauge. The local tide authority is the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service.

Tide questions about Uepi Island

What is the drop-off wall dive at Uepi?

The Uepi drop-off is a near-vertical reef wall descending from the crest at 3 metres to 60 metres on the outer lagoon face of the island. The wall has dense soft coral (Dendronephthya, Melithaea) in sections where the incoming tidal current concentrates. Barracuda aggregate in schools of 50 to 200 at the wall corner on flood tides. Grey reef shark patrol at 20 to 35 metres. Bumphead parrotfish (up to 1.3 metres, the largest parrotfish species) feed on the outer reef flat at high water. The dive is conducted from the resort dive boat in 5 minutes from the island; all dives are guided.

Can I snorkel the Uepi drop-off without scuba gear?

Yes. The upper 5 metres of the drop-off wall is accessible from the island's outer shoreline by snorkel. Entry is from the beach or a ladder on the outer face. The coral community in 2 to 5 metres is as well-developed as the deeper sections — table corals, sea fans, and a dense fish community including butterflyfish, wrasse, parrotfish, and damselfish. The drop-off begins immediately outside the reef crest, so a short surface swim takes the snorkeller over the wall edge. Good buoyancy control and reef awareness are needed to avoid contact with the coral surface. The resort provides snorkel gear for guests.

What are bumphead parrotfish and when can I see them at Uepi?

Bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) are the largest parrotfish species, reaching 1.3 metres and 75 kilograms. They are recognised by the prominent bony hump on the forehead, which they use to ram coral heads, and by their characteristic feeding noise — an audible crunching sound as they bite off and grind coral. At Uepi, they are most reliably seen on the outer reef flat at high water, when the flat provides feeding depth. They move in groups of 5 to 30 and are most active in the early morning. They are sensitive to noise and disturbance — approach slowly and stop moving before they reach your position.

How do I get to Uepi Island?

Book through Uepi Island Resort directly. The resort arranges all transfers from Seghe Airstrip (Western Province) — fly Solomon Airlines from Honiara to Seghe (approximately 45 minutes), then a 30 to 45 minute boat transfer to Uepi. Alternatively, arrive via Munda Airport with a longer boat transfer. The resort has a maximum capacity of approximately 16 guests; advance booking is essential, particularly for the peak dive season (May to October). All meals and most activities are included in the resort rate.

What is the tidal range at Uepi?

Spring tidal range at Uepi is approximately 1.0 to 1.5 metres, consistent with the wider Marovo Lagoon. The regime is mixed semidiurnal. The incoming tide brings clearer Pacific water through the outer barrier passes and improves visibility on the outer wall dives. The channel passage between Uepi and adjacent islands carries 1 to 1.5 knots at spring tides — the passage is a tidal-current dive site. All dives are planned around the day's tidal schedule by resort guides. Predictions here come from Open-Meteo Marine (±45 minutes on timing, ±0.3 m on height). Not for navigation; consult the Solomon Islands Meteorological Service.
Predictions: Open-Meteo Marine (MeteoFrance SMOC, 0.08° grid) — heights relative to MSL (not chart datum / LAT). Model-derived.

Not for navigation. Page generated 2026-05-19T03:19:31.158Z. Predictions refresh daily.