With a total population of 300,000 there are very few cities and most people still live a very basic life in the villages. Tourism is only starting to discover this precious part of the Pacific. Travelling to the Solomon Islands remains an adventure even today, but those who make the effort will not be disappointed. The islands have a well-deserved reputation as being amongst the world's best destinations for scuba divers and snorkellers. The archipelago of 992 islands is divided into nine provinces. The Solomons played a strategic role during World War ll, and this is born out by the number of naval wrecks in the deep waters of Iron Bottom Sound. The walls, reefs, pinnacles and coral gardens are what many divers come to the Solomons to enjoy. Brilliant soft and hard corals, huge sea fans and a world of pelagics, as well as many unidentified species of reef fish make diving in the Solomons an adventure you won't forget. The liveaboards offer the best dive sites from secluded islands while the resorts offer divers spectacular adventures in the Marovo Lagoon in the western province off New Georgia Island.