12 replies to this topic

[Travelnsj]

I am checking out Kiribati (christmas island), looks as though it could be somewhat like Palau.

Has anyone been there?

If so what did you see? best time of year to visit?

Thanks for any info, Scott

[chinacat46]

I haven't been there but I looked into it when planning my Micronesia trip and from what I've read it could be very similar to Palau. Drift diving over hard coral gardens with pelagics. It's more off the beaten path then Palau. You could be the first person at SD to learn how to pronounce Kirbarti, much less actually visit it.

[blacklatexozdiver]

fyi Christmas Island is otherwise known as Kiritimati

Kiribati is pronounced Kiribuss

Edited by blacklatexozdiver, 30 May 2005 - 10:43 AM.

[Travelnsj]

fyi Christmas Island is otherwise known as Kiritimati 

Kiribati is pronounced Kiribuss 

I know all that. But have you dove there? Is so any info would be appreciated.

[blacklatexozdiver]

No mate... sorry

[fbp]

Wasn't that a Nuclear Test Site??? the fish glow there???

Also, isn't it a Chem/Bio site??? or an old one?..
Somewhere SW of Hawaii..

Just wondering, sounded familiar.. if it's ALSO the place with the AirCraft Carrier, I have some friends who dove it... pretty much a PITA to get too... and a little rough resort?? staying there..

Could be somewhere else too.. I dunno, just saw the post and thought I'd jump in...

[Travelnsj]

Wasn't that a Nuclear Test Site??? the fish glow there???

Also, isn't it a Chem/Bio site??? or an old one?..
Somewhere SW of Hawaii..

Just wondering, sounded familiar.. if it's ALSO the place with the AirCraft Carrier, I have some friends who dove it... pretty much a PITA to get too... and a little rough resort?? staying there..

Could be somewhere else too.. I dunno, just saw the post and thought I'd jump in...

Yes it was a Nuclear test site in the 50's......But as far as the fish glowing...... Bring em on!

Do not know about the Aircraft carrier but that would be a great dive! I hope you are wrong about the resort.....because it costs a bloody fortune for 7 nights and it is about 4 hours south, southwest of Hawaii

[fbp]

Ok, still not sure, but the "Rough Resort" was the one with the Carrier, probably somewhere else... it's a PITA to get there... apx 2 days or something... I'm thinking it's somewhere else... If Christmas Tree Island isn't bragging about a Carrier, then it's somewhere else... get confused past Puget Sound...
sorry'bout that... and have a good trip...

[texasdiverdude]

I haven't been there, but I have it from good source that it was mediocre. If you're going to that part of the world then the Marshall Islands are a better bet.

Nauru is also there in the area and I know they have diving, but I have no information on it

[Travelnsj]

I haven't been there, but I have it from good source that it was mediocre. If you're going to that part of the world then the Marshall Islands are a better bet.

Nauru is also there in the area and I know they have diving, but I have no information on it

I have read about 8 trip reports about Kiribati (Kirimati) 7 have been VG to Excellent one very poor. In talking to 3 people who have been there, it was the best dive trip the were ever on. But their dive experience was the Caribbean and had never been to the South Pacific before except Hawaii. So I will find out.

Last year I went on two dive trips, Sipidan and the Galapagos Islands which cost about 18K....with exception of about a half dozen dives...I've seen more in Catalina Island So you never know!

Regarding the Marshall Islands, I was looking to put a trip together in the fall of 2006. In doing my final research I spoke with the owner of a major tour company who has sent 20,000+ divers to the South pacific over the last 25+ years.

He want on and on about how pristine the corals are and the variety of tropical fish.....then he asked me about my diving experience.......he told me not to fool with it unless it was a liveaboard!

[BradfordNC]

Wasn't that a Nuclear Test Site??? the fish glow there???

Also, isn't it a Chem/Bio site??? or an old one?..
Somewhere SW of Hawaii..

Just wondering, sounded familiar.. if it's ALSO the place with the AirCraft Carrier, I have some friends who dove it... pretty much a PITA to get too... and a little rough resort?? staying there..

Could be somewhere else too.. I dunno, just saw the post and thought I'd jump in...

for the Chem/Bio storage your thinking of Kwajelin, and the entire stockpile has been destroyed. The Prince Eugin is the most famous wreck there. But good luck trying to get there unless you know someone living on the island, or if you can swing one of Yokwe Divers expeditions.

the atomic test site with the aircraft carrier is Bikini Atoll. great place, but you had better be there for the diving, cause their ain't nothin else out there. and no, the fish don't glow.

currently there are only 2 diveable aircraft carriers in the world.

the USS Saratoga in Bikini Atoll and the HMS Hermes off the coast of Sri Lanka.

[fbp]

Hmm... Interesting.. where is Kwajelien?.. I tried to find it on the Google maps (not much help beyound CONUS, but was thinking that I might have been thinking of Johnston Atoll?
Dunno, just met some guy Paragliding and he was working down there somewhere near Hawaii.. but not right in that area..

Just wondering.. thanx...

Ok, found it....
http://abs-afn.army.mil/Kwajalein/

It might have been there... seemed a little further than he was talking bout though.. Oh well.. what the heck..

Thanx for the info

Edited by fbp, 28 August 2005 - 09:41 AM.

[BradfordNC]

Kwaj is part of the Marshall Islands.

the capital of the Marshall Islands is Majuro, on Majuro Atoll, which is about a 3 or 4 hour flight from Hawaii.

Kwaj is about 2 hours from Majuro

and then Bikini is another 1 or 2 from Kwaj.

it is a major PITA to get to Bikini. you fly a turboprop puddlejumper from Majuro to Kwaj and then to Bikini.

the flight is only once a week, and there are only 11 guests on the island at a time, and only about 6 or 7 staff.