“IF ONLY YOU KNEW THE
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trips and adventures
@SOUTH WEST TECHNICAL DIVING
We love to go and do our own diving. If you are looking to build experience or just need a team-mate get in touch. We’d love to have you along. Unless you retain us to teach or guide there are no charges for joining a trip
Diving in Bikini Atoll
Bikini Atoll is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which covers nearly 1 million square miles of idyllic emerald-green coral atolls, surrounded by the crystal-blue waters of the Pacific. A one of a kind diving paradise featuring not only beautiful reefs, corals and wonderful marine life; Above all, it is the final resting place for some of the most significant warships in history.
Bikini Lagoon is the first UNESCO World Heritage site for the Marshall Islands archipelago and is undisputedly ranked first on any serious wreck diver’s bucket-list. This is well justified; nowhere else on earth will you be able to dive such a unique collection of historic battleships and cruisers, as well as the world famous USS Saratoga aircraft carrier with its 270 metre (888ft) flight deck.
about
Bikini Atoll, in the remote Republic of the Marshall Islands in Micronesia, is probably the most famous place in the world for wreck diving. Not long after the second world war, the US gathered a mock fleet of naval vessels in order to test the different effects of atomic bombs on warships. 67 nuclear bombs were tested between 1946 and 1958, most notably during ”Operation Crossroads”. Visit the (in)famous lagoon and its wrecks on this Bikini Atoll 13 nights liveaboard diving itinerary.
cost
past or upcoming trips
Now planning for 2023
how to get there
UNITED AIRLINES – WWW.UNITED.COM
Flying United Airlines via Guam or Hawaii is the only airline that goes from Guam or Honolulu to Kwajalein. Guam is a US territory as is Hawaii so even though you are just transiting, you will need permission to enter the US either by Visa or ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization.) Get in touch for advice
about the diving
Diving conditions in Bikini are excellent. Bikini Atoll offers relatively easy diving and is ideal to visit throughout the year in terms of environmental conditions. The water is a warm and consistent 28-29°C/82-85°F, whether you are at 6m/20ft or 60m/200ft, and there are no major thermoclines.
While the water is warm enough to dive in shorts and a t-shirt, we recommend a full-length 3 to 5 mm wetsuit or a drysuit with light undergarments. Bring gloves and a hood for protection, especially if you are planning on penetrating the wrecks. There is sharp metal everywhere and you want to avoid tetanus, infections, or burns from oil, or even worse, aviation fuel. At times, there are occasional jellyfish blooms, some of which sting.
Tidal patterns within the lagoon can be complex but the tidal range is generally small and any currents encountered on the majority of wrecks are minimal and hardly noticeable. As you are diving inside the lagoon, visibility does vary, but it’s usually excellent at around 30m/98ft clear.
Bikini Atoll is a deep and technical diving location with big challenging wrecks and advanced penetrations. The wrecks are in the Normoxic Trimix range. In contrast to Truk Lagoon, where there are shallower dives, the wrecks in Bikini are usually at the deeper end of the spectrum. It is a minimum prerequisite that you are a CCR Normoxic Trimix diver so that you can fully enjoy these spectacular wrecks.
It's definitely a trip of a lifetime
when we normally go
Whenever we can…..
highlights
- USS Saratoga
- Nagato
- Prinz Eugen
- Arkansas
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