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Bikini Atoll
| Rongelap Atoll
Marshall Islands
Bikini Atoll is the site of atomic and hydrogen
test bombing in the late 1940's and 1950's. Bikinians still hope
to resettle their atoll with US assistance. Bikini lagoon has many
American and Japanese target ship wrecks, the final resting
place of some of the most significant warships in history. The US
aircraft carrier Saratoga (the only diveable carrier in the world)
and the HIJMS Nagato, flagship of the Japanese Navy, are the highlights
of this site along with other ships such as the battleship Arkansas
and the submarine Pilotfish, depths can average 130ft for wrecks.
Nearby reefs that are alive with all types of fish
and corals and have not been impacted by civilization for 40 yrs,
round out this incredibly unique experience.
Political Status: Independent nation since 1986
Language: Marshallese and English
Currency: U.S. Dollar
Population: Approximately 51,000
Average Air Temperature: 81 degrees F
Average Water Temperature: 84 degrees F
Number Of Islands: 1,225
Number Of Atolls: 29
Ocean Area: 750,000 Square Miles
Capital: Majuro, Majuro Atoll
Location: Located in Central Pacific, approx. 2,200
miles west of Honolulu, 1,600 miles east of Guam and about 2,600
miles south east of Tokyo. It lies between 4 and 19 degrees N latitude
and between 160 & 173 degrees E longitude. Majuro is a five-hour
jet flight from Honolulu.
Airport Facilities: Majuro International Airport and
Kwajalein Airport are served by Continental Micronesia. There are
airstrips on 26 of the atolls and these are served by small Air
Marshall Islands planes.
Passports And Visas: Visitors must possess a valid
passport and may stay up to 90 days without an extension. U.S. citizens
do not require a visa.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations are required.
Postal System: Mail is handled by the U.S. Postal Service.
Telephone Service: 24-hour telephone service is reliable on Majuro
and Ebeye via satellite links.
Electricity: Electricity on Majuro and Ebeye is generated
by modern power plants. They supply 110- volt/60 cycle power. Outer
islands have small generators and some solar panels.
Water: It is advisable to use bottled drinking water
when traveling in the Marshall Islands, which is readily available
on Majuro and Ebeye.
Accommodations: Small but modern hotels are available
on Majuro and Ebeye. Very limited guest cottage facilities are available
on some outer islands. Outrigger Hotels has just opened up their
newest 150 room hotel in Majuro.
Restaurants: Restaurants on Majuro and Ebeye feature
local dishes, particularly fresh fish, plus American, Japanese and
Chinese cuisine.
Airport Tax: All visitors over the age of 12 must
pay a $15 departure fee at the time of departure.
Tipping: Tipping is not customary in the Marshall
Islands.
Medical Facilities: There are hospitals on Majuro
and Ebeye.
Local Transportation: Buses, taxis and rental cars
are available on Majuro and Ebeye.
Inter-Island Travel: Air Marshall Islands provides
inter-island travel via 19-seat Dornier planes.
Bikini Atoll
After decades of being off-limits to all but a few
research expeditions, beginning in the Summer of 1996, divers are
now able to dive the incredible wrecks of Bikini Atoll with Marshalls
Dive Adventures!. CEN PAC is the original representative for Bikini
diving in the US. We have more satisfied clients and provide more
personalized service than anyone!
BIKINI ATOLL is the final resting place of some of the most significant
warships in history.
The U.S. aircraft carrier Saratoga (the only divable carrier in
the world) and the HIJMS Nagato, flagship of the Japanese Navy,
are the highlights of this site.
Along with other ships such as the battleship Arkansas
and the submarine Pilotfish, nearby reefs that have not been impacted
by civilization for 40 years and are teeming with all types of fish
and corals, round out this incredibly unique experience.
The "land only" price is $2,750. For your
convenience, CEN PAC can provide all air transportation at competitive
rates. We also arrange add-ons to other islands in the Marshalls
or Micronesian destinations such as Truk (Chuuk), Palau, Yap, Pohnpei,
or Kosrae.
We strongly encourage you to visit some of the these
other destinations since you will be "in the neighborhood."
Airfare from HNL to BIK is $1,170. Rates to HNL vary.
From the U.S. West Coast to Honolulu is about $350, and from the
East Coast the fare is about $625. For those of you outside the
U.S., please call for a firm quote.
We are currently taking reservations for excursions
from April 15 through November 15. Since we made our original announcement,
our weeks are filling up fast.
How to Get There
Honolulu is the hub. There are a variety of ways to get to Honolulu
and a wide range of fares that we can arrange from any US city.
From Honolulu flights are as follows:
Honolulu to Majuro--departs Monday 8:30 am--cross International
Dateline--arrives Majuro on Tuesday at 12:15p.m. Cost is $662 pp
R/T
Overnight in Majuro.
Majuro to Bikini on *Air Marshall Islands departs Wednesday at 8:00
a.m.--arrives 11:00 a.m. Cost is $520 pp R/T (includes divers baggage
fee).
Following Wednesday--Bikini to Majuro 12 noon--arrive Majuro 3:30
pm.
Majuro to Honolulu--departs Wednesday 7:30 am--arrives Wednesday
2:00 a.m.
*Note: Majuro to Bikini is on a Dornaire 19 passenger plane with
a 75lb weight limitation per person.
Get maximum value out of your airfare by connecting
to Truk or Palau.
Accommodations
"NEW" double rooms with private baths have been constructed
for divers. They have 24 hr 110v electricity, and constant fresh
water. Most units have air conditioning, and the rest have ceiling
fans. The main building houses the the kitchen and laundry areas
and offers an entertainment center that consists of a 50" T.V.
with VCR and a 1000+ video library, along with a pool table and
pingpong.
Water Conditions
Water temperature is 82-84 degrees F. Air temperature is high 80s
to low 90s F. Visibility is 80' to 150'. Weather is as follows:
March to November is the calmest; March to April is the wet season;
June to August are the hottest months. Mild trade winds and tropical
showers are the norm daily.
Dive Sights
There are six primary wrecks
USS Saratoga--U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier
A steel-hulled vessel with a waterline length of 830 feet and a
flight deck of 888 feet officially weighing 33,000 standard tons.
At the time the Saratoga was subjected to the Baker blast her armament
consisted of four aircraft; three "Helldiver" navy single-engine
dive bombers and an Avenger single-engine torpedo bomber that can
be found in the hanger. Eight paired 38 caliber guns in four houses
-- two forward and two aft, 12 single 38 caliber guns and 24 Bofors
antiaircraft guns of which six have been located and 52 Oerlikon
antiaircraft 20 mm guns of which five have been located. Twelve
Mk 51 gun fire-control directors can be found next to the antiaircraft
guns. Presumably "live" ammunition can be found on and
around the vessel. The Saratoga lies upright in 180 feet of water.
The superstructure is at 70 feet, deck at 100 feet and the airplane
hangers at 130 feet. The Saratoga is the only "divable"
aircraft carrier in the world. The USS Saratoga sank on July 25,
1946.
HIJMS Nagato
This steel-hulled vessel was considered the flagship of the Imperial
Japanese Navy. Also the sight of the surrender of the Japanese in
1945. 708 feet in overall length, the Nagato weighed 38,500 standard
tons. Nagato's armament consisted of eight 45 caliber guns, twenty
50 caliber guns, 4 antiaircraft guns, three machine guns and eight
torpedo tubes, 4 above the water and 4 below. The gun turrets have
not separated from the barbette. The Nagato sank on July 29, 1946
a few days after the Baker test bomb detonated near her. The ship
is inverted, lying in 160-170 feet of water.
USS Arkansas--US Battleship
A riveted steel vessel, the Arkansas is 562 feet long with a maximum
beam of 106 feet and a draft of 29 feet and weighing 23,066 standard
tons. Fitted to be a flagship, the Arkansas contained more elaborate
quarters than standard. Prior to the Able blast, the Arkansas was
fitted with blast gauge towers, test equipment and test ordinance.
A 90mm howiszter was also secured to the deck. Armaments that can
be found are three 51 caliber Mk13 guns on single mounts, damaged
shutters and splinter shields from 40mm antiaircraft guns. Inside
the casemate, two 5-inch rounds can be found in the ready rack.
There were no recorded alterations made to the Arkansas prior to
the Baker blast. The seriously damaged Arkansas lies inverted on
the bottom of Bikini Lagoon in 180 feet of water. The keel is at
100 feet and the weather deck is at 160 feet while the aircastle
can be found at 170 feet. There are many passageways that run through
the ship. The port aircastle leads to the entrance of the Admirals
cabin. It is believed that the Arkansas was literally "smashed"
down to the sea floor after the Baker blast in 1946.
USS Pilotfish--US Navy Submarine
A welded and riveted, high-tensile-steel submersible that was 311.8
feet long and weighed 2,424 standard tons submerged. Known alterations
to the Pilotfish prior to the Able blast included weights, wire
rope moorings as well as salvage fitting connections. The two periscopes
were removed and the shears scope tubes were blacked out. Submerged
for the Baker blast, the Pilotfish was moored at a depth of 168
feet at a range a 363 yards from the point of the blast. The armaments
onboard include a single 40mm rapid-fire recoil-type gun. Aft, on
the after cigarette deck of the sail is a mounted twin 20mm Orelikon
gun. The Pilotfish is almost completely intact with exception of
a small portion of the conning tower which was blown away. The Pilotfish
lies upright at 175 feet. The conning tower can be reached at 130
while the deck is at 150 feet. The only open hatch is the after
escape trunk. The submarine is believed to be flooded.
USS Apogon--US Navy Submarine
A welded, riveted and high-tensile Balao-class steel submarine,
the Apogon, 311.8 ft. long overall and 47.2 ft. high, could dive
to depths of 400 ft. The Apogon played an important role in coordinating
attack information with other boats and was part of a succesful
raiding party known as the "Mickey Finns," which sank
41,000 tons of Japanese shipping. The boat's primary armaments consisted
of ten 21-inch torpedo tubes--six forward and four aft--and 24 Mark
torpedoes. The boat also mounted a single 5-inch/.25-caliber gun
onto the deck. On September 11, 1945, the Apogon was selected to
take part in Operation Crossroads, a Navy test. The vessel was modified
to submerge and surface without a crew during the exercise. Lightly
damaged during the Able Blast, the Apogon sank during the Baker
Blast into 180 feet of water. Salvage attempts were made and then
shortly abandoned.
USS Lamson--US Navy Destroyer
A welded steel destroyer, the Lamson was 341.3 feet long overall,
with a waterline length of 334 feet. Armament consisted of a main
battery of five 5-inch/.38-caliber guns and three 21-inch torpedo
tubes mounted on deck. The Lamson additionally carried four .50-caliber
machine guns, two depth charge tracks, and "K"-type depth
charge projectors. The Lamson was heavily damaged and sunk during
the Able Blast on July 1, 1946. The test burst tore off the light
topside superstructure, stacks and mainmast and smashed the bridge.
The Lamson is lying upright with her stern near a hole indicating
she sank stern first. The guns remained in the mounts and the torpedo
tubes are intact. The depth charge tracks are twisted and torn nearly
beyond recognition. Another notable fact about the Lamson is that
in July, 1937, nearly one year after her commission, the vessel
searched the Gilbert and Marshall island groups for the missing
aviator Amelia Earhart.
Depths: Generally the bottom of the lagoon at the
primary wreck site is 180' to the sand. Average dive depths will
be 90' to 130'. Shallower dives in afternoon if profiles allow.
Tank Sizes
Steel, L.P. 85 and 104 cu. ft. tanks are standard. We also have
double 85s and 104s set up with adjustable bands, manifolds, and
isolation valves. All tank valves accept yoke or 2 bar DIN Regulators.
Technical Support
Nitrox and helium are available now. Training in the use of nitrox
and "tri mix" mixed gasses, as well as deep dive training
are strongly suggested prior to your visit.
Dive Profile
Because of the nature of the environment at Bikini, the diving is
considered advanced. It is recommended that only divers with proper
training, experience and skill levels consider going to Bikini.
Depending on the particular goals of each week's group, the normal
plan is 2 deep dives per day. There probably will not be ANY night
diving because the habits of the sharks are not known yet.
Reefs
Reef diving may provide shallower dives for afternoons or a change
of pace depending on the group. There are very flat reefs, as well
as gentle sloping, sharp drop-offs and walls.
Sea Life
This area has been untouched for 40 years and has very prolific
sea life including sharks, tunas, marlin, rays, turtles and much
more.
Radiological Status
The US Dept. of Energy (DOE) and Lawrence Livermore Laboratories
have done extensive research and monitoring of Bikini. Their reports
state in general that the environment poses no radiological danger.
However, there are some very low amounts of residual cesium deep
in the soil that may be absorbed into plants with deep root structures
such as coconut trees. If these plants are consumed in large quantities
over a long periods of time, an unacceptable level of cesium may
be absorbed by humans.
Liability
All guests at Bikini will be made aware of the unique environment
and the dangers not only of deep diving but of the radiological
concerns. Before airline tickets are issued the guest(s) must assume
all responsibility of their visiting Bikini. They will be required
to hold harmless any service provider involved with their trip.
If the prospective guest(s) have any reservations or concerns about
potential problems, they should consider an alternate destination.
MARSHALL ISLANDS: Marshall
Dive Adventures
Marshall Dive Adventures provides all the dive services
at Bikini. One week package includes 1 night in Majuro, the capitol
of the Marshalls, 7nts/6 days of diving, land tours, and all meals
at Bikini. Nitrox along with Technical dive support and specialty
training is available. Guests will stay in newly constructed traditional
island cottages with 110 volt electricity, air-conditioning, full
time water supply and private bathrooms.
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