Skip to main content

Truk Master.

A steel-hulled vessel in Bikini Atoll

booking request

facilities

cabins

8

dives per day

2

tier

midrange

Wi-Fi

Available

10 Nights

Day 1 – Embarkation Day:

Ebeye Island around 15:00-15:30 (dependent on flight schedules)

Transfer from Kwajalein to Ebeye Island and vice versa is by ferry which takes approximately 25 minutes from the US Army base.

There is no diving on embarkation day.

Day 2:

If possible, the cruise director will schedule a morning dive on Prinz Eugen in Kwajalein Atoll before commencing the crossing to Bikini Atoll. The total distance from Ebeye to Bikini Atoll is 406 kilometres which is 25-34 hours of cruising depending on weather conditions.

Day 3:

Afternoon arrival at Bikini Atoll. Diving on this day is dependent on how long the crossing from Ebeye takes and the arrival time in Bikini.

Day 4 – 5:

Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1

Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2

Snack, relaxation,

Dinner

Day 6:

1 morning dive only. After lunch guests will have the opportunity to take a land tour on Bikini Island followed by beach barbeque, or guests can remain on board and relax. No alternative diving will be offered.

Day 7 – 9:

Breakfast followed by a briefing & Dive 1

Lunch, relaxation followed by briefing & Dive 2

Snack, relaxation,

Dinner

Day 10:

Departure from Bikini Atoll in the early hours for crossing back to Ebeye.

Day 11 – Disembarkation Day:

Arrival in Ebeye around 10:00; disembarkation time will be dependent on United Airlines flight departure time and ferry to Kwajalein.

11 Nights

13 Nights

cabins

cabins

superior double cabin.

Situated on the upper deck of the vessel, this spacious cabin offers fabulous views along with ensuite facilities, air-conditioning and ample storage space.

booking request

premium twin/double share cabin.

Situated on the main deck of the vessel, these cabins offer flexible twin or double bed accommodation along with ensuite facilities, air-conditioning and ample storage.

booking request

premium twin share cabin.

Located on the main deck of the vessel, this cabin benefits from ensuite bathroom facilities and individually controlled air-conditioning.

booking request

classic twin share cabin.

Located on the lower deck of the vessel, each cabin benefits from ensuite bathroom facilities and individually controlled air-conditioning.

booking request

deck plan

unique shipwrecks of bikini atoll

After the Second World War, the USA collected a ‘mock’ naval fleet for the purpose of testing the impact of different atomic bombs on a large fleet. These nuclear bomb tests were performed in several remote locations in the South Pacific Ocean, known as the Pacific Proving Grounds. Bikini Atoll was appointed one of the designated testing areas within the Marshall Islands, where a grand total of 67 nuclear bombs have been detonated within the framework of Operation Crossroads and several other Operations.

Between 1946 and 1958, not less than 23 atomic bombs were tested at Bikini Atoll only, which resulted in a unique collection of shipwrecks consisting of war battleships, cruisers, and an aircraft carrier.

In March 1954, the notorious dry fuel hydrogen bomb ‘Castle Bravo’ was detonated in Bikini. This bomb was the US’ most powerful nuclear device ever; 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It left a 2 km wide and 76 metre deep crater in the lagoon of Bikini. More than 60 years later, the shipwrecks remain equally as impressive while they have become home to many kinds of corals and fish species.

The Unique Shipwrecks of Bikini Atoll:

USS Saratoga

The signature dive of Bikini Lagoon: the USS Saratoga CV-3 Aircraft carrier. This 270 metres (888 ft) long and 29 metres (95ft) wide ship weighs 39,000 tons and rests upright in Bikini Lagoon at a depth of 52 metres with her bridge easily accessible at 18 metres depth and her flight deck at 28 metres. The majority of the Helldiver planes were swept off the flight deck during the Baker test and the remains of them are scattered across the seabed around the Saratoga, although there are also a few still inside the hangar which is no longer accessible.

On the deck though, 350lb and 500lb bombs, air drop torpedoes and depth charges can all still be found. Remarkable detail: the Japanese reported the USS Saratoga sunk 7 times during World War II. She did, however, suffer damage on multiple occasions during the war and was therefore chosen to be used as a testing target in Bikini Atoll.

IJN Nagato

This battleship was built for the Imperial Japanese Navy as the first super-dreadnought to mount 16-inch (406 mm) guns. Together with a cruising speed of 26.5 knots, this made her the Imperial Japanese Navy’s flagship as well as one of the most powerful and versatile warships in the world at that time, and the most (in)famous Japanese ship being the one from which Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto gave the final order to start the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941.

After the Japanese surrender, the Nagato was seized and used for testing during Operation Crossroads in 1946. She landed completely upside down on the seabed at 52 metres (170ft). Her most prominent features are the four propellers at a depth of 33.5 metres (110ft), the 16″ guns in the stern and bow areas suspended from her hull at 50 metres (164ft), and her unmistakable Pagoda mast from where history was made.

USS Arkansas

An American dreadnought, measuring 171 metres (562 ft) long and armed with twelve 12-inch guns and capable of a top speed of 20.5 knots. The USS Arkansas served in both World War I and World War II; escorting convoys in the Atlantic and bombarding shore targets during the invasions of Normandy, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

She was moored only 500 ft. away from the intended atomic bomb detonation in 1946 and was supposedly lifted up vertically within the blast column. She sank completely only 19 minutes after the blast, ending almost completely upside down on the sandy bottom at 55 meters depth.

USS Lamson

The American Mahan-class Destroyer ship was sunk very early on during the tests in Bikini Atoll and appears almost like a pirate ship underwater. With her length of 104 metres (341 ft), she might not be the biggest of the Bikini wrecks but that makes her perfect as you can really take your time to explore. Sitting upright in about 55m depth, with the decks around 48-50m, she features several guns, torpedoes, bombs and generally provides good access to divers along with great visibility making her a really exceptional dive.

USS Anderson

The 106 metres (348ft) long by 11 metres (36ft) wide Sims-class destroyer was built in 1939 and served at different locations during World War II, participating in fighting battles in the Atlantic and the Pacific using her machine guns, anti-aircraft missiles and torpedoes, taking down many enemy aircraft as well as assisting in anti-submarine warfare. She now rests mostly intact on her starboard side at a depth of 52 meters. At the stern you can see the depth charge racks and the propellers and, past the gun turrets and torpedo tubes, amidst the debris on the forward superstructure, there is a compass as well as an interesting collection of artifacts such as a clock which stopped forever at 8:21.

USS Apogon

The Apogon is submarine of the Balao-class that headed straight for Hawaii and the Marshall Islands after her launch in 1943, whose active duties were patrolling designated areas in the South Pacific and attacking enemy (i.e. Japanese) ships. The Apogon lies completely intact at a depth of 48 metres with an average depth of 43 metres and is the only submarine that can be dived in Bikini Atoll. Divers can easily explore the conning tower, viewing binoculars on the bridge, and propellers which are covered by red sponges.

USS Carlisle

A Gilliam-class attack support boat, 130 metres (426 ft) long and 18 metres (58 ft) wide that served as merchant vessel transporter within the US Navy in the Second World War. Finished and acquired by the Navy in 1944, she arrived late into the war and was assigned to transport operations, of which she only performed 3. Hence, she never participated in any combat situations. She sank in 1946 as a result of Operation Crossroads’ Able Test, and now rests upright in the sand at 51 metres depth, with her deck at 40 metres.

Kwajalein Atoll – Prinz Eugen

Being a war prize awarded to the USA by Britain after WWII resulted in the atomic fate for this German heavy cruiser. She survived the blasts of Operation Crossroads, even though she was already damaged, and she was towed to Kwajalein. Here, she ultimately capsized and sank to her final resting place in December 1946. Nowadays, a part of the ship is still visible above water.

trip inclusions

trip exclusions

payment terms

cancellation policies

We recommend that you book your international flight to and from Kwajalein Airport (KWA) from Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL), which is served by United Airlines 3 times per week and takes around 7 hours. Our Bikini Atoll itineraries are scheduled around the HNL–MAJ–KWA flights which operate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, departing from Honolulu very early in the morning. Generally, you will need to leave from Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) the day before (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday) and ideally you will arrive in Honolulu one day before your flight to Kwajalein to ensure that you make the connection. Bear in mind that you will be crossing the international date line when traveling from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands so will arrive in Kwajalein the day after departure from Honolulu. There is also a flight from Guam to Kwajalein via Chuuk and Pohnpei which operates on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, as embarkation and disembarkation of our Bikini Atoll itineraries are based around the Honolulu flights, we generally do not recommend this route.

Our travel experts are here to help you plan your trip.

get in touch