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Dive Sites around Majuro

 

You can spend years on Majuro and still find dive sites that you haven't had a chance to visit.  The lagoon is loaded with variety from coral pinnacles to deep walls to wrecks -- there is something for everyone.

Coral pinnacles rising from depths ranging from 10 to 120 feet are typical of many lagoon sites in the Marshall Islands and Majuro is no exception.  Home to a diverse range of Pacific sea life, the pinnacles are like a busy city center.  Schools of tiny, brightly colored fish peek through and around clusters of coral. The pinnacles offer an exciting dive for novice and advanced divers alike.

A few minutes from the Yokwe Divers dock lies The Bridge, a favorite for many divers in Majuro. Plate coral splattered with clusters of Black Coral and Tridacna clams embedded in the coral base, drops down a steep wall that exceeds 130 feet.  Whitetip and Silvertip sharks cruise the area and Napoleon wrasse hover in the shallow areas. Expect to see schools of Red Snapper and brightly colored Angel Fish as well as Helfrecht's Dartfish at this popular dive site.
 
Aneko Island has both shallow and deep water coral heads that are incredibly large. From 12-90 feet, you will find anemone, cleaner shrimp, resting turtles and a deep water coral garden.

 
Kalalen Pass is a favorite location for drift dives. Diving depths run from 30-130 feet at the Pass and steep coral walls drop into the crystal clear water.  Pelagic species cruise the currents in search of food and you can expect to see sea turtles, rays, several species of sharks and sea turtles on a typical day. Silvertip sharks over 8 feet in length have been seen at this location. Kalalen Island, located adjacent to the Pass, has a lagoon side reef that boasts both hard and soft corals and divers exploring the coral will be thrilled as they discover butterfly fish, triggerfish and the elusive octopus hiding in the coral gardens.  Further east, in areas called Second Island, a gradual slope down the coral head drops to a sandy bottom at around 120 feet.  Whitetip sharks share this area with shrimp gobys and Grass eels are commonly sighted.

 

The North Shore outer reef on the ocean side of Kalalen Island is a pristine gradual slope populated by thousands of table corals, anemone, and tens of thousands of tropical reef fish. Schools of fusiliers rain down from the surface as you glide toward the transition from slope to near vertical wall. Sharks, rays, dogtooth tuna, and turtles are also seen here regularly.

 

Even further east, Fourth Island offers a popular site for easy second dives as well as for beginning divers because of the extremely calm conditions usually found in this area.  Bring your camera because in addition to schools of Kiribati Red Snapper and thousands of tropical reef fish, you can see 3 different species of anemone and anemone fish including the Marshallese Three Striped Clownfish.

 

Incoming tides at The Aquarium  may offer one of the most exciting dives of your trip. Ranging from 60-130+ feet on the outer reef wall of Kalalen Channel, this natural "horse shoe" shaped feature creates an area where tidal flow is compressed, concentrating the flow of rich, open ocean sea water as it enters Majuro Lagoon.  This is the place to see  Horse Eye Jacks, Black & White and Red snapper, Barracuda, and all manner of reef fish numbering in the MANY tens of thousands. On the sandy ocean floor, you will see sleeping reef sharks and Sting-rays, Gray reef, White-tip, and Black-tip sharks. Schools of Rainbow Runner, Napoleon Wrasse, and huge schools of fusiliers are also common here.
 
Bokolap Island offers an exciting experience on a dive site ranging from 12-120 feet in depth. Beautiful coral heads, 4 species of anemone, clownfish, Harlequin shrimp, 3 species of lionfish, colorful nudibranchs and more fish than you can imagine are here for the viewing. A WWII U.S. torpedo plane sits at 115 feet at this location. A Grumman Avenger is also located in this area at 120 ft. depth. Downed by anti aircraft fire, this Avenger crash-landed on the ocean-side of Bokolap Island, washed over the reef, and sunk inside the lagoon where it rests today. The tail section lies up the rubble slope and is home to a family of three striped Marshallese clown-fish.
 
If you are looking for extreme visibility, in excess of 140 feet, you will hope for the mild weather conditions that will allow you to dive The Riviera. This northern reef location runs across nearly two miles of untouched coral reef. A drift along the reef will reveal sharks sleeping on the bottom - within your visibility but over the recreational diving limits. This area drops to over 130 feet and is populated by schools of huge red snapper, Mantas and Spotted Eagle Rays and coral reef in every color imaginable. 
 
Just northwest of the Uliga Wall is another dive that is accessible only in the best weather conditions. Known as Shark Street, this is a deep reef on the northeast outer reef of Majuro Lagoon. Divers have reported sightings of 25 or more sharks on a single dive. Thick forests of black coral and schools of Napolean Wrasse make this a thrill for anyone.
 
Shore Dives are popular with local divers and good shore diving sites can be found on the southern reef wall a few miles west of the Yokwe Divers shop. Weather conditions and local knowledge are important when attempting shore diving which may require entry through breaking waves and a possibility of strong currents.  The south shore wall ranges from 20 to over 130 feet in depth and you will be rewarded with schools of Dogtooth Tuna and Grey Reef Sharks.  Gorgonian Sea Fans ride the current on the vertical walls and drop-offs of these area - commonly referred to as Mile 14, Mile 15 and Mile 17. 
 
Wreck Diving gives you the best of everything. Explorers enjoy the mystery of the wrecks and the incredible variety of marine life that can be found in every nook and cranny of a sunken structure. Photographers are thrilled by the shafts of light that penetrate through holes and open decks into the dark interiors. In a nation with so much WWII history and a heritage of water transportation as a way of life, you can expect to find a multitude of underwater structures including ships and airplanes - some intentionally sunk and functioning as artificial reefs, others sometimes referred to as "natural wrecks".
 
A sunken freighter, The Kabilok, once sailed between the outer islands and Majuro, hauling copra and supplies. She lies on her side on an 80' sandy bottom in Majuro Lagoon. A favorite for night dives and underwater photographers, the Kabilok offers safe, interesting penetration into the open cargo hold and is home to colorful sponges, whip coral, and tropical fish of many species. On night dives, beautiful batfish and puffers take refuge in and around the wreck.
 
Ejit Island (The Parking Lot) at 10-120 feet is the location of a U.S. military dumpsite. A small coral pinnacle marks the spot where Jeeps, Trucks, a Navy Tug boat, and a landing craft were sunk at the end of WWII. The relics, now artificial reefs, are home to colorful sponges, corals, and tropical fish of many species. This area is a favorite for photography and exploration.
 
The Grumman "Duck", just a few miles from the Yokwe Divers dock sits inverted on the bottom. It seems to have crashed on approach to Majuro's WWII carrier re-supply airfield, which was adjacent to this site. Used primarily for search & rescue and reconnaissance, there are said to be fewer than 10 surviving Ducks left in the world. This aircraft is also home to hundreds of fish, sponges, and corals. The "Duck" is in excellent condition and steeped in the history of this area of operation during WWII.
 
Just 500 meters from our dock at the Marshall Islands Resort, an F6F Hellcat sits in 115 of water. It was pushed overboard from one of the five aircraft carriers that were on Majuro Lagoon in late 1944. The Grumman F6F Hellcat was the U.S. Navy's primary fighter brought into service to battle against the Japanese ZERO. The control stick, rudder pedals, and throttles are still intact and the wings are folded back in pre-flight storage position. Hundreds of tropical fish, sponges, oysters, and corals have made their homes there.

 

In the same general area there are other wrecks to be explored.  A short 5 minutes from our dock lies the Ratak-Ralik. A dive of 60 - 92 feet will place you on this 120' freighter that sank in the late 1980's. The engine room is accessible and very open penetrations are made through the wheelhouse and the hold. Expect to see thousands of fish on this dive.  Within 200 yards the Evangeline offers an upright 85' wreck with a wheelhouse and exposed hatch into the engine room.
 
Majuro's latest find, the Cenpac, was discovered in January 2003. The Cenpac is a 150' refrigerator ship that was used to haul copra and also passengers and supplies between Majuro and the outer islands. It sank in 135 feet of water about ten years ago. Schools of Spade Fish and Giant Sweetlips call the wreck home.
 
Midway on the western atoll between Laura & Rong-Rong is a B-24 Liberator, resting in 12 feet of water. A popular site for snorkeling, this classic American bomber was damaged during a bombing run from Kiribati prior to the U.S. occupation of the Marshall Islands. The pilots brought her down on the reef top at low tide. The pilots were captured but the plane remained and was scuttled by the Japanese soldiers who were stationed here at the time. Although the fuselage has broken apart and been buried in the surrounding sand, more than 2/3 of the wing structure is still intact with all four engines and props. The belly machinegun turret is now the host of corals and fish.
 
A DC-3 has become a very interesting artificial reef, covered in corals and fish and located near shore at Anemonit Island. Penetrations are easily and safely made through the open aft section where the plane was dismantled. The area is dotted with other natural coral heads teeming with life and is a favorite of novice wreck and reef divers.