Travelnsj
Contributor
I spent the week diving with Kim Anderson the owner of Dive Kiribati he and his staff were great! Talk about the Royal treatment I was the only diver there! How Kim can remember all those great dive sites is beyond me as there are no moorings. The diving at Kiribati (Kitty-buss) was very good and I compare everything to Palau.
The numbers of small to medium tropical fish abound in Kiribati. On many or the reefs I saw two to three times the number of tropical fish than I have seen in Palau. You will see Sturgeonfish, Peacock Flounders, Nudibranches, Giant Barracudas, Spotted eagle rays, Snappers (many to choose from), Moorish idols, Trevally’s, Mantas, Octopus, Dolphins, Occasional sharks etc. etc. I did not get to see the all the big stuff….They were out in the Poland area or Bay of Wrecks. That is where the Big Wrasse and the Groupers are. I get sea sick and we had a few windy days come up while I was there….got to the sites twice….and we turned around twice.
Unfortunately the Pelagic population has been decimated due to Shark fining and Spear fishing for sport… which is legal in Kiribati. The government should do something to stop this by imposing stiff fines and jail time. Being it is a socialist government, they do not care. What a shame! I believe ten years ago this diving would of exceeded Palau!
This is a worthwhile diving destination. Easy access from the US, only three hours from Honolulu. But…and this is a Big But….be prepared this is the 4th world! If you want contact with the outside world, make sure you bring a satellite phone. Accommodations are less than basic; I stayed at Captain Cooks the nicest motel on the Island. The food was great but the rooms….leave a little bit to be desired for a basic room. Also when you get travel insurance for this destination make sure your Med Vac service includes the Coast Guard as they are the only ones who will respond…within a few hours.
With the new Air Pacific flight out of Honolulu, Christmas Island again has reliable Air service. I will be there again next year!
Kim thanks for everything….I’ll be back.
The numbers of small to medium tropical fish abound in Kiribati. On many or the reefs I saw two to three times the number of tropical fish than I have seen in Palau. You will see Sturgeonfish, Peacock Flounders, Nudibranches, Giant Barracudas, Spotted eagle rays, Snappers (many to choose from), Moorish idols, Trevally’s, Mantas, Octopus, Dolphins, Occasional sharks etc. etc. I did not get to see the all the big stuff….They were out in the Poland area or Bay of Wrecks. That is where the Big Wrasse and the Groupers are. I get sea sick and we had a few windy days come up while I was there….got to the sites twice….and we turned around twice.
Unfortunately the Pelagic population has been decimated due to Shark fining and Spear fishing for sport… which is legal in Kiribati. The government should do something to stop this by imposing stiff fines and jail time. Being it is a socialist government, they do not care. What a shame! I believe ten years ago this diving would of exceeded Palau!
This is a worthwhile diving destination. Easy access from the US, only three hours from Honolulu. But…and this is a Big But….be prepared this is the 4th world! If you want contact with the outside world, make sure you bring a satellite phone. Accommodations are less than basic; I stayed at Captain Cooks the nicest motel on the Island. The food was great but the rooms….leave a little bit to be desired for a basic room. Also when you get travel insurance for this destination make sure your Med Vac service includes the Coast Guard as they are the only ones who will respond…within a few hours.
With the new Air Pacific flight out of Honolulu, Christmas Island again has reliable Air service. I will be there again next year!
Kim thanks for everything….I’ll be back.
