Bikini Atoll
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Come and dive Bikini Lagoon
After a trial liveaboard expedition to Bikini Atoll in late 2010, The Scuba Doctor is once again able to offer strictly limited places on scuba diving trips to Bikini Atoll. Don't miss out. Book your spot today!
2012 Trips:
Trip 1 — 14 days, ex Cairns, Australia
Departing: 28 June 2012
Returning: 12 July 2012
Tour Leader: Peter Fear
Trip 2 — 14 days, ex Cairns, Australia
Departing: 19 October 2012
Returning: 1 November 2012
Tour Leader: Peter Fear
14 Days, ex Cairns from $7,200 per diver
An exclusive adventure: 10 divers only per trip.
A representative from Skin Diver magazine
proclaimed Bikini Atoll as one of the top five dive
destinations in the world. This is your chance to
see for yourself why.
This fantastic wreck dive expedition trip includes return airfare from Cairns, Queensland, Australia, plus liveaboard accommodation onboard the Indies Trader vessel M.V. Windward with 20 dives at Bikini Atoll (2 dives per day).
Tour Package Includes:
- Return flights from Cairns, Queensland, Australia
to Kwajalein Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands (transit through Guam) on Continental Airlines. - Return overnight/day steam (approx. 25 hours) from Kwajalein Island to Bikini Atoll on M.V. Windward.
- 20 dives of the worlds best wreck diving experience on the nuclear fleet at Bikini. 10 days of two dives per day.
- Air fills, cylinders and weights, plus Oxygen from the onboard oxygen generator.
- Two experienced Bikini dive masters.
- Liveaboard:
- Air-conditioned cabin
- All meals and food
- Beer, juice, soft drinks and bottled water
- Fishing - Return airport transfers.
- Post trip accommodation in Cairns
- Twin share / Standard room. - Australian Departure taxes.
Tour Price Does Not Include:
- Sorb for Rebreathers and/or Helium - landed cost plus 15%.
- Medical O2 - cost plus 15%.
- Travel insurance, plus Medivac insurance — DAN or equivalent.
- Satellite telephone and data calls. We have Inmarsat for telephone - $3.50 per minute or part thereof. Thutaya I/P for data. Can be online all the time for $3k per trip or $10 per megabyte log on log off. We need a months notice to activate unlimited data plan.
- Travel insurance.
- Excess luggage fee's.
- Airfares to Cairns.
- Personal spending money.
- Equipment rental.
- Hard alcohol / mixed drinks / wine.
- Souvenirs.
- Passport fees / U.S. ESTA visa charge.
- Crew gratuities.
Bikini Lagoon
During 1946, following the end of World War II, the US Navy gathered together a "mock" naval fleet in order to test the effects of atomic bombs on the large fleet. The site chosen for the explosive tests was Bikini Atoll and it was designated as a ship graveyard. Around the same time French fashion designer Louis Reard was looking for a name for his new, controversial, tiny swimsuit design and the "Bikini" was launched.
From 1946 through to 1958, twenty-three nuclear bombings were conducted, including the BAKER blast which ultimately sank both the Saratoga and the Nagato. Bikini Lagoon became the final resting place for some of the most significant warships in naval history.
The dangers of the radioactivity and limited services in the area led to divers staying away from one of the most remarkable potential scuba diving sites in the Pacific for many years. However, from the dust and detritus of the nuclear weapon tests, the lagoon at Bikini Atoll has emerged as the world's greatest wreck diving sites. Bikini Atoll was first opened for limited diving in 1996, allowing divers to experience some of the most historic and amazing wreck diving in the world.
Once diving at Bikini Atoll commenced in 1996, the dive spot quickly become popular among divers. However, oil prices and airline reliability then severely curtailed diving operations to the point of being suspended since August 2008 and through 2009, restricted to fully self-contained vessels by prior arrangement.
The Scuba Doctor's own Peter Fear, was a key member of a successful trial liveaboard expedition to Bikini Atoll in October 2010. Returning to Bikini Atoll for his third time, Peter was able to guide and assist the liveaboard operators in how to best conduct such tours and diving operations.
The lagoon contains a larger amount of sea life than usual due to the lack of fishing, including sharks. This increases the fascination with the spot as a diver's adventure spot. Food including fish is contaminated so tour boats must bring all their own supplies.
Scuba Diving at Bikini Atoll
Only 10 divers can occupy Bikini Atoll at
any one time. This makes it a very unique place
to visit and dive.
Bikini Atoll is a world heritage site and a bucket-list destination for most serious divers. Bikini Atoll is known for its wonderful wreck diving, but is recommended only for advanced sport and/or technical divers with previous wreck diving experience.
At Bikini Atoll you'll be doing mostly deep, long decompression dives ranging from 30 metres (100 feet) to 60 metres (200 feet) in depth. The dive program includes two dives per day (morning and afternoon), for a total of 20 dives. Each dive ranges from 60 to 110 minutes in duration. Plenty of bottom time on the magnificent wrecks in bathtub-like conditions — warm all the time, no current, no surf and very clear.
Indies Trader Marine Adventures has teamed up with Bikini Atoll Divers as the sole provider of dive tours on the nuclear fleet at Bikini Atoll. Lani and Jack at Bikini Atoll Divers ran the diving operation on behalf of the Bikini government until recently. They are partners in this endeavour and have unparalleled knowledge of Bikini diving operations.
Before each dive the dive masters give a full briefing about the vessel's history, unique characteristics and a comprehensive dive plan. The marine life has been virtually untouched for over forty years, and divers can see a great profusion of sharks, tunas, marlins, rays, turtles and much more.
Shipwrecks in the lagoon include:
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Some of the more popular dives:
USS Saratoga — The only "dive-able" US
aircraft carrier in the world lies upright in 54 metres (180
feet) of water. The superstructure is at 21 metres (70 feet),
deck at 30 metres (100 feet) and the airplane hangers at
39 metres (130 feet). The USS Saratoga is a steel-hulled vessel
with a waterline length of 253 metres (830 feet) and a flight
deck of 270 metres (888 feet) officially weighing 33,000
standard tons.
HIJMS Nagato — Considered the flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The ship is inverted, lying in 48-51 metres (160-170 feet) of water. The steel hulled vessel is 215 metres (708 feet) long and weighed 38,500 standard tons.
USS Arkansas — A US battleship lies
inverted in 54 metres (180 feet) of water. The riveted steel
vessel is 171 metres (562 feet) long and weighed 23,066 standard
tons.
USS Pilotfish & USS Apogon — Both US navy submarines 95 metres (311.8 feet) long & weighing 2424 standard tons submerged.
Warning: Scuba diving at Bikini Atoll will change you forever. Some divers on earlier expeditions with The Scuba Doctor to Bikini Atoll simply stopped diving for a year or more after the trip. Nothing else could measure up after Bikini Atoll. Don't miss out. Book your spot today!
Liveaboard M.V. Windward
Notes from Indies Trader Marine Adventures.
The M.V. Windward is the newest addition to the Indies Trader Fleet. Originally a trawler then a pearling mother ship, the Windward went through renovation and transformed into an all out remote location water sports support vessel. Because of it's size, the Windward is perfect for sport and technical diving expeditions. The large covered back deck serves a great toy shed and can easily handle an amazing amount of gear.
The Windward has 2 dinghies and a Jet ski with rescue sled. A Hiab sea crane to get the toys on and off the boat easily and quickly. Comfortable air-conditioned accommodation, a walk in cool room, and heaps of deck space undercover and outside to rig up your gear and spread out. There's a western Chef and an experienced diving skipper.
Vessel Specifications:
The Windward is 24 metres (80 feet) long. There are a total of 19 beds:
12 bunks in one large open bunk room, 6 bunks on the main deck in 2 cabins,
one with 2 beds and one with 4 beds, and a captain's cabin in the bridge.
The Windward cruises at 9 knots, with a top speed of 10 knots, and has 6 crew and 2 dive masters.
The Windward was built in Australia and has 240 Volts, 50 Hz power with Australian style outlets. The vessel also has a large 5 KVA step down transformer which produces 110 Volts if needed.
MV Windward is equipped with a Deck Decompression Chamber, purchased in the USA, which is onboard to provide safety for advanced remote location sport and technical diving. We have, Nitrox, O2, Helium and Sorb for the tech diving guys, steel and aluminium twinsets, deco pony bottles etc. We don't provide personal equipment (i.e. masks, fins, wetsuits, dive torches, dive computers etc.) so you'll need to bring it with you.
By steaming from Kwajalein Island to Bikini Atoll and return, we are not be dependent on the local airline.
The Journey to Bikini Atoll
This package adventure tour starts and finishes at Cairn Airport, Queensland, Australia. You'll be flying from Carins to Kwajalein Atoll Airport, Marshall Islands via Guam on Continental Airlines.
Travel From Kwajalein Atoll To Bikini Atoll Aboard The Windward
The voyage from Kwajalein Atoll Airport to Bikini is 400 kilometres (215 nautical miles), 120 kilometres (65 nautical miles) in the sheltered waters in the lee of Kwajalein Atoll and 280 kilometres (150 nautical miles) of open seas from the northerly point of Kwajalein to Bikini.
The open seas leg is around 18 hours and the sheltered leg is 7 hours. The entire trip takes about 25 hours depending on sea conditions and current.
Scuba Diving Equipment for Diving At Bikini Atoll
Notes from The Scuba Doctor.
Whatever level of training you have, either the minimum required for Bikini or higher, we prefer you dive in the configuration you are most comfortable with. In general, you should be comfortable diving with manifold twin cylinders, with at least one stage cylinder.
We provide dual steel 12 litre 300 bar cylinder, plus at least one aluminum 11 litre (80 cu.ft.) cylinder. The manifold valves will accommodate DIN regulators.
Minimum Equipment Requirements
You will need to bring the following items:
- Backplate and wing — A wing and back plate system capable of carrying twin 300 bar 12 litre steel cylinders and at least 1 x 11 litre aluminium stage cylinder. A dual bladder wing is recommended. The wing should have a minimum of 45 lbs of lift. Note: Standard type BCD's, even if recommended for use with twins, are unacceptable.
- Dive Computer — You need a dive computer capable of switching between a minimum of 3 gasses, i.e. Air, 60% Nitrox, 100% Oxygen. You must make sure your computer can handle repetitive decompression diving.
- Backup depth and bottom timer — or a second dive computer which would typically run in gauge mode.
- Two high performance DIN regulator sets configured for twin cylinder operation.
First and second stages. — Recommend 5-7 foot hose on one second stage, SPG,
BC low pressure inflator hose.
Note: Yoke regulators are unacceptable. - Stage DIN regulator set — Suitable for breathing up to 100% O2
- Minimum of two dive torches (primary and back-up) capable of handling 60 metre depths.
- Surface Marker Buoys (SMBs)
- One surface marker buoy
- One emergency surface maker buoy coloured fluro yellow, or the word emergency printed along it. A slate should be fixed to the top to state details of emergency.
- Reel, or spool, with a minimum 15 metres of line.
- Reel, or spool, with a minimum 50 metres of line.
- Mask and spare mask — Spare mask to be carried on all dives.
- Dive slate — A dive slate is to be carried on all dives. Note: This is in addition to the slate used with the emergency surface marker buoy.
- Fins — Split fins are not recommended.
- Protection — 3mm–5mm full wet suit with hood, boots and lightweight gloves.
Please note: The above are minimum equipement requirements. You are welcome to bring mor, for example, a second set of stage regulators, should you be more comfortable with the additional equipment.
Inspect and Test ALL Equipment Before the Trip
We would like to stress the point that the equipment you bring to Bikini Atoll should be properly inspected and tested. Most equipment manufacturers require a minimum of an annual service. We recommend, even if your equipment is within its service period you have at least a "bench" test performed by a qualified service technician like The Scuba Doctor. This is important to have done before you come to Bikini Atoll as we do not have the ability to provide maintenance on customer's equipment while on the trip.
Training Certifications for Diving At Bikini Atoll
Minimum Training Qualifications
Advanced Nitrox or equivalent.
Appropriate technical diving certifications and experience will greatly enhance your experience at Bikini Atoll. These include: TDI - Advanced Nitrox & Deco procedures; IANTD - Tech Nitrox; NAUI - Tech Nitrox & Deco Techniques; and ANDI - Technical Nitrox. These qualifications will address decompression procedures, dive planning, emergency procedures and appropriate equipment configurations.
The diving environment at Bikini Atoll is certainly unique and as such requires special procedures.
Contrary to what most people believe, Bikini Atoll is actually a very benign environment for deep diving as we have a clear, warm water lagoon with no discernible current. The average depth of dives is 50 metres (165 feet), however the flight deck of Saratoga is at 28 metres (90 feet) so afternoon dives can be much shallower than 50 metres.
We are set up to deal with the risks of staged decompression diving in a way that divers with no previous experience are allowed to gain some new skills and at the same time have an incredible week of diving.
You don't need to be a "Super Tech Diver" to do the week of dives on Bikini Atoll. However, good buoyancy and ascent rate skills, plus Advanced Nitrox certification, are an absolute necessity.
We do not offer training courses on Bikini Atoll trips at this time. We advise our customers to take the various training classes that might interest you before you get to Bikini Atoll. Please call The Scuba Doctor to organise an appropriate training program.
Please note: The higher your skill level and the more experience you have, the more you will enjoy the diving on Bikini Atoll.
Penetration Diving At Bikini Atoll
Notes from Bikini Atoll Divers.
This is a special note for those who would want to spend a lot of time penetrating the wrecks on Bikini Atoll. As a result of being hit by two atomic weapons blasts and being beneath the sea for over 60 years, in October of 2006 the towering, massive bridge structure of the USS Saratoga finally began to collapse inward toward the forward hanger elevator shaft. It now appears that the demise of the bridge area is going to be a slow, ongoing process and may take many months before the bridge is finally at rest and not a potential threat to divers. Due to this unstable condition of the USS Saratoga, penetration diving and swims through the hanger deck of the vessel may be limited.
We apologise to our new and returning guests for any inconvenience, but as always the safety of our customers is our number one priority on Bikini Atoll. The evaluation of the current situation has taken many dives and several months of careful consideration for us to arrive at this conclusion. However, the majestic, awe-inspiring and astounding beauty of the USS Saratoga can still be experienced by the dives we arrange on her if conditions don't allow for penetration diving.
When the USS Saratoga's forward hanger deck and the aft section of the hanger deck permit exploration, there is a lot of ordnance scattered on the floor. These dives are within view of light and exit at all times ("cavern") and the possibility of a "silt out" (when the silt gets disturbed by improper fin kicking and the visibility is completely lost) is very low due to the size of the hanger deck.
The USS Saratoga offers many other possibilities for penetration, but these areas are very tight and restricted with there always being a chance of one getting lost in a maze of corridors. Proper knowledge of line protocols and techniques is required to allow you to visit some of the permanent lines that our team has installed. Laying and following a line properly is much more complicated than it seems at first. Again, there are times when the USS Saratoga cannot be explored in this fashion — even by the most experienced divers — due to the current instability of the vessel's massive bridge structure.
As part of our normal diving schedule we still penetrate the HIJMS Nagato on two different dives, and with smaller groups we occasionally explore a small portion of the USS Arkansas.
If you really want to learn a lot about diving and improve your diving skills, we recommend that you get cave certified, even if you will never dive caves in your life. Most of the skills learned in this course can be applied to general diving and especially penetration wreck diving. Of course, a wreck is different than a cave and as such offers its own set of risks (like falling structures and the possibility of entanglement). In our opinion, a diver who has an Open Water card and is fully cave certified possesses more appropriate skills for diving Bikini Atoll than a "Course Director" who has no specialised training.
The Saratoga is a unique vessel when it comes to penetration diving. There is no other vessel anywhere in the world where you can prepare yourself for a penetration dive on this great ship. The Full Cave Diver courses offered by numerous training agencies will prepare you with the skills and disciplines needed to safely carry out penetration dives within the Saratoga.
Everyone who visits Bikini Atoll goes through a check-out dive on the first dive day regardless of the level of your certification. It is important that you show us underwater that your skills match your credentials so as to enable us to do everything we can to accommodate your needs. Our mission is always to give you the best experience possible based on your skill level.
Be aware that accidents do occur even if a diver has done nothing wrong on the dive. In case of an accident there is a recompression chamber available on the Windward.
Diabetics Please Note: Because of the repetitive decompression diving we do at Bikini Atoll, we do not recommend that diabetics dive Bikini Atoll unless there has been careful consideration and clearance by a physician. If you are a diabetic and have been cleared by a doctor for diving on Bikini Atoll, you should have a full understanding of the consequences and dietary needs of doing this kind of diving.
Tour Notes:
Conditions Apply — prices are based on 2011 prices and subject to change due to price increases and USD currency fluctuation.
Credit Card Payments:
- Should you choose to pay via Visa Card or Mastercard a surcharge fee of 1% will be applied to price of your holiday.
- Should you choose to pay via Amex or Diners card a surcharge fee of 3% will be applied to the price of your holiday.
Please check your passport for a minimum of 6 months validity from day of departure. And that you have secured your ESTA visa for USA.
Dive Insurance
ALL divers who dive with us at Bikini Atoll MUST have DAN dive/medical evacuation insurance or they will not be able to dive with us. No exceptions will be made.
We generally look for three main characteristics in a dive insurance plan:
- Ability to evacuate an injured diver anywhere in the world.
- Ability to pay for medical treatment of an evacuated diver anywhere in the world.
- Ability for the diver to dive below 40 metres (130 feet) anywhere in the world and still be covered by the insurance plan.
Thus The Scuba Doctor strongly recommends and wiull only accept DAN Preferred Plan or Master Plan dive insurance (not the DAN Standard Plan), or equivalent medical evacuation insurance, plus travel insurance.
Booking Requirements
To secure your place on this amazing wreck diving expedition a non-refundable deposit of $2000 per person is required.
For bookings or more information, please contact The Scuba Doctor.
Please view/download:
Bikini Atoll 2012 trip 1 leaflet
(Adobe PDF | 290.79 KB), or
Bikini Atoll 2012 trip 2 leaflet
(Adobe PDF | 291.41 KB),
and/or view/download the Dive Adventures booking form
(Adobe PDF | 69.26 KB)
See also:
Articles from previous trips by The Scuba Doctor to Bikini Atoll:
From Hermes To Saratoga - 2010
USS Saratoga (CV 3) - 2007
Bikini Atoll 2005 - 2005
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