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A number of my friends have been getting their diving certification and I have been contemplating it. However, living in such a landlocked area, it seems a little pointless and going to Mexico just once or twice a year to dive doesn't seem that motivational. However, it ocurred to me that it might be interesting to dive around some of the atolls in the pacific. Does anyone know if this is done? Is it a good experience?

Yup, happens all the time, Chris.
 
Chuuk Atoll, (also Known as Truk) in the Caroline Islands is infamous for its giant lagoon. The lagoon is the final resting place for more than 100 ships, planes and submarines - the legacy of a fierce World War II battle between the Imperial Japanese Fleet and Allied carrier planes. The lagoon has been declared an underwater museum. Souvenir taking of relics from the area are prohibited by law.

Nowhere else in the world are there so many wrecks in close proximity, situated in shallow clear water. Many of the wrecks are visible while snorkelling and there are many on-shore wartime locations to visit.....

Any sharks around there?

Probably more than a few...

Sod diving around there then...........

Are 'Man Eaters' prevalent across the Pacific?

Yap and Palau are also great diving places as well as French Polynesia. And at Rabaul you can dive for ship wrecks. You can also dive the atolls in micronesia like the Marshalls, but many places are not populated and can only be reached by long boat rides. It's also not without danger to dive in unknown waters so far away from civilisation (e.g. hospitals). Some are over-populated like some atolls in the Gilberts/Kiribati (e.g. Tarawa (Bonriki)) and are not very pretty places to dive (pollution problems)

I used to dive off Makaha in Hawaii all the time...lotsa planes and such.

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Are 'Man Eaters' prevalent across the Pacific?

If you talk about the big white, then yes. You'll find them all across the pacific from the US west coast to Indonesia and Australia, and from Japan to Chile. You'll also find 'em in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. But I don't think the term "man eater" is appropriate.

Any shark that eats Homo Sapien then? [:)]
 
Where are Tiger sharks 'based'?

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Are 'Man Eaters' prevalent across the Pacific?

If you talk about the big white, then yes. You'll find them all across the pacific from the US west coast to Indonesia and Australia, and from Japan to Chile. You'll also find 'em in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. But I don't think the term "man eater" is appropriate.

My friends who dive tell me sharks aren't really a problem. Apparently divers don't look like food to them, swimmers are food, surfers are food, not divers. Aren't too many sharks out there that could really eat a person anyway.

The fleet at Bikini is now a dive destination as well. It's expensive, but apparently the Saratoga is the showpiece of a great diving vacation (with aircraft still in the hangar deck). Google Dive Bikini to find out more...

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

The fleet at Bikini is now a dive destination as well. It's expensive, but apparently the Saratoga is the showpiece of a great diving vacation (with aircraft still in the hangar deck). Google Dive Bikini to find out more...

HUH! I guess I'm a little surprised at it being a dive destination. What's the background radiation like? [X(]

You probably don't need lights down there. [:'(]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

You probably don't need lights down there. [:'(]

Hi, National Geographic dove on Sara about a year ago I believe...good show. If I remember right they left cause there were 500lbers laying all around in the hanger deck . I think you also need to be on mixed gas to dive her.

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

The fleet at Bikini is now a dive destination as well. It's expensive, but apparently the Saratoga is the showpiece of a great diving vacation (with aircraft still in the hangar deck). Google Dive Bikini to find out more...

HUH! I guess I'm a little surprised at it being a dive destination. What's the background radiation like? [X(]

Kwaj has a higher Pu and U background level. Made the scientific journals once.

ORIGINAL: herwin

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

The fleet at Bikini is now a dive destination as well. It's expensive, but apparently the Saratoga is the showpiece of a great diving vacation (with aircraft still in the hangar deck). Google Dive Bikini to find out more...

HUH! I guess I'm a little surprised at it being a dive destination. What's the background radiation like? [X(]

Kwaj has a higher Pu and U background level. Made the scientific journals once.

Dilution is the solution to pollution...especially with radioactive contamination. And the Pacific is a HUGE ocean.

You do not have to worry about dose from background radiation when diving Bikini. You can even stay on the island with no issues. You cannot consume anything that grows on the island though due to Cesium still being in the soil (IIRC).

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Are 'Man Eaters' prevalent across the Pacific?

If you talk about the big white, then yes. You'll find them all across the pacific from the US west coast to Indonesia and Australia, and from Japan to Chile. You'll also find 'em in the South Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. But I don't think the term "man eater" is appropriate.

Quite a few Great Whites off the California coast. Particuliarly outside Bodega Bay. I personally know two divers who've been attacked by sharks {one twice-he didn't learn the first time}. An attack every couple of years is the norm, but we've had three attacks {two fatalities and one lost a leg} in a two week period twenty-something years ago.

Interesting (I know off topic here though). So sharks don't 'see' divers as food but do swimmers and surfers?

Not so big with respect to wreck diving, but the Maledives are supposed to be a formidable diving site - if you can live without alcohol
 
If you search a little this forum you should also find a thread with some photos by someone that dived at Guadalcanal. Even mentioned some diving guides in Honoria, iirc.
 
Regarding sharks, I seem to remember a report on TV about some hyper-aggressive sharks somewhere around Bikini