Islas Marshall

Bikini Atoll stands as one of the world's most extraordinary and haunting dive sites. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010, this nuclear test site from 1946-1958 harbors an underwater fleet of warships, submarines, and aircraft carriers deliberately sunk during atomic testing. The lagoon holds USS Saratoga, the world's only diveable aircraft carrier, resting at 50 meters alongside USS Arkansas battleship and Japanese vessels HIJMS Nagato and Sakawa. The UK Foreign Office notes that radiation levels have returned to safe background levels for short visits, though consumption of local food remains prohibited. Diving Bikini requires advanced certification, significant expense (liveaboard trips exceed $5,000), and permission from Bikini Council. The eerie spectacle of massive warships frozen in time beneath tropical waters creates an unmatched diving experience—one that serves as both adventure destination and sobering memorial to the nuclear age.