Join me to
Bikini Atoll
Marshal Islands
on
July 9-20, 2027
(SOLD OUT)
&
July 28 - Aug 8, 2028
(Space Available)
I am excited to announce a long awaited expedition to Bikini Atoll. It is here where we will dive the famed "Nuclear Fleet" of the Pacific. In 1954, the US Government detonated an atomic bomb on the remote atoll of Bikini in the Marshal Islands. At anchor, within the atoll, were both US and Japanese WWII era ships that were placed there as part of the test. Some had sunk from the blast where others were later scuttled. Today, they are iconic world class wreck sites such as the carrier USS Saratoga, the Japanese battleship Nagato and more. Nowhere else in the world will you find a more concentrated group of WWII warships to dive on. The history is steep on so many levels. This is the Mount Everest of wreck diving and it is calling out to you to join in for a trip of a lifetime.
This expedition is possible due to a partnership with Pete Mesley of Lust4Rust. Pete has taken great time and expense along with his passion for wreck diving to hire and supply the vessel "Indies Surveyor". The Indies is a proven safe dive platform that will have a double lock decompression chamber along with necessary technical diving gear on board. It will be home to 8 passengers + myself and a dive physician for a 12 day extended charter. This is a Lust4Rust excursion where I will be leading the group but Pete will not be aboard.
In addition, I returned in July 2026 from my first trip to Bikini and have obtained valuable insight to the wrecks, conditions and the Indies Surveyor. This knowledge along with my 30 years running tours in the dive industry twill help provide an a safe and enjoyable experience for future trips.
Please read on for full details and to assess if you think this trip is for you. Contact me by email to reserve your spot. Please note, there is a $2600 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit required. Be absolutely sure you want to attend this trip prior to booking.
All the best,
-Mike
Getting There
Bikini Atoll is located in the Marshal Islands roughly 2600 miles from Hawaii. You will fly United Airlines from either Honolulu or Guam to arrive at Kwajalein Atoll. Once there you will be immediately ferried to Ebeye Island to board the Indies Surveyor. It will be a 250nm crossing to Bikini which will take a little over 24 hours to accomplish each way.
The Indies Surveyor
This is an 80 foot long expedition fitted vessel with four comfortable two passenger AC 'd staterooms along with two shower rooms. The crew is experienced in the Marshal Islands and has working knowledge of Bikini Atoll. She is fitted with all the necessary safety equipment including a twin lock decompression chamber. In the event a diver should contract DCI we will be able to treat the person on site and not have to cancel the trip to return to Kwajalien. Pete has shipped a container of diving equipment for us to use such as rebreather and deco tanks. We have taken steps to provide the safest trip possible.
Specifics
Depths: Average 150'/45m
Certification: Tech rated for three gas decompression diving i.e. PADI Tec 50 or equivalent
Wrecks: USS Saratoga, IJN Nagato, USS Arkansas, USS Anderson, USS Pilotfish, USS Lamson, USS Carlisle, IJN Sakawa, Prince Eugen, USS Apogon
Dives: 2 decompression dives per day for 9 days
Support: Full technical and medical support provided.
CCR and OC friendly. OC divers will be required to pay additional $1000 if using trimix.
Price: $10,620 incl meals, soft drinks and two tec dives per day
Not included:
CCR tank hire $220
Sorb $350/20kg
Park Fees $125/day
Departure Tax $20
Oxygen/Helium - OC Divers will incur a $1000 surcharge for using Helium
Flights
Gratuities
Trip and Dive Accident Insurance
Is This Trip For You?
Some of the best diving on the planet is situated in some of the most inhospitable locations. I guess thats what draws us there. There are things we really need to properly understand about the risks associated with this. Hopefully this text will help you get a better grasp of whether remote location diving is for you. Continue reading at this link: https://petemesley.com/lust4rust/bikini-atoll/remote-location-diving/
Payment - Please read the application for complete Terms & Conditions
BIKINI ATOLL charters - a non refundable deposit of $2600 of the total charter price is needed at time of booking. An additional 25% needed 12 months before the charter leaves and final payment needed no later than 6 months before the trip departs. We will confirm our acceptance of your booking via email, and it is at the time we send out this confirmation that a contract comes into existence between us. The balance of the land based price is due 3 months prior to your departure date and 6 months for Liveaboard trips. Should this final payment fail to reach us by the date specified, we reserve the right to treat the booking as cancelled. If a booking is made less than the specified full payment dates, then the full amount is needed on booking.
Cancellations
Any cancellation by you must be made in writing (via email is fine) and is effective from the date of physical receipt by us. The date on which the letter is received by us or our agents will determine the cancellation charges applicable. Greater than 90 days is a total loss of deposit. Less than 180 days is loss of 100% trip costs.
Trip Insurance
It is mandatory that every passenger purchase comprehensive accident,
medical, baggage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. The insurance will protect the passenger from financial disappointment in the event of an unforeseen circumstances. Refunds will not be issued for loss of trip due to mechanical failure, passenger illness, bad weather, flight delays, pandemics or any other acts of God. No trip insurance is included in this package.
Dive Accident Insurance
It is mandatory that every passenger carry diving accident insurance such as Divers Alert Network (DAN). No Dive Insurance is included in this package.
