Bikini Atoll opened to divers in June of 1996 to provide an economic base for a possible future resettlement of Bikini Atoll. The Bikini Atoll Council, under the name of Bikini Atoll Divers, fulfilled their goal to open the one of the most professional--and safest--dive operations possible. In 2008 the Council had to close their operation due to local airline reliability issues, soaring energy costs and US stock market conditions that impacted the local government budget. In 2011 the Bikini Atoll Local Government signed an agreement with Indies Trader Marine Adventures that would permit them to operate their liveaboard vessel, the Windward, on Bikini.

 

Over the years a small number of people outside of the Marshall Islands have seen this form of commercialism on Bikini Atoll as something negative. It should be understood that the islanders themselves made the decision to open the atoll for tourism. When you go to Bikini you don't just go diving , fishing and sunbathing, you get a history lesson. Over the course of the visit historical documentary films are shown, complete briefings about each of the ships and their respective histories are given, and you get a tour of the island and the atoll. The Bikinians feel this to be important because this allows their story to be taken away by tourists and retold to their families and friends. In short, the tourism program helps perpetuate a story the islanders never want to see go away, ever.

Index for Dive Information

The Ships of Bikini Atoll's Nuclear Fleet

This Bikini Atoll website is sponsored by:   To purchase or rent Microwave Films and DVDs please go here: MICROWAVE FILMS OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

The historical information within this site, while constantly updated, is drawn largely from the book, FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND: A History of the People of Bikini and their Islands, Second Edition, published in September of 2001 by Jack Niedenthal. This book tells the story of the people of Bikini from their point of view via interviews, and the author's more than two decades of firsthand experiences with elder Bikinians. Copies can be purchased from this direct ordering link at Amazon.com, or you can also buy and download the Kindle edition.