MARSHALL ISLANDS (Pacific Islands)

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These beautiful islands are a collection of 1,225 islands and islets of which only five are single islands. The rest are grouped into 29 coral atolls which together make up more than one-tenth of all the atolls in the world resembling strings of pearls in a blue ocean backdrop. It is no wonder they are referred to as the 'Pearl of the Pacific'.

They lie in two parallel chains known as sunrise and sunset (Ratak and Ralik) and in true atoll form, they are narrow and low and encircle large central lagoons. All the islands have glorious white sandy beaches, tall palms and are lapped by crystal clear waters.

Of the 29 atolls, 27 are accessible by small plane (Air Marshall Islands). Majuro and Kwajalein atolls, the two population centres are serviced by both Air Marshall Islands and Continental Air Micronesia Jet Aircraft. There are also regular flights to Guam, Hawaii and Fiji.

Majuro atoll , capital of the Marshall Islands, is the most developed atoll with a thriving commercial and political centre and a population of nearly 30,000. It offers visitors, diving and fishing, a cultural museum, a variety of cuisine, entertaining nightlife and is the perfect "home base" while visiting the outer islands. Day trips can be taken to neighbouring Arno atoll for diving or fishing.

Ebeye is the Marshellese population centre on Kwajalein atoll , the largest atoll in the world depending of course on how it is defined (compared to Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Republic of Kiribati). A U.S. military base occupies the largest island in the atoll and its airport accommodates both military and commercial air traffic. Ebeye has a population of about 11,000 and provides access to some of the world's best wreck diving. Kwajalein lagoon has numerous WW2 and earlier wrecks including the famous Prinz Eugen , the escort ship to Germany's Bismark . Fishing, too, is excellent here. 

Comfortable tourist accommodation can be found in Majuro and Ebeye, with traditional thatched huts available in a few of the outer atolls such as Milli. Bikini atoll was opened recently to divers and sports fishermen. The Bikini Resort will accommodate sixteen visitors in air-conditioned comfort while they experience the best wreck diving in the world and fish in waters uninhabited for fifty years. Several specialised dive resorts are soon to be built in the outer islands.

The Marshall's climate is tropical with the average temperature 27 degrees C. and there is less than a 12 degree daily variation. High temperatures are cooled by trade winds and frequent rainfalls. Primary leisure activities include world-class scuba diving on wrecks, walls and reefs, snorkelling and sports fishing for tuna, marlin, sailfish and more as well as WW2 wreck sightseeing.