Diving & Travel Guide to Kwajalein Atoll

About Kwajalein Atoll

Kwajalein Atoll is the largest atoll in the Marshall Islands and home to a major US Army base, which makes diving here restricted and unusual. Its signature site is the German cruiser Prinz Eugen, a 212 m heavy cruiser that survived the Bikini nuclear tests, was towed to Kwajalein and capsized in 1946, now lying upside-down in just 5 to 12 m of clear, calm water with its massive propellers and rudder accessible on a snorkel or shallow dive. The lagoon also holds numerous WWII American and Japanese ships, landing craft and aircraft, diveable only with US Army sponsorship and clearance. Roi-Namur on the northern tip offers outer-reef walls with grey reef sharks, barracuda and tuna in clear water, but access for visitors is strictly limited. Kwajalein is a fascinating, off-limits-for-most glimpse of Pacific wreck and reef diving under military control.

Highlights

• ✓Prinz Eugen: a 212 m German cruiser upside-down in 5 to 12 m, with massive propellers and rudder accessible by snorkel or scuba.
• ✓Kwajalein Lagoon Wrecks: numerous WWII ships, landing craft and aircraft diveable only with base sponsorship.
• ✓Roi-Namur Reefs: outer-reef walls with grey reef sharks, barracuda and tuna in clear water (limited access).

Getting There

Kwajalein is reached by Air Marshall Islands flight from Majuro to Bucholz Army Airfield (KWA), but access is strictly controlled as a US Army base. Diving requires US Army sponsorship, MWR clearance or a liveaboard with special permission; independent tourism is not permitted.