Instant Reader Report
on Dive Kiribati / Captain Cook Hotel in
Kiribati (Christmas Island) / [N/A] on
2003/02
by
Dorothy McDonald , Ohio, USA
Report Number 030312172554472

 [Unspecified] 

Dive Conditions

[Unspecified]  

[None]  

Overall Rating

The diving on Kiribati is so good that this was our second trip and we
encourage anyone who enjoys diving and who doesn't mind roughing it a bit
to head for this unique island.  There is one plane a week to/from
Honolulu - so you are there for the week.  This is a Third World Country
where most people don't have running water and electricity and most
visitors are fishermen.  The Captain Cook Hotel,the most modern place on
the island, is very basic but comfortable.  The main part of the
"hotel" was formerly British Officers barracks (some of the
rooms are air-conditioned).  Cottages have also been built along the beach
- beautiful view - no air-conditioning.  Pitchers of drinkable water and
ice are put in your room's mini-fridge daily - the tap water is not
drinkable.  Meals at the Captain Cook are served family style and there is
always a variety to choose from and in any evening could include tacos,
baked chicken, and tuna.  Food is good but not gourmet.  Since fishermen
and divers leave after breakfast and don't return until late afternoon,
sandwich fixings and fresh fruit are set out at breakfast and everyone
makes their own sack lunch.  Kim Andersen, an American, runs the only dive
operation.  Diving is done from one of two motorized outrigger/catamaran
type boats.  Kim meets you at the airport and you can expect to go diving
the day you arrive.  Both times we've been there we were the only divers,
so basically could do whatever we liked.   Shore dives can also be done -
entry can be pretty rough.  There is a large variety of tropical fish,
everything from flame angels to dragon eels to lion fish to gold-flake
Angel fish (Kim told us they are only found in this area)and many more.
Trevally are seen on every dive.  A huge scool of barracuda seemed to hang
out at one location.  Other places we'd see Napoleon Wrasse.  Sharks and
turtles are seen on most dives.  A small school of dolphin swam in front
of us on one dive.  Lots of mantas.  A juvenile manta became very curious
in us and spent over half an hour with us - coming within a foot to make
eye contact and continually circling us.  We'd often see mantas feeding on
the surface, we'd get into the water with snorkel gear on, Kim would move
the boat away and we'd float with the mantas feeding all around us.  There
was a school of hundreds of spinner dolphin - we'd don masks and snorkels,
hang onto the outrigger's pontoon while Kim drove the boat. The dolphins
(some mother's with babies) would be frolicking all around us.  Most of
the time the water was calm without any strong currents.  Kim and his
staff did everything possible to make our experience a great one.  The
time to go is now - before development and high-rises come to the island! 
Trips can be arranged through Frontiers International 1-800-245-1950 or
contact Kim Andersen at divekiribati@juno.com 

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