Arno is the closest atoll to Majuro, 15 miles away. It has 133 islands, two airstrips and nearly 1700 people. See website www.infomarshallislands.com/atolls-a-l/arno-atoll for more information.

Mejit is a single, tiny coral island, with no protective lagoon. The population is about 450. It’s a beautiful island of lush taro patches, and coconut, breadfruit and pandanus trees. Unusually, it has a small freshwater lake. California Beach, on the NW side of the island, is good for swimming and snorkelling, and unlike the other Marshalls, there no poisonous fish here. The island is also known for its pandanus-leaf mats, woven by the Mejit women.

Wotje, the main island of Wotje Atoll, is full of WWII remains. Huge Japanese-built structures loom out of the jungle. The lagoon is also full of wreckage, including a few ships of interest to wreck divers. The beaches are beautiful and relatively clean. Those of the nearby smaller islands are even better, as they’re mostly deserted, and you can walk right over to them at low tide.

RO water is now available at Wotje at the town dock for free. Fuel might be available in an emergency from the local power station.

There is a wifi antenna next to the power station (the Northern dock) so internet access is possible with an NTA card obtainable in Majuro. Take your laptop and sit next to the antenna at the power station building.

Aur Atoll is north of Majuro and has about 450 people, equally divided between Tobal and Aur islands. The other islands in the atoll are mostly uninhabited, though they’re used for copra cultivation. The island specialises in making model canoes and large wall hangings. The lovely lagoon provides excellent snorkelling, and there’s a good variety of tropical fish and coral.

Maloelap’s Taroa (Tarawa) Island was the main Japanese airbase in the eastern Marshalls during WWII, and most visitors come to see its rusting war relics. The majority of them are now buried under thick jungle. There are several good, calm anchorages here.

Mili has friendly people and beautiful beaches. It has a population of just over 850.

Bikar and Taongi (Bokaak) atolls are rich in bird-life. Taongi is possibly the only example of a completely natural, unaltered, semi-arid atoll ecosystem remaining in the world today. Bikar has a large population of green sea turtles.

Bikini atoll was the site of a series of 23 nuclear detonations by the United States between 1946 and 1958.  Cruisers who have visited advise not eating any coconuts, pandanus or breadfruits from the area as the radiation is still too high but lobster and fish are OK to consume.  The atoll is open to divers and sports fishermen but you need a permit. It has some of the best wreck diving in the world, as well as being able to fish in waters untouched for fifty years.  The Enyu pass is big and there are no problems entering.

Romurikki Island is the very northern island in the Bikini Atoll and is also known as Centre Island,

Ailuk Atoll is best known for still using and building traditional sailing outriggers. They make a beautiful sight as they skim across the water at 10 to 12kts as the Islanders visit their copra islands or go fishing in the lagoon.

Utrick is fortunate in having 6 kinds of cucumber present in the lagoon which the islanders harvest and dry for the Asian market. There is no pass as such, but just an area of deeper water over the reef. The anchorage is off the village of Utrick but beware of shallow patches, also the coral heads when crossing the lagoon.

Toke (or Taka) is one of these places you will really enjoy if you have a liking for undisturbed wildlife. Asked for permission in Utirik to visit this uninhabited atoll. Anchor in the sand in about 50ft.

Likiep Island has a beautiful, protected harbour. If available, the recently installed mooring buoy in front of the hotel provides a very comfortable stay. Contact Joe de Brum, manager of the Plantation Haus on VHF ch.16. Joe loves to talk to visitors and has been the yachties’ friend for many years.

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