Tourists Get a Shot at Midway, Bikini

Two tiny Pacific atolls that are writ large in military history--Midway and Bikini--were opened to tourists this year for the first time, and several California tour companies now run tours to both.

Midway Atoll, site of the crucial World War II Battle of the Midway, was ceded by the Navy to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in October. Private tour companies offer naturalist/history, sportfishing and diving trips to the site, about 1,200 miles northwest of Hawaii.

One company, Oceanic Society Expeditions, based in San Francisco, focuses on history and wildlife; their tours include spots for volunteers on research projects. Midway has nearly 100 bird species, including what is said to be the world’s largest colony of Laysan Albatross. Trips are four to eight days, priced from $1,600, including air fare from the island of Kauai, meals, guides and rooms in restored U.S. military quarters. Air fare from the mainland to Hawaii is not included. Information: (800) 326-7491.

Other Midway trips are by Georgia-based Midway Sportfishing Inc.; telephone (770) 254-8326; and Midway-based Midway Dive-N-Snorkel; tel. (888) 329-9559. Independent travelers can arrange air fare and accommodations through Georgia-based Midway Phoenix Corp.; tel. (770) 387-1900.

Since the summer, Newport Beach-based Central Pacific Dive Expeditions has been running eight-day diving trips to explore World War II warships scuttled off Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Scores of ships, including the U.S. aircraft carrier Saratoga and Japan’s flagship Nagato, were sunk during U.S. nuclear tests at Bikini from 1946 through the 1950s.

The wrecks are “still in good condition,” said Central Pacific owner Layne Ballard, who added that radiation is confined to deep soil layers and does not threaten visitors. Trips cost $2,750, including rooms at refurbished Department of Energy housing, meals, guides, diving tanks and weights. Air fare is extra. The next trip is Feb. 19. Information: (800) 846- 3483. Bookings can also be made through Vista-based Trip-n-Tour Micronesia; telephone (800) 348-0842.