The Marshall Islands are one of four atoll nations in the world, the others being The Seychelles, The Maldives and nearby Kiribati. Tourism is still slow to develop in the Republic of the Marshall Islands, but it is making progress. The atolls all have white-sand beaches and azure lagoons with deep blue drop-offs outside.
Diving remains the main attraction for those who visit the 29 atolls that make up the Marshall Islands. Bikini Atoll, the scene of 1950s nuclear testing, is open half the year for specialized diving.
Majuro, the capital, is well-equipped for visiting divers and offers reef, wreck and drop-off diving that is superb. The Rongelap islanders have invested in a live-aboard ship that has adopted an ambitious itinerary, opening up some island areas. It also offers fishing excursions.
Roughly half the country's population lives on Majuro, which is a five-hour jet flight from Honolulu. Another quarter lives on overcrowded Ebeye, an island close to the U.S. military base on Kwajalein, where most of the people of Ebeye work. The other atolls are undeveloped for tourists, with few amenities. None of the republic's islands is more than 12 ft/3.5 m above sea level, and it's almost impossible to be on land in the Marshalls and be more than a stone's throw away from open ocean or an enclosed lagoon.
For the adventurous, however, they offer an opportunity to meet friendly people, many of whom speak English. On these outer atolls, you will seldom have to share the beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal-clear lagoons with a single other tourist.
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