 |
Home > Places
> NWHI > Midway Atoll
Midway
Atoll
MIDWAY
DIVE SITES
UNIQUE
MIDWAY MARINE LIFE
MIDWAY
WRECKS
AIRCRAFT
AT MIDWAY
NEW 2009 PHOTOS
| Over 1100 miles northwest of Honolulu, Midway Atoll is paradise
for animal watching, diving, and relaxing on one of the world's
most beautiful beaches. The only inhabited island is Sand Island with an area of 2
square miles. A handful residents share the island with nearly one million
Albatrosses or 'Goonie Birds' and a variety of other seabirds and winter
migrants. The clear offshore waters are loaded with big, rare, and endemic fishes,
Galapagos Sharks, Spinner Dolphins, Green Sea Turtles, and endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals. |
| Formerly a naval air facility, the US Fish & Wildlife
Service administers the atoll. The island's 7000 foot runway continues to be used by many
types of aircraft as an
emergency landing site and scheduled refueling stop. Visitors are allowed
to visit the islands today with special permission if they can afford the
airfare & expenses. |
| MIDWAY LINKS |
| www.midway-island.com |
Blackfoot Albatross
|
Safe road without cars
|
Laysan Albatrosses sky-pointing
|
Wreck
|
Hawaiian Monk Seal
|
Mother & chick
|
Tiger shark attacking young albatross
|
Shorttail, Blackfoot, and Laysan Albatross
|
East Lagoon
|
USS Macaw, 30 feet
|
| From 1998-2001 an eco-tour operation allowed 100 guests
a week to visit and enjoy the islands' natural and historic sights. I was
fortunate enough to run the scuba diving operation for two years and meet lots
of enthusiastic, well-traveled divers from around the world. Midway
Phoenix Corp. suddenly vacated the atoll in 2002 and life is much
slower. Much of the infrastructure is in disrepair and returning
to a more natural state to the benefit of wildlife. In 2009
we led a dive trip for Conservation International and saw many changes. |
Midway Atoll NWR
|
