ZECO TRAVEL TALK

Having graduated from the University of Hawaii, I lived for several years on both Oahu and Maui. I have always been interested in the chain of islands to the north which leads to Midway Island; I eventually did visit Midway. Equally fascinating to me was the southern group of islands leading from Kona. These are the Line Islands, a group of low-lying and extremely remote coral islands, atolls, and reefs straddling the equator in the Central Pacific. There are eleven islands in all, with most of the 425 square km being comprised of the large atoll of Kiritimati. Eight of the islands – Flint, Kiritimati, Malden, Millennium Atoll, Tabuaran, Teraina, Starbuck, and Vostok – are part of the Republic of Kiribati. The group forms one of the remotest island chains on Earth.

Why the interest? At age 16, I become a certified diver at Pearl Harbor. I learned about the Line Islands and how it was one of the most pristine reef systems in the world. I was never able to reach the Line Islands because logistics are near-impossible. So when Zegrahm Expeditions decided to travel to this part of the South Pacific enroute to such other South Pacific voyages as the Tuamotus, Marquesas, Tahiti, Pitcairn, etc, I just had to go. However, for the first time ever, I decided to travel as a passenger on a Zegrahm Expeditions trip. On many of our trips I will work as snorkel-master while our excellent staff of dive masters look after the divers. And so I am on holiday…as a diver. One of my life’s ambitions will be finally realized – over 40 years later.

Imagine my surprise when my July 2008 National Geographic magazine arrived with a photo of a Mountain Gorilla gracing its cover. Inside is an article about the Line Islands – be sure to look up the article; you may have overlooked it as it’s the last article in the magazine entitled: Kingman Reef.

Stand by on the blog for first-hand reports of the voyage and the Line Islands which I’ll be sending from the Clipper Odyssey later this month.

Aloha,
Shirley