The Captain Cook Hotel
The Captain Cook hotel is not fancy, but acceptable in such a remote location. The bungalows are cute, close to the beach and fan cooled. The "barracks" are air conditioned for those who cannot live without A/C.
The meals are included, and all served in the main dining room. A hot breakfast is a good way to start a day of diving. After breakfast you help yourself to the "sandwich bar" to make your lunch. Lunch consists of bread, ham "mystery meat", peanut butter and jelly to make your own bag lunch while out for the day. There are oranges and apples for dessert. The dinner is served in the dining room. A choice of fish (sometimes lobster tail, fresh Tuna) or meat with rice potatoes and veggies. There were two special dinners while I was there. One was a traditional buffet served on the beach.
Often at cocktail hour the staff will drag a cooler full of brew to the beach with trays full of Tuna sashimi for everyone to enjoy while the sun sets. This is the time to hear all the fishing tales and visit with the anglers who always out number the divers. They wanted to hear shark stories with the standard "Aren't you scared?"
This is not a destination for everyone. I loved it and plan to go back. For those who want adrenaline pumping dives and can live without the luxury of American hotels you will love it. The showers were hot, the food was good and the beer was cold. What else do we need?
Dive Kiribati
Dive Kiribati is often described as a land-based live-aboard dive operation. With a minimum of three tank dives daily, divers can dive as much as they wish. Each week is customized to the groups desires. Dive Kiribati has an exclusive license so you are the only dive boat on the largest coral atoll in the Pacific. There is no rush to be the first boat on the best spot, no restrictions where you can dive.
Kim Anderson is the owner/operator of Dive Kiribati. After years of working in the Caribbean, one trip to Christmas Island and he knew he had found his dream. Fantastic diving, friendly people, and a beautiful island. Kim runs two dive boats, both 38 foot outrigger canoes. The dive operation is based out of London town, a short drive from the Captain Cook Hotel.
