Kiribati

More a sprinkling of far flung coral atolls than dry land, more deep blue ocean than sandy beach, more coconut trees than people, more Catholic church than ancient island beliefs. Kiribati (pronounced kee-ree-bus) is far away, hard to get to, untouristed and deeply religious. It is also blessed with myriad reefs, billions of gaudy fish swarming over the coral, and host to plenty of WWII wrecks.

Understand The Geography

Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean.

Kiribati consists of about 32 atolls and one island (Banaba), with at least three in each hemisphere. The groups of islands are:

• Banaba: an isolated island between Nauru and the Gilbert Islands.
• Gilbert Islands: 16 atolls located some 930 miles (1,500 km) north of Fiji
• Phoenix Islands: 8 atolls and coral islands located some 1,100 miles (1,800 km) southeast of the Gilberts
• Line Islands: 8 atolls and one reef, located about 2,050 miles (3,300 km) east of the Gilberts.

Climate Conditions

The atolls are scattered over the equator so the weather is dependably warm, though often tempered by cool breezes off the sea.