Pacific

Possibly the least visited country in the world – estimated around 1000 per year of which 300 are tourists. As there is only a flight every 3 days and there were 2 other tourists that works out about right.

It is a part of the commonwealth and used to be the Ellice of Gilbert and Ellice Islands. In spite of having fewer than 10,000 people it went out on its own. It was only able to pay the 100k required to join the UN when someone offered them a pile of $ to sell the .tv domain name for them.

Like many small nations there is a high cost of imported goods, quality food is hard to come by, and there are 3 Chinese restaurants plus the one at hotel. None served coffee or even had ice. 

First attempt at underwater photography. Great kit of Sony Rx100 M3, Recsea case, Sea and Sea strobe.

Jellyfish lake was obviously a highlight. The Jellys are scared of the dark so there is a distinct break as they approach the shade side of the lake. Also its poisonous at 7 meter depth so I went 6 meters to get some of the shots back towards the light.

The smallest republic in the world at 8 square miles. UN member nation of 10,000 people. In fact, it is the least visited country in the world too.

In the 1980s was the 2nd richest country per capita in the world due to phosphate mining revenue. The trust fund was abused and now runs empty and the phosphate mining stopped years ago.

There is talk of restarting mining but the equipment may be too far gone to use.

Ecologically and economically devastated it has relied on foreign donors – at one point the Russian Mafia using it as a money laundering facility. Taiwan paid $100 million to be recognized as a country – after 2 years Nauru wanted more so switched allegience back to China and its 1 China policy. I found an old sign from a Taiwanese donation.

Discovered by a Brit (Marshall) but annexed by the Germans then given to the Japanese then taken by the Americans. Now a UN member country but with a special relationship with USA and a giant military base.

If you ever feel a bit hard done by spare a thought for the Marshallese – while being liberated from Imperial Japanese rule would normally cheer one up its less so when your country is going to be a nuclear test site.

Had a day in the water and was impressed with what was so close to the capital. Would be great to get further out.

Guam is an unincorporated US Territory – basically means it is part of the US but the people don’t vote for the President as they are not a state.

As with everywhere else in the pacific it has a colonial history. The Spanish included it as part of the ‘Mariana Islands’ and lost it to the Americans in the Spanish American War in 1899.

The war ended the Spanish in the Pacific – they lost Philippines too and essentially didn’t have the capacity on a cost/benefit basis to manage or protect their other holdings in the Pacifc. They sold what they had left to the Germans – being the Caroline Islands – now Palau and Federated States of Micronesia, and the Northern Marianas (Roto, Tinean and Saipan)

I don’t SCUBA, all these are free diving. If you ever want a work out try holding your breath 150 times in a row for 1 minute with a 1 minute stop between each time – while kicking, focusing a camera, checking the shot, reshooting.

14 months prior both my hips were operated on so now have titanium wire holding the damaged cartilage together. Wasn’t sure if I would wear fins again. Was able to push up to 60 feet /18 meters but didn’t want to risk dropping my camera if I went deeper and misjudged.

I use Ruku blades which are 90cm long carbon fiber fins. Can get at oceanhunter.co.nz