USS Saratoga - Bikini Atoll
The USS Saratoga isn't just a wreck, it’s an entire ecosystem, a steel city sunk and now reclaimed. We love how she sits upright, perfectly positioned for exploring her vast flight deck at 28 meters, then descending deeper into the hangar bays and bridge. Drop down and you’ll find schools of twinstripe fusiliers so thick they shimmer, parting just enough for you to glimpse the hull. Our favourite moments are pushing through the darker interior spaces, where the eerie silence is broken only by your own breathing, imagining the history etched into every beam. This is an expert dive, no question. Currents can be tricky, and the sheer scale means you need solid buoyancy and gas management. But for those ready, the rewards are immense. You'll glide past massive gun turrets, marvel at the aircraft still strapped to the deck, and spot jacks and blacktip reef sharks circling above the superstructure. It's a humbling experience, and one we think every serious wreck diver should aim for.
- Location
- Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 11.570000, 165.380000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 15-55m
- Difficulty
- Expert
Marine Protected Area: Bikini
Best Time to Dive in Bikini Atoll
The warmest water temperatures in Bikini Atoll occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.7°C (air: 26.9°C)
- February: 27.7°C (air: 26.7°C)
- March: 27.7°C (air: 26.9°C)
- April: 27.7°C (air: 27.1°C)
- May: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
- June: 27.7°C (air: 27.7°C)
- July: 27.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- August: 27.7°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 27.7°C (air: 28.0°C)
- October: 27.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.7°C (air: 27.8°C)
- December: 27.7°C (air: 27.5°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Bikini Atoll
- Bikini Atoll
- HIJMS Nagato - 35-55m (wreck)
- HIJMS Nagato (Wreck) - 51m (wreck)
- USS Pilotfish - 30-45m (wreck)
- USS Saratoga Wreck - 45m (wreck)
Marine Life in Bikini Atoll
Home to 268 recorded species including 190 reef fish, 65 hard corals, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sharks & rays, 1 jellyfish.
Notable Species
- Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra) - Reef Fish
- Silver Squirrelfish (Sargocentron microstoma) - Reef Fish
- Three-spot wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Belted wrasse (Stethojulis balteata) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Hexagon Grouper (Epinephelus hexagonatus) - Reef Fish
- Bird wrasse (Gomphosus varius) - Reef Fish
- Ghost Cardinalfish (Nectamia fusca) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Lemon Peel (Centropyge flavissima) - Reef Fish
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
- Pearl-spotted wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) - Reef Fish
- Floral wrasse (Cheilinus chlorourus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Peppered Squirrelfish (Sargocentron punctatissimum) - Reef Fish
- Four-saddle Grouper (Epinephelus spilotoceps) - Reef Fish
- Banded Fringe Blenny (Cirripectes variolosus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for USS Saratoga
Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories