Explore underwater treasures

Kiribati is home to the world's largest coral atoll, and it is a diver's paradise. The archipelago's exquisite white sandy beaches and crystal-clear lagoons give way to breathtaking coral gardens, the majority of which are inside the Phoenix Island Protected Area, one of the world's biggest marine reserves.

Because of its remoteness, the Phoenix Islands Protected Area has a unique place in Pacific bio-geography as a vital stepping stone habitat for migratory and pelagic or plank tonic species, as well as ocean currents in the region. The Phoenix Islands Protected Area encompasses the entire range of marine environments in this area and exhibits high levels of marine abundance as well as a wide range of age and size cohorts, which are becoming increasingly rare in the tropics, particularly for apex predator sharks, fish, sea turtles, sea birds, corals, giant clams, and coconut crabs, many of which have been depleted elsewhere.

When compared to other island systems where human settlement and exploitation have severely impacted the ecosystem, the overall marine tropic dynamics for these island populations across this archipelago are better functioning. The thorough portrayal of ocean and island habitats, as well as their connection, remoteness, and naturalness, are essential characteristics that contribute to the exceptional universal value.