Marine Science Adventures in Tuvalu

Only a few dozen tourists come to Tuvalu every year, so the locals will be surprised and excited to see you! Once you land in the tiny airport, you’ll see women selling souvenirs near the airport like seashell necklaces in one of the only places to buy souvenirs on the island, so find something nice!

The first stop of your tour is the Funafuti Conservation Area. It covers almost 13 miles and is made up of reef, lagoon, channel, and ocean. You’ll get a guided tour where you’ll be able to see the marine life who take up residence here. Your tour guide will tell you about the state of the ocean around Tuvalu and how it’s affecting the island.

It’s time to volunteer! You’ll work with an organization that plants trees along the country’s windward coasts. Most of the trees along the coast were burned for fuel, which has caused further erosion problems for the islands. Planting more trees will help stabilize the coastline.

After a day of hard work, change into your bathing suit and swim off a beautiful beach at sunset. You can relax as you watch the sunset beyond the horizon in this tropical paradise.

Today, it’s back to the main island! You’ll tour the island by motorbike. You can either rent your own or sit on the back with a local who can give you the tour.

Once you’ve had enough, visit Tuvalu Post. One of Tuvalu’s specialties is stamps, so you should pick up a few. You’ll find lots of eclectic and colorful options.

This morning, you’ll get weaving lessons from a local. Weaving serves a lot of functions in the country, like making cheap biodegradable baskets. 

For the last stop on your trip, you’re going scuba diving! You’ll head to Nanumanga, where scientists have discovered evidence of an ancient civilization in some underwater caves. You’ll get to visit these caves, where you can still see the marks from the fire that the island’s early inhabitants used. You also might see some more marine life!

Unfortunately, it’s time to leave. Your journey might be done, but you’ve learned so much about climate change and oceanography. This will serve as a reminder to do what’s best for the planet!