Things to Do in Marshall Islands in October

October's rains green the interior of Majuro Atoll. The drive to Laura, the 'other side,' passes through dripping jungle and taro patches shimmering with rainwater. The lagoon here is wider, calmer, and less developed than near the capital. Good for seeing traditional outrigger canoe sailing. Post-rain humidity amplifies every scent: wet earth, frangipani, and the smoky tang of fish cooking over open fires in the village.

Late October brings calmer seas, relative to stormier midsummer. This provides the window to reach submerged war graves in Kwajalein Lagoon, one of the most concentrated WWII wreck sites in the Pacific. Visibility peaks. Trace ghostly outlines of Japanese freighters and American aircraft lying in 30 meters (100 feet) of water, now encrusted with soft corals and patrolled by giant trevally. Water temperature holds at 29°C (84°F). Pack a light wetsuit.

This month, taste sea and land together. Breadfruit and coconut are in season. Feel the heat of volcanic stones. Smell pandanus leaves wrapping pork. Taste wōtō, ripe breadfruit fermented in a well, with its distinct, slightly fermented tang. The rhythmic pounding of taro in a dedicated pounder house provides the soundtrack.

Seasonal rains create temporary freshwater pools on islets, attracting migratory birds. A boat trip to a sanctuary like the islets around Jaluit Atoll means walking on crushed coral sand that crackles underfoot. Thousands of nesting black noddies and sooty terns shriek overhead. The air thickens with guano and salt spray. October offers the last reliable weather window for these exposed ocean crossings before winter winds pick up.