Tuvalu: Marine Life, Handicrafts and History

Reefs, lagoon, channel and open ocean shape the marine environment of the Funafuti Conservation Area. Other specific topics for a trip to Tuvalu include a national game, handicrafts, historical connections on Funafuti and a boat trip to Afelita Island. They differ in character: from marine habitats and species to cultural objects and an excursion to a named island destination.

Marine Environments and Wildlife

The Funafuti Conservation Area covers 33 km² and includes lagoon, reef, marine and island habitats. Its marine environment ranges from reefs and lagoon to a channel and the open ocean. Many species of fish, coral, algae and invertebrates live there. In this way, the area brings together different habitats and a diversity of marine life groups. The islets in the conservation area are nesting sites for the endangered green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). They add a specific land-based nesting site associated with an endangered species to the picture of the marine environment. For nature enthusiasts, both the different habitats and the relationship between the islets and the green sea turtle are central aspects of this conservation area.

Games and Handicrafts

Te ano (the ball) is Tuvalu’s national game. This clear status makes it a cultural point of reference alongside the country’s nature and history. Handicrafts offer a different perspective: they include fans, mats, baskets, necklaces, wood carvings and fishhooks. Te ano and these handicrafts therefore represent different cultural subjects—a national game on the one hand and specific objects on the other.

Places selling Tuvaluan handicrafts include the Women’s Handicraft Center near the airport, small handicraft stalls outside the airport and the outer islands. If you are looking for a particular item, ask about the current selection at the place you plan to visit. This can broaden your cultural perspective on Tuvalu beyond a single subject, from a national game to various forms of handicraft.

Historical Connections on Funafuti

David’s Drill on Funafuti commemorates experimental drilling carried out by scientists from the Royal Society of London in the late 19th century. The aim was to test Charles Darwin’s theory on the formation of atolls. This connects a named site on Funafuti with a specific scientific question. Another historical perspective concerns the Second World War, when Funafuti Atoll was a major base. The two connections differ in subject: one concerns testing a theory about atoll formation, while the other concerns the atoll’s role during the war. Those interested in history can consider these scientific and wartime topics as two distinct aspects.

Boat Trip to Afelita Island

The Afelita Day Tour takes visitors to Afelita Island; the boat trip from Funafuti takes about 10 minutes. For planning your time, it is important to note that this approximate duration refers to the boat trip, not the entire tour. On the Afelita Day Tour, a cook prepares Tuvaluan cuisine with freshly caught tuna and vegetables from the garden. This gives the excursion a specific culinary aspect as well as its named island destination. When comparing excursions by destination and experience, the approximate travel time and the described preparation can be considered as two separate points.

Discover more destinations: Funafuti, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Micronesia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Guam, Australia

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