Holidays - Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands comprise 20,000 to 30,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The islands are also sometimes collectively called Oceania, although Oceania is sometimes defined as also including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago. The Pacific Islands lying south of the tropic of Cancer are traditionally grouped into the three divisions of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. the Pacific Islands conjure up visions of palm trees, beautiful beaches and a variety of ocean activities. But there is another world beneath the waves where amazing creatures swim through tropical waters that range from abysmal deeps to shallow, stunning coral reefs. The Pacific Islands Region comprises three special areas that protect ocean denizens and ecosystems, as well as our unique island cultural and maritime heritage.