Kanton sits within the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest marine protected areas on earth, covering over 400,000 square kilometres of ocean. The designation reflects the genuinely exceptional condition of the marine ecosystems here — largely undisturbed by fishing or development, the reefs and open ocean around the Phoenix Islands support populations of reef sharks, manta rays, sea turtles, and seabirds that have been severely depleted elsewhere in the Pacific.
For any visitor who reaches Kanton — usually by yacht or research vessel — the snorkelling and diving in the lagoon and on the outer reef represent some of the most pristine marine environments accessible anywhere in the world. The absence of human pressure has allowed the coral communities to recover or remain intact to a degree that is increasingly rare. The marine life density can be startling after experience of more visited Pacific destinations.