The Funafuti Conservation Area covers about thirty-three square kilometres of lagoon, reef, and six uninhabited islets along the western rim of the atoll. It is the country's most important protected area and the single best reason for a visitor to come to Tuvalu. The coral is healthy, the fish life is abundant, sea turtles nest on the islets, and you may well share the water with nobody but a guide.
Boat trips out are arranged through the guesthouses or the conservation office in Vaiaku. A typical day involves a forty-minute crossing to one of the islets, a few hours of snorkelling and walking, lunch on a beach, and the return at the end of the afternoon. Rates are negotiable and informal; bring water, sun protection, and your own snorkel if you have one. Diving is possible but the country has no dedicated dive shop, so you are essentially organising it yourself.