As we used to float

Bikini Atoll, once a pristine Pacific paradise, now bears the scars of 23 nuclear explosions conducted between 1946 and 1958 under Operation Crossroads. This study reveals its dual identity as both a site of fantasy and trauma, challenging postcolonial geography narratives while offering a vivid account of its irradiated landscape—from decaying WWII battleships to mutated coconuts. The research employs a unique blend of ultra-deep scuba diving, abject poetics, and subaquatic imagery to explore place and subjectivity, bridging personal narrative with critical inquiry. By immersing in the atoll's psychological and aesthetic dimensions, the study provides a haunting yet essential reflection on nuclear legacy and environmental consequences.

Samman, N., & Charrière, J. (2021). As we used to float. Routledge Handbook of Art, Science, and Technology Studies, 577–590. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429437069-46