Diving & Travel Guide to Pohnpei

About Pohnpei

Pohnpei is a lush, rainforested volcanic island fringed by mangroves and some of the richest reefs in Micronesia. Its signature site is Manta Road, a seasonal channel where 20 or more manta rays feed in the current from November to April, alongside reef sharks and eagle rays. The outer-reef passes of Palikir and Kehpara deliver advanced drift diving with grey reef, silvertip and hammerhead sharks, tuna, barracuda and sailfish, while Langer Shark City is a seamount swarming with sharks and big-eye trevally. Remote Ahnd (Ant) and Sapwuahfik atolls offer pristine, expedition-only diving with huge fish aggregations, and the lagoon holds coral-encrusted WWII wrecks and seaplanes. Calm sites such as Nahlap and Dekehtik suit training and night dives, making Pohnpei diverse for every level.

Highlights

• ✓Manta Road: A seasonal channel with 20-plus feeding mantas from November to April.
• ✓Palikir Pass: An advanced outer-reef drift with sharks, tuna and occasional hammerheads.
• ✓Langer Shark City: A seamount packed with grey reef sharks and schooling trevally.
• ✓Ahnd (Ant) Atoll: A remote, pristine atoll with huge barracuda schools and dense coral.

Getting There

Pohnpei is reached by international flight to Pohnpei International Airport (PNI) at Kolonia, the national capital, via Guam and Honolulu with United Airlines. Boats from Kolonia reach Manta Road and the inner passes in 20 to 35 minutes, while the outer atolls are reached by liveaboard or field boat.