Diving in Pohnpei
Why dive here
Pohnpei offers some of Micronesia's richest diving, with 313+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, giant moray eels, octopuses, sperm whales and whitetip reef sharks. Water ranges 29-30°C, warmest September, October, November.
Pohnpei’s outer reefs are what we’re really here for. Think big, dramatic walls that drop into the deep blue, usually with a steady current that makes for some fantastic drift diving. We’ve had incredible encounters with reef sharks patrolling the drop-offs and mantas gliding by, especially on the west side of the island. The currents can pick up, so this isn't always a relaxing cruise, but that's often when the big pelagics show up. The interior dive sites are a different story, with some surprising finds. We’ve found little blennies peeking out of the coral and morays tucked into crevices. The coral itself is generally healthy, with some impressive staghorn formations and stony corals creating intricate structures. Visibility can vary, particularly after heavy rain, but out on the walls, it often stretches to 20 or 30 metres. We’d suggest focusing your dives on the outer reefs during the drier months for the best chance at pelagic action.
Pohnpei Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Pohnpei
Pohnpei Dive Sites
14 dive sites in Pohnpei
Ant Atoll
Ant Atoll, just a short boat ride from Pohnpei, offers a collection of outer reef dives. We've found the coral here healthy, with some impressive hard coral formations on the outer slopes. Expect a good mix of pelagic fish, including grey reef sharks and schooling barracuda, drifting past the reef walls. It's a solid choice for divers looking for a straightforward drift dive with reliable big fish action.
Ant Atoll - Northwest Wall
The Northwest Wall at Ant Atoll drops straight down, a typical Pohnpei wall dive experience. We found the coral cover healthy enough, with plenty of reef fish darting about. It’s a reliable spot for a solid dive, good for divers who appreciate consistent wall topography without seeking out specific big animal encounters. Keep an eye out for grey reef sharks cruising the blue.
Ant Atoll - Tauenai Pass
Tauenai Pass, within Ant Atoll, offers a drift through a coral channel. We’ve seen reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections, and often schools of jacks congregating where the current picks up. It’s a site for divers comfortable with moving water, focusing on pelagic action rather than macro life.
Areu Wall
Areu Wall is a classic Pohnpei drop-off, offering drift diving along a vertical face. We've often encountered reef sharks patrolling the deeper sections and spotted plenty of schooling barracuda out in the blue. It’s a good choice for divers comfortable with currents and looking for larger pelagic action. Expect a good chance of seeing eagle rays gliding past.
Dahwlak Pokie
Dahwlak Pokie. Even the name rolls off the tongue like a secret. This isn't one of those easy-access sites, and honestly, that’s part of its charm. We love pulling up to this outer reef, feeling the slight swell of the open ocean. Drop in, and you’re immediately enveloped by schools of fusiliers, often so dense they cast shadows. It’s a proper drift, so you just float along, eyes peeled for the bigger stuff that cruises by – we’ve seen Allison's Tuna on more than one occasion, sleek silver torpedoes in the blue. The coral here is fantastic, particularly the staghorn. You’ll find it in sprawling fields, providing shelter for countless smaller fish like bicolor chromis and those cheeky finespot eviotas. Keep an eye out for yellow tangs darting between the branches. The undulated morays and Bayer's morays peek out from their rocky hideaways, unbothered by your presence. It's a site that rewards attentiveness, giving you a proper sense of being a visitor in a thriving ecosystem. We'd suggest this for divers comfortable with current, looking for that quintessential outer reef experience.
Kehpara
Kehpara offers a relaxed dive experience in Pohnpei. The site is known for its resident population of reef sharks, often spotted cruising the edges of the reef. We've also encountered schooling barracuda and smaller reef fish here. It’s a good choice for divers looking for a straightforward, easy dive with reliable shark sightings.
Manta Road
Manta Road in Pohnpei lives up to its name, a channel where mantas frequently cruise through. We often see them passing by, sometimes lingering at cleaning stations along the sandy bottom. Currents here can be significant, so it's best for divers comfortable with drift diving and managing their buoyancy in moving water. It’s a great spot if you’re hoping for close encounters with these gentle giants.
METOMKIN
Metomkin is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. Not because it’s a big, deep, intact freighter, but precisely because it’s not. This isn’t a technical dive, or even much of a dive at all in the traditional sense. It’s a shallow motor vessel, built in 1944 and now completely exposed at low tide, just off the shore. You can wade out to it, or snorkel around it when the tide is higher. What we love about Metomkin is the accessibility and the sheer amount of life that calls this skeletal hulk home. It’s an almost perfect spot for photographers looking for something a bit different – the light plays beautifully through the exposed ribs of the hull. We’ve spent hours here, just floating, watching juvenile reef fish dart between the rusting beams. Look closely, and you’ll find plenty of nudibranchs clinging to the metal, and small crabs scuttling over the barnacled surfaces. It’s a fantastic site for newer divers getting comfortable with currents and exploring a wreck without the pressure of depth, or for anyone who enjoys the calm, quiet observation of marine life in a unique setting.
Mwand Pass
Mwand Pass offers a drift dive through a wide channel on Pohnpei’s outer reef. We often find schooling barracuda and grey reef sharks here, cruising against the current. It's a relaxed drift, making it suitable for divers comfortable with moderate currents, though conditions can pick up. Keep an eye out for eagle rays gliding past.
Mwand Wall
Mwand Wall is a classic Pacific wall dive, dropping away into the blue. We often see pelagics cruising past, like reef sharks and tuna, particularly on incoming currents. It's a site that really suits divers who enjoy drifting along, keeping an eye out into the big blue for what might swim by.
Pahleng Corner
Pahleng Corner is a site we keep coming back to in Pohnpei, and for good reason. It’s got that classic Micronesian drop-off feel, a wall that just plummets into the blue. We typically start shallow, around 10 meters, letting the current carry us gently along. That’s where you’ll find the schooling black surgeonfish, thousands of them, moving like a single, dark cloud. The real magic happens when you drift deeper, maybe 20-25 meters. This is where the big stuff hangs out. We’ve had some truly epic humphead wrasse encounters here; they just cruise by, massive and unbothered. Keep an eye out for the honeycomb groupers too, often tucked into the ledges. Our favourite part? The sheer density of smaller reef fish. You can spend an entire dive just watching the arc-eye hawkfish perched on the staghorn corals or trying to spot the tiny wasp pygmy gobies. It’s a site that rewards slow diving, letting the ocean reveal its secrets rather than chasing after them. This is a perfect dive for those who appreciate consistent reef health and a good mix of pelagic and macro life.
Pahn Nin Seitamw
Pahn Nin Seitamw is a site we’ve always enjoyed for its unique feel. There’s a quiet magic to it, a sense of being far from anywhere. We love the way the light filters through the water here, creating a dappled effect that really highlights the corals. You’ll find some striking staghorn and smooth cauliflower formations, home to plenty of Eightspine Cardinalfish darting about. Our favourite moments here are often spent looking for the smaller stuff. We’ve had great luck spotting Moorea Pygmygobies tucked into crevices and, if you’re patient, you might even catch a glimpse of an Enigmatic Moray. Bleeker's Parrotfish graze the reef, their colours popping in the softer light. It's a dive that rewards slow exploration rather than a rush. Best dived on a calm day, when the visibility opens up and you can really appreciate the subtle beauty of the place. It's not a site for big pelagic action, more for those who appreciate the intricate details of a healthy reef.
Show all 14 dive sites in Pohnpei
Pohnpei Dive Centres
No dive centres listed in Pohnpei yet. Browse all dive centres.
Ocean Wildlife in Pohnpei
313 species recorded in Pohnpei
Pohnpei Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Pohnpei, calculated from coordinates
Today - Sunday 11 October
Sunrise
06:15
Sunset
18:15
Daylight
12h 0m
Golden Hour
17:47
First light (dawn) at 05:54 · Last light (dusk) at 18:36
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:44 | 18:30 | 11h 46m |
| Feb | 06:45 | 18:40 | 11h 54m |
| Mar | 06:35 | 18:40 | 12h 4m |
| Apr | 06:20 | 18:36 | 12h 16m |
| May | 06:12 | 18:38 | 12h 26m |
| JunLongest | 06:13 | 18:44 | 12h 31m |
| Jul | 06:19 | 18:48 | 12h 29m |
| Aug | 06:22 | 18:43 | 12h 21m |
| Sep | 06:19 | 18:29 | 12h 10m |
| OctNow | 06:15 | 18:13 | 11h 59m |
| Nov | 06:18 | 18:07 | 11h 49m |
| DecShortest | 06:31 | 18:15 | 11h 44m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Pohnpei.
Where to Stay near Pohnpei
Prices from Booking.com. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Marine Protected Areas near Pohnpei
1 protected area near Pohnpei - please respect local regulations when diving
And Atoll
Getting to Pohnpei
Pohnpei Island
Plan & book
Ways to dive Pohnpei, from day trips to liveaboards.
Day trips & courses
via GetYourGuideGuided dives, courses and snorkel trips with instant booking.
Find dive trips in PohnpeiPlaces to stay
via Booking.comHotels and dive resorts near Pohnpei.
Search stays in PohnpeiDive insurance
Most travel insurance excludes or limits scuba. Check what you need before you go.
Dive insurance explainedPartner links: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. How we make money