Types of Tourism in Micronesia
DIVING
The Federated States of Micronesia is primarily known for its colorful underwater world and endless diving opportunities. Diving is possible here all year round, but the best conditions are observed from December to May. Underwater visibility ranges from 30 to 60 m, and the water temperature is kept at around +29 degrees. Chuuk State is a mecca for wreck diving. Its main attraction is Truk Lagoon., where during the Second World War, during the American military operation in February 1944, about 50 Japanese ships and aircraft sank, which turned into colorful reefs. Now the lagoon is a kind of underwater museum, one of the largest in the world, where many artifacts are stored. The water temperature here is about +29 degrees, and the best visibility is observed from December to May. One of the most beautiful wrecks of the Truk lagoon is Shinkoku Maru. This is a huge oil tanker that is covered with hard and soft corals, fire corals and sponges, which are home to a wide variety of fish. The cargo ship Heian Maru is the largest wreck in the lagoon. Its length is 170 m. The dive site is very interesting Fujikawa Maru. This is a Japanese cargo-passenger ship that sank along with the fighters transported in the hold. The ship is heavily overgrown with corals and anemones. On the bow of the ship, you can see the installed weapons, and in the cargo compartments – military equipment. Experienced divers will definitely like the ship San Francisco Maru, which lies at a depth of 60 m. It is also worth going to cargo ships with a lot of ammunition inside – Nippo Maru, Hoki Maru and Yamagiri Maru. Dive sites such as the sunken patrol boat Susuki Destroyer and Sankisan Maru are also suitable for snorkelling. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Micronesia.
The four major islands of Yap State surrounded by an extensive barrier reef. Yap is one of the world’s premier manta ray sightings, and this can be done all year round. Here there are huge individuals with a wingspan of up to 6 m and a weight of up to 500 kg. Yap State’s most popular dive sites are Miil Point, Manta Ridge and Goofnuw Channel. Miil Point is a wall covered with hard corals that starts at a depth of 3 m and descends to a depth of 30 m. Here you can see rays, whitetip reef sharks, eels, groupers. Next to the wall in the strait at a depth of 1.5-2 m is the Garden Eel Flats wall, which is covered with golden and red soft gorgonian corals. The dive site Manta Ridge offers sightings of manta rays, which are quite common here. Having descended to the bottom to a depth of 30 m, you will see bizarre corals, many fish and even whitetip reef sharks. In addition, manta rays can also be seen traveling on the Goofnuw Channel. Manta Cleaning Station can literally be translated as “manta wash”. Fish such as the bicolor cleaner wrasse, the Micronesian wrasse and the dascilla are found here, which cleanse the skin of manta rays from parasites. The dive starts from a depth of half a meter, so this place is also suitable for snorkelling. Also of interest is the dive site Eagle’s Nest, where at a depth of about 15 m, huge masses of eagle rays gather to feed. Dive site Gilman Tip is known for its rich underwater life. It is located in the southern part of the YapIsland barrier reef. There are cone-fronted parrot fish, moray eels, groupers, whitetip reef sharks. Sharks, lionfish, groupers, snappers and soldier fish are found in the vicinity of the Lionfish Wall. Interesting underwater caves Yap Caverns, where you can meet whitetip reef sharks and gray reef sharks. The best place to watch sharks is off the northeast coast of Yap Island – Shark City.
The most popular places for snorkeling and diving in the state of Pohnpei are considered to be the atolls lying to the west of the island of the same name. Ant, Pakin and Black corals. All of them are private, so permission is required to visit them, but peace and quiet reign here. In the vicinity of Pohnpei Island there are several dozen dive sites. Off the northeast coast, Mwand Wall & Pass with a wide variety of corals, Areu Wall, which is a wall covered with black, fire and soft corals, and Joy Island will be of interest. The north coast is known for such dive sites as Palikir Pass, where up to hundreds of gray reef sharks live at great depths (one of the best places in the country for shark watching), and Palikir Wall where you can see triggerfish and whitetip sharks. Off the southwest coast of Pohnpei Island are dive sites like Rainbow Island with coral walls, Kehpara Island, where you can drift dive, and Poahloang Pass, which is a wall with faults that are inhabited by moray eels, clams and crustaceans.
There are over 50 dive sites in Kosrae State. Each of them is marked with buoys. Coral gardens and walls extend underwater with over 172 types of hard corals and about 10 types of soft corals, including tropical fish and large pelagic fish. Underwater visibility ranges from 30 to 60 m. There is a dive site near Lelu Island Blue Hole. This is an underwater cave with sheer walls. Here you can see stingrays and barracudas and various types of corals. At the entrance to Lelu harbor, an American reconnaissance aircraft, two Japanese ships and several whaling ships rest on the bottom. The Village Reef dive site, located at the Kosrae Village Resort, is great for snorkelling. Off the south coast of Kosrae Island are Hiroshi Pointwith an abundance of soft corals and a real pirate ship Bully Hayes Wreck, which sank here in 1874 and survived only in the form of wreckage. Off the west coast of Kosrae Island, dive sites such as the wall Yela Wall, descending to a depth of 40 m, and Shark island, where you can swim with large pelagic fish – sharks, eagle rays and barracudas.
SURFING
Between January and March, the country has steady northeasterly trade winds, which attract surfers. However, these places are suitable only for trained surfers, because they are surrounded by coral reefs, which are very easy to get hurt.
BEACH HOLIDAYS
Every island in the Federated States of Micronesia has sandy beaches where you can relax. Lovers of secluded relaxation go to remote atolls, lovers of noisy parties and nightlife stay on the island of Pohnpei, and those who wish to combine a beach holiday with an excursion program visit all states of the country. It is worth remembering that most of the country’s beaches are private, in order to relax here, you need to obtain permission and pay an entrance fee.
EXCURSIONS
The excursion program includes visiting the ruins of ancient cities, visiting military facilities that have been preserved since the Second World War, traveling to the main natural attractions of the islands, especially to waterfalls, and visiting local villages where you can get acquainted with the culture of each individual island.
HIKING
The main islands of the country are mountainous. It is in the mountains that numerous natural attractions are located – a variety of flora and fauna, picturesque waterfalls and bizarre rocks. The country has special tourist routes of various levels of complexity. It is worth remembering that hiking is recommended only accompanied by local guides.
