dgrauman
Registered
I am ambivalent about this post. For a large part, I want to keep quiet, let everyone wanting to dive Micronesia keep going to Palau and Chuuk, and leave Pohnpei and the outer islands to me and my buddies so we can keep diving conditions that are equal or better than Palau, much cheaper, and where we had the entire ocean all to ourselves. On the other hand, the Pohnpei Surf Club was so kind and attentive, the dive masters so friendly and helpful, and the diving so amazing that I have to support them.
If you have been to Palau in recent years... say, for example the Blue Wall or German Channel, you will recognize the problem. It has become so commercialized and crowded that it is becoming dangerous. Divemasters lose track of their group, divers lose sight of what dive group they are with amidst the crowds, and God help you identifying your boat amidst the crowds if you surface alone. Imagine the same or better conditions, and having it all to yourself, you, your buddy, and maybe a couple of other divers. Shark rock has consistently large schools (I counter over 100) grey reef sharks. Manta road consistently has numerous mantas at their cleaning stations, allowing inspection for a distance of 1 meter or so. Hard corals, soft corals, and the entire range of Micronesian wildlife, at a cost about 1/3 of a day at PPR. Harder to get to, and worth every bit of work.
If you have been to Palau in recent years... say, for example the Blue Wall or German Channel, you will recognize the problem. It has become so commercialized and crowded that it is becoming dangerous. Divemasters lose track of their group, divers lose sight of what dive group they are with amidst the crowds, and God help you identifying your boat amidst the crowds if you surface alone. Imagine the same or better conditions, and having it all to yourself, you, your buddy, and maybe a couple of other divers. Shark rock has consistently large schools (I counter over 100) grey reef sharks. Manta road consistently has numerous mantas at their cleaning stations, allowing inspection for a distance of 1 meter or so. Hard corals, soft corals, and the entire range of Micronesian wildlife, at a cost about 1/3 of a day at PPR. Harder to get to, and worth every bit of work.
