The remote island of Kosrae remains a diving secret, hosting intricate and healthy reefs but very few tourists. It's located 2,960 miles southwest of Honolulu. At only eight miles wide at its furthest points, this small 30% habitable island has been described as an undeveloped Tahiti.
The remote island of Kosrae remains a diving secret, hosting intricate and healthy reefs but very few tourists. It's located 2,960 miles southwest of Honolulu. At only eight miles wide at its furthest points, this small 30% habitable island has been described as an undeveloped Tahiti.
Diving Information
Marine Life & Environment
Nearly every inch of the sloping benthic environment is draped in an abundant and diverse layer of coral growth. A healthy sprinkling ofanemones provides Kosraes most reliable attraction.
Clownfish and their host anemones can be seen on every dive. The three species most commonly found here include the tomato clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus), Clarks clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) and pink clownfish (Amphiprion peridaraion). Small reef fish are usually best shot with a macro lens, but the clownfish here are so friendly they make for stunning wide-angle reefscape subjects as well. You can also wander a bit to find a lionfish (Pterois volitans), giant Pacific grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) or venture a bit deeper to play with the current-swept crinoids.
Much of Micronesia is known for bigger animals, and in this aspect, Kosrae is similar. The shallows are patrolled by a vigilant regiment of blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) that keep just to the edge of visibility. Sites such as Hiroshi have a high probability of encounters with circling gray reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) playing in the current. Three species of stingrays and regular turtle sightings round out the larger reef animals. Keep your eyes to the blue, as encounters with larger pelagics like dogtooth tuna (Gymnosarda unicolor) can steal the show.
Diving Conditions
Water Temperatures: The average surface and water temperatures are both about 80 degrees.
Visibility: Can reach beyond 100ft (30m)
Distance to Dive Sites: Varies between 5 - 30 minutes, dependant on what dock you depart from and what dive site your heading to.
Top Dive Sites
Walung Drop-Off: Wall dive with schools of barracuda, reef sharks, hammerheads, turtles and more. Can have fast currents
Shark Island: Schools of barracuda, dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, and reef sharks can be commonly seen here. It can also be a great night dive location when the currents are low.
How To Get There
Visitors from the U.S. usually fly to Kosrae International Airport (KSA) via Honolulu – Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). Another option is to take a direct flight to Tokyo (NRT or HND) and then travel via Guam – Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM).
How To Dive Kosrae
There are dive resorts available in Kosrae, with Kosrae Nautilus being the most popular one.
Best Time To Dive
Diving is done year round, but split to basically two different seasons. June - Oct the currents are typically calmer allowing easier diving, while Nov - May hold stronger currents but higher chances for large pelagics.
Topside & Non-Diving Activities
Kosrae is a wonderful island for history, culture, and environment. All local activities orient around those three aspects. Either Kayak through the mangrove channels, take aneco-hike through jungles and mountains, or enjoy some of the cultural traditions still practiced today like canoe building, weaving, woodcarving, and farming/fishing.
Practical Information
Currency: US Dollar (USD)
Electricity: 120V with A & B plug type
Language: The native language is Kosraean. But most people speak sufficient English
Time Zone: UTC+10
Entry Requirements: US citizens only need a valid passport for entry. Nationals of other countries must have a valid passport and a 30-day tourist permit may be obtained upon entry from immigration officials, with extensions up to 90 days available.
Erik Lukas is an active diver and photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a volunteer scuba diver at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. You can expect to find Erik diving many of the amazing Pacific Ocean sites of Southern California, camera in hand, at any chance he can get.
"I am passionate about underwater photography in general and have a special love for macro subjects. For me the things that are hardest to spot hold the most interest. Documenting the commensal and symbiotic relationships is for me the most interesting…the smaller and more bizarre the better. I also have a passion for sharing my knowledge with others. My goal with all of my workshops is to ensure each guest leaves with a group of images that they are proud to share."
Current Camera Systems:
Erik shoots with a Canon 5D Mark III in a Sea & Sea housing using Zen 100mm and 230mm dome ports. The lenses he uses are the Canon 8-15mm f/4L, Canon 16-35mm f/4L, and Canon 100mm f/2.8L.
There is a good reason I am the first reviewer for Kosrae- it is completely off the map and mostly untouched by the western world. If you are looking for modern luxuries, a hopping nightlife and a community of fellow divers, go to Chuuk, Palau or any of the other dozens of overinhabited tropical islands to which divers flock. If your goal is to unplug, dive on gorgeous coral reefs, take in some serenity, encounter genuine local culture and go home with an amazing experience from a place none of your friends have visited, Kosrae is for you.The 2000 inhabitants give the island a small town feel; they all seem to know each other and many will recognize you and quickly start to greet you with a smile every day. Kosrae has no major imports as the locals are supported mainly by subsistence farming, but they are very welcoming and appreciative of tourists. The mood is vey laid back, especially on Sundays when no diving or working is allowed. Small stores are fairly spread out throughout the island. The cars are all purchased used from Japan, so they are right-hand drive even though everybody drives on the right side of the road. It is at once a funny yet beautiful place inhabited by wonderful people.This island is an undiscovered gem both above and beneath the waves. The diving is mostly drift diving over wonderful hard coral gardens with abundant reef fish and punctuated by frequent encounters with larger animals like gray reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, and giant Pacific groupers. The staple organisms of anemones with resident clownfish can be seen on nearly every dive.The island also boasts a number of wrecks. The Sansun Maru is a supply ship that rests in about 60' of water. Don't miss out on the sunken plane wrecked nearby. Finally, there are the remains of the pirate ship owned by the infamous Bully Hayes. Called the Leonora, there isn't much left, but the dive itself is a fun muck dive in Utwe Harbor, perfect for days when the winds kick up and limit your options.
There is a good reason I am the first reviewer for Kosrae- it is completely off the map and mostly untouched by the western world. If you are looking for modern luxuries, a hopping nightlife and a community of fellow divers, go to Chuuk, Palau or any of the other dozens of overinhabited tropical islands to which divers flock. If your goal is to unplug, dive on gorgeous coral reefs, take in some serenity, encounter genuine local culture and go home with an amazing experience from a place none of your friends have visited, Kosrae is for you.The 2000 inhabitants give the island a small town feel; they all seem to know each other and many will recognize you and quickly start to greet you with a smile every day. Kosrae has no major imports as the locals are supported mainly by subsistence farming, but they are very welcoming and appreciative of tourists. The mood is vey laid back, especially on Sundays when no diving or working is allowed. Small stores are fairly spread out throughout the island. The cars are all purchased used from Japan, so they are right-hand drive even though everybody drives on the right side of the road. It is at once a funny yet beautiful place inhabited by wonderful people.This island is an undiscovered gem both above and beneath the waves. The diving is mostly drift diving over wonderful hard coral gardens with abundant reef fish and punctuated by frequent encounters with larger animals like gray reef sharks, stingrays, turtles, and giant Pacific groupers. The staple organisms of anemones with resident clownfish can be seen on nearly every dive.The island also boasts a number of wrecks. The Sansun Maru is a supply ship that rests in about 60' of water. Don't miss out on the sunken plane wrecked nearby. Finally, there are the remains of the pirate ship owned by the infamous Bully Hayes. Called the Leonora, there isn't much left, but the dive itself is a fun muck dive in Utwe Harbor, perfect for days when the winds kick up and limit your options.
Just got back from 6 nights at the Kosrae Nautilus Resort including 4 days of diving. We were the only divers on the island for the week we were there. Kosrae diving was incredible, particularly if you enjoy pristine conditions (some dives over 200 foot visibility) and very healthy coral. The clownfish were seen in abundance on every dive. Not a lot of large fish but did see black tip reef sharks, mangrove rays, eagle rays, turtles and schools of barracuda. Most of the dives are on the wall, but very easy diving with depths averaging 50 feet or so. We are planning to return.
Just got back from 6 nights at the Kosrae Nautilus Resort including 4 days of diving. We were the only divers on the island for the week we were there. Kosrae diving was incredible, particularly if you enjoy pristine conditions (some dives over 200 foot visibility) and very healthy coral. The clownfish were seen in abundance on every dive. Not a lot of large fish but did see black tip reef sharks, mangrove rays, eagle rays, turtles and schools of barracuda. Most of the dives are on the wall, but very easy diving with depths averaging 50 feet or so. We are planning to return.
