Luxury Diving in Micronesia

If you’re looking for unrivalled natural beauty that remains off-the-radar of the masses, then Micronesia should be a top contender for your next diving holiday. This remote group of islands is made up of over 600 islands strung out across the idyllic Pacific Ocean. With powdery white shores, crystal clear azure waters and stunning dive sites, a luxury diving holiday in Micronesia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) comprises four states: Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk and Yap. While each of these four states has something different to offer (Kosrae is wonderful for beginner divers; Pohnpei has some brilliant drift dives; Chuuk is a mecca for wreck divers and Yap is renowned for year-round manta ray encounters) our favourite places for luxury diving in Micronesia are undoubtedly Chuuk and Yap.

Chuuk

Chuuk has a well-deserved reputation as one of the best places in the world for wreck diving. The lagoon is home to over 60 World War II wrecks, many of which are less than 30 metres deep.

The Fujikawa Maru, a 437ft cargo ship, is one of our top dive sites in Chuuk. The vessel lies at a depth of between five and 18 metres, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced divers. It's safe to penetrate the wreck, swimming through the engine room and other parts of the ship. However, if you're not a certified wreck diver, there's still plenty to see from the outside which is encrusted with a variety of hard and soft corals, and inhabited by large schools of barracuda and jacks.

Aside from mysterious wrecks, Chuuk is also a brilliant choice for divers looking to encounter sharks at the aptly named Shark Island. The waters around the island are a known cleaning station, with several species of shark (grey, whitetip and blacktip reef) sighted regularly in the area.

By far the best way to experience Chuuk during a luxury diving holiday in Micronesia is onboard a liveaboard such as The Odyssey, where you can cruise between the lagoon's best dive sites enjoying first-class service.

Yap

The main draw for visiting Yap is the unforgettable experience of diving with manta rays. The waters around Yap are plankton-rich and the chances of encountering manta rays here are extremely high, particularly at the Mi'il Channel, a renowned manta ray cleaning station.

The channel has impressive vertical coral walls, and aside from the rays, you might come across hawksbill turtles, reef sharks, lobsters and more. The site is subject to strong currents and is not recommended for beginner divers.

There are a handful of resorts in Yap to choose from, but a personal favourite of the team is the Manta Ray Bay & Yap Divers.

Micronesia may not be the first location that comes to mind when you imagine a diving holiday (partly due to its remote location on the other side of the world), but with world-class dive sites that are uncrowded and teeming with life, luxury diving in Micronesia is unforgettable. If you're considering visiting Micronesia on your next holiday, our team can help to create the perfect itinerary.