Pohnpei (1 of 3 Posts)

I stayed at the Village Hotel, a little over 5 miles from the airport. It is on the top of a hill which overlooks the Lagoon and Ocean. It has an open restaurant/bar facing the water and guest huts around it; all are thatch roofs. The only real water access is where the dive boats are parked. The rooms have thick jungle growth so each unit is hidden from the next. Screen on three sides, waterbeds, which they have a canopy over, to reduce the bugs and spiders sleeping with you. Did you know that thatch roofs drop some sort of sawdust-sand which dusts everything constantly and the ends have large open areas? The birds can really get you up in the morning, starting around 0430. The food was expensive, the service very slow, and really nothing to do after your dives. I did see some large fruit bats that were impressive and the small bananas left hanging by the office were great! Very few people at either resort but they were having an international fishing conference (who can take how many tons—boring) and did had dives with a lady from Green Peace, a couple from the state dept (ours) and a Japanese tourist (who had dived many places).

I saw a full grown hawk-bill turtle; even the divemaster was surprised to see one that size. The mantas are there to eat the plankton so the water is not as clear. I saw a group of over 30 sharks come by with another group just out of sight. I saw the largest “school” of large barracudas that I have ever seen. Had the best time when we stopped to snorkel with some mantas on the way to Nan Madol. I did catch a taxi into the “town” and walked those streets and alleys. Wish that I had brought some extra shoes, the craftsmen really wanted to barter instead of cash.

Netting over the waterbed to try and keep out the critters!
The wall of fish was at least 30'down and 15' wide:
Follow and the mantas will be there, all eating the plankton.