Pohnpei State is composed of one island, eight outlying atolls, and a reef. It lies about halfway between Honolulu and Manilla. Pohnpei itself is a lush, rugged, high volcanic island, the largest in the FSM.
With some sixteen feet of annual rainfall, it has beautiful waterfalls, dense coastal mangrove forests, interior rainforests, but no beaches.
Kolonia, on the northwest side, is the capital of the FSM. Pohnpei has a rich folklore tradition. The island is most famous for the spectacular ruins of Nan Madol off the eastern coast.
Pohnpei is surrounded by a barrier reed with numerous channels.
We were privileged to be diving with nudibranch expert Scott Johnson, who helped find Paul his favorite critters....
Aegires minor
Nembrotha kubaryana
Phyllidiella pustulosa
<TBS>
Aegires gardineri
Gray Norse god, Aegires serenae
Phyllidia madangensis
... and one flatworm:
Thysanozoon sp.
The channels attract manta rays, Manta birostris, to cleaning stations.
Other species of fish:
Sabre squirrelfish, Sargocentron spiniferum
Goby
Common lionfish, Pterois volitans
Golden damsel, Amblyglyhidodon aureus
Blacklip butterflyfish, Chaetodon kleinii
Pixy hawkfish (red morph), Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus
...clownfish...
Pink anemonefish, Amphiprion perideraion
Orange-finned anemonefish, Amphiprion chrysopterus
... soft coral...
...macro life...
...sea stars...
Blue sea star, Linckia laevigata
Granular sea star, Choriaster granulatus
Velvety sea star, Loiaster spectosus
Crown-of-thorns sea star, Acanthaster planci
Warty sea star, Echinaster callosus
Giant basket star,Astrobon nuda
...crustaceans...
Painted spiny lobster, Panulirus versicolor
Hermit crab
Back to Micronesia Photo Gallery Back
©2007, 2017, 2024 Mermaid Underwater Photographic. All Rights Reserved.
Contact us at mermaid@underwater.org.
Last modified 5 November 2024