Destinations / Kosrae

In July 1978, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap voted to share a constitution, and in May 1979 they became the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Micronesia agreed to let the US control its relations with other countries and maintain its exclusive military access under a 15-year compact signed in 1982. In turn, the US guaranteed annual funding. The compact was officially implemented in 1986 and in 1991 the FSM was admitted to the United Nations.

LOCATION :

1700 miles (2700 km) west-south-west of Hawaii & 400 miles (640km) north of the equator

LANGUAGE :

Kosraean & English

CURRENCY :

US dollar ($)

TIPPING :

Tipping 10% to 15% is catching on in Pohnpei but, despite the American influence, it's not really done elsewhere in the country

ELECTRICITY :

110/120V, 60Hz

WEBSITE :

www.kosrae.com

CAPITAL :

Tofol

AREA SIZE :

While the country's total land area amounts to only 270.8 square miles, it occupies more than one million square miles of the Pacific Ocean, and ranges 1,700 miles from East (Kosrae) to West (Yap). Each of the four States centers around one or more "high islands," and all but Kosrae include numerous atolls. Kosrae is essentially one high island of 42.3 square miles

TAXES :

There is a US$15 departure tax from Pohnpei, US$15 from Chuuk and US$15 from Kosrae. Yap has no departure tax.

AREA CODE :

011 - 691

TIME :

GMT/UTC plus 11 hours

DOCUMENTS :

Visas are not required for tourist visits up to 30 days. Your 30 days start afresh each time you move to a different island group. US citizens can live permanently in the FSM with no paper work except for their passport

POPULATION :

8,000

AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURE :

80-85 degrees F

AVERAGE VISIBILITY :

100 ft + (30m)

TYPES OF DIVING :

Shore and Boat diving.

BEST TIME TO DIVE :

Year round

WHAT TO WEAR :

Light dive skins to light thermal wet suit

DIVES NOT TO MISS :

Shark Island, Walung Drop Off, Hiroshi Point, Coral Gardens