Paddling

With mangrove forests full of twisting passages surrounding all the coasts, more than a dozen beautiful lagoon islands, amazing snorkeling spots on the reef inside the lagoon, marine protected areas, and barrier reef passages, Pohnpei is absolutely fabulous as a paddling destination (suggested kayak, canoe, or paddleboard launch sites are marked on the map below). If it has a fault (and you can judge for yourself whether this truly is a fault or not), the paddling sport hasn’t been developed yet and not many places provide kayaks or paddleboards for visitors — yet. The northern, northwestern, and eastern sides of the island are pretty well covered — with a little effort you can acquire kayaks when you need them. The northeast, south, and southeast, however, have always been black holes when it comes to tourist services. And it’s unfortunate, because they offer some of the best opportunities. Luckily, bringing equipment as luggage is not terribly difficult even if it may cost a bit.

Bringing Kayaks, Canoes & Paddleboards on the Airplane

United Airlines allows passengers to bring a single kayak or canoe with an over-sized baggage fee each way (plus the usual excess baggage fee, which depends on your point of origin) Visit United Airlines website to find out what the fee currently is. Maximum weight allowed is 45.3 kg (99.9 lbs). Maximum length is 396 cm (156 in).

You can also check a stand-up paddleboard in a bag also paying the over-sized baggage fee each way plus the usual excess baggage fee. The weight allowance is the same — 45.3 kg (99.9 lbs), but you’re only allowed 292 cm (115 inches) of length.

There is no redress for kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards damaged in-flight. If the flight is extremely full, United has the right to send your gear on a later flight.

When to Paddle

You can paddle at any time of year on Pohnpei, but the period between late March and October is the least prone to wind. Winds can come from any direction, but the prevailing pattern is from the northeast, which means that the eastern side of the island is the most affected, while the west and southwest are partly protected by Pohnpei’s mountainous bulk.

Launching

Getting your craft in the water can be trickier than one might think if you don’t know much about Pohnpei. Since most of the coastline is surrounded by mangroves, you need to know how to locate the natural channels leading to the lagoon. These usually correspond with the points at which rivers or streams strike the mangroves, though not always. Not every stream that passes under the main road, however, will do, as some of them are consistently too shallow for paddling. Others have banks that are too steep for easy access. Man-made causeways are good, but they are often private, so it’s necessary to get permission from people living nearby.

The Marine Attractions Eco-Adventure Guide shows the locations of all of the launch sites we identified during our field research.

How to Re-enter a Sit-in Kayak From the Water

“Wet entry” is an essential skill for all kayakers, and especially for those going solo. Practice the following steps near shore until you feel confident you can manage them in open water.

If the kayak is upside-down, grab the lip of the cockpit and push up hard to roll the boat over. Another option is to get your arms over the upturned hull and grab the opposite side. Then lean back and use your weight to roll the kayak toward you.
Move around the kayak so that you’re facing into the wind and/or current, preventing your legs from being forced under the kayak.
Partially inflate your paddle float and attach it to one of the paddle blades. Then add air until it’s full and tight.
Wedge the other end of the paddle under the webbing or bungee cords on the deck of the kayak just behind the cockpit and position it so it is perpendicular to the kayak.
Put one arm over the paddle and grip whatever you can on the kayak. Position the other hand on the deck just in front of the cockpit.
Kick hard, push up, and get your upper body over the kayak deck at a diagonal.
Swing the float-side leg up and over the paddle and kayak. Now you should essentially be lying face-down on the kayak with your legs hanging over either side.
Push off the deck with your arms to bring yourself into a sitting position.
Carefully swing your legs around and into the cockpit one at a time.
Keep the paddle float on the blade and use the bilge to pump out any water.

Where to Paddle

Where can one paddle? The easy answer is anywhere and everywhere. Each of our eco-adventure guides highlights a collection of destinations or routes (with distance info) that we encourage visitors to seek out. We’ll be adding to the list continually, as the guides are completed. Additionally, all of the paddling routes and launch sites appear on the huge island map in the Marine Adventures Eco-Adventure Guide, now available for free at the Australian Embassy on Pohnpei.