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Yes, Nauru Airlines has recently expanded its “Island Hopper” alternative in late 2025, offering better connectivity between Pohnpei, Majuro, and Brisbane. This breaks the long-standing monopoly that forced most travelers to route exclusively through Guam or Honolulu on United.

For North American travelers, this opens up creative routing options via Fiji or Kiribati if you are planning a wider Pacific itinerary. While United remains the primary carrier for direct access from the US mainland, this new competition is slowly beginning to stabilize regional pricing.

As of late 2025, the annual dive permit fee for Chuuk Lagoon remains $50 USD, though there are active discussions about increasing this to support wreck conservation efforts. This fee is payable in cash upon arrival and is separate from the $30 departure tax.

Operators are strictly enforcing this permit requirement due to recent concerns about unauthorized artifact removal from the WWII wrecks. Ensure you keep your permit receipt on you at all times, as marine rangers conduct spot checks on dive boats more frequently now.

Cash is absolutely king in Micronesia, and you should not rely on credit cards outside of major dive resorts. While a few top-tier hotels in Weno (Chuuk) and Colonia (Yap) accept Visa or Mastercard, they often charge a 3-5% transaction fee.

Most restaurants, taxi drivers, and local shops only accept US dollars in cash. ATMs are available in the main town centers, but they frequently run out of cash or go offline during power outages. Bring enough small bills ($1, $5, $10) to cover your daily expenses, tips, and departure taxes.

Micronesia is culturally conservative, especially outside of resort grounds. For women, showing thighs is considered disrespectful in Chuuk, Yap, and Pohnpei; you should wear skirts or shorts that cover the knee (often called “Chuukese skirts”) when in public villages or town centers.

Swimwear is acceptable only on dive boats or private resort beaches. Men should generally wear t-shirts rather than going shirtless in towns. Respecting these norms usually results in much warmer interactions with locals, who value modesty highly.

Absolutely, it is one of the world’s most unique aviation experiences, but it is grueling. The flight takes about 14 hours from Honolulu to Guam, stopping at Majuro, Kwajalein, Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Chuuk.

At each stop, you can briefly stretch your legs or view the atolls from the open cabin door while the plane refuels (except at Kwajalein, which is a military base). The aerial views of the lagoons are unmatched. To survive it, pack plenty of snacks, download entertainment, and consider breaking the trip with a stopover in Pohnpei or Majuro rather than doing it all in one go.

Kosrae is deeply religious, and Sunday observance is strictly enforced by law and custom. No shops, restaurants, or businesses operate, and work is prohibited; even fishing or swimming can be frowned upon in certain villages.

You should plan your meals ahead by buying food on Saturday or eating at your hotel, which is usually the only place serving food. Use Sunday to relax, read, or attend a church service, which is famous for its beautiful choral singing. Do not plan any tours or dives for this day.

Not necessarily, but an Advanced Open Water certification is highly recommended to get the full experience. Many of the famous WWII wrecks in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon sit between 30-40 meters (100-130 feet), which is below the limit for basic Open Water divers.

While there are shallower wrecks available, having your Deep Diver or Wreck Diver specialty allows you to safely penetrate the cargo holds and see the tanks, planes, and artifacts that make Chuuk famous. Nitrox certification is also extremely valuable here to extend your bottom time on these deep profiles.

Yes, but you must ask permission first if the Stone Money is located on private property or within a village, which is almost always the case. The massive stone discs (Rai) are still legal tender and highly sacred to the Yapese people; sitting on them, standing on them, or touching them disrespectfully is a major taboo.

Always treat the stones with the same respect you would a bank vault or a religious shrine. If you hire a local guide, they can navigate the village permissions for you and ensure you don’t accidentally offend a landowner.