Dive sites in Micronesia

Advanced Open Water certification is the minimum requirement for diving the Shinkoku Maru, as the deck sits at around 30-40 metres. For penetration dives into the engine room or interior spaces, Wreck Diver certification is strongly recommended. The wreck is accessible for recreational divers on the upper sections from about 12 metres depth at the bridge, but deeper exploration requires proper training and equipment.

The interior of the Shinkoku Maru is extraordinarily well preserved. The engine room contains intact machinery, catwalks, and gauges. The doctor's office still has medicine bottles on shelves. The galley retains dishes, sake bottles, and cooking utensils, while personal quarters reveal bunk beds and personal effects. The telegraph, helm, and navigation equipment remain in position on the bridge. It is one of the most artifact-rich wrecks accessible to recreational divers.

Penetration diving on the Shinkoku Maru is considered safe when done with an experienced local guide and proper training. The ship rests upright, passages are large, and silt conditions are generally manageable. Local operators know every compartment and guide divers through established routes with multiple exits. However, overhead environments always carry risk, and divers should carry redundant lights and maintain good buoyancy control.

Kosrae is served by United Airlines' Island Hopper route, which connects Honolulu to Guam with stops at several Micronesian islands including Kosrae. Flights typically operate several times per week. From Kosrae's airport near Tofol, the island's single dive operator provides transfers and full diving services. There is no need for onward boat travel as all dive sites are accessible by day boat from the harbour. Accommodation is limited to a handful of small hotels and guesthouses, and advance booking is strongly recommended.

Kosrae's reefs have been spared the major bleaching events and storm damage that have affected much of the tropical Pacific. The island's isolated location, small population of around 6,600 people, minimal coastal development, and absence of significant agricultural runoff have preserved reef health. Additionally, Kosrae established marine protected areas early and enforced fishing regulations effectively. Scientists from the University of Hawaii and other institutions have documented hard coral cover exceeding 90 percent at several sites, making Kosrae's reefs among the healthiest measured anywhere in the Pacific.