Pohnpei-Between Time & Tide . Suggested Packing List

Suggested Packing List for Pohnpei Tourists

Light, cotton clothing – Don’t bring much more than a few shirts, a pair of shorts and a pair of pants. Laundry facilities are widely available. One nice collared shirt and pair of casual slacks (for guys) and a simple dress (for women) is the only necessary 'formalwear'.
Light waterproof windbreaker
Rubber thongs (a.k.a. slippers, zori or flip-flops) – These are sold everywhere on Pohnpei, so it’s just as easy to buy them there.
Grubby tennis shoes or hiking boots (cloth type for extra ventilation)
Hat – Just a few degrees from the equator, the sun is brutal.
Sunglasses
Passport (valid for a year beyond the time you intend visit Pohnpei and definitely beyond the date you plan to return to your country of origin)
Driver’s license
U.S. traveler’s checks, ATM card and a couple major credit cards
Sunblock SPF 45 or higher, depending on your skin’s pigmentation – Everyone burns on Pohnpei, so bring it and use it.
Mask, snorkel and fins (neoprene booties with rubber soles are also great to have)
For divers, scuba equipment - regulator, octopus, BC, gauges (you can rent weights and tanks with no problem)
Dive certification card – Most companies on Pohnpei don’t even check to see if you have this, but, heck, it’s the law.
Dry bag – Very useful on the trail for anything that you can’t afford to get wet.
Underwater flashlight – It’s best to buy one of these on the island, both for regular use and for night diving, snorkeling or spear fishing. They cost about $20.
Fully-waterproof tent (if you plan to do any camping) – Shelters can also be easily constructed from plastic tarps, which cost about $10 at most stores.
Small pocket knife (pack this in your checked luggage only)
Light rope
Bedsheet – This is about all you need for warmth when camping in the islands.
A book or two (if you’re a reader) – Pohnpei does have a couple libraries, but no real bookstores.

Camera Equipment

Extra camera body, if possible – the moist environment is hard on cameras and there are no real repair shops.
Silica gel packets – Keep these in your camera case(s) to minimize moisture.
Tripod – Frequent low light levels on the island make this very helpful.
Film – Stores in Kolonia do sell some Kodak films, but almost exclusively ISO 200 print film, which is very expensive on Pohnpei. If you want transparency film (slides), you have to bring it from home. Fujichrome films (Velvia™, Sensia™, etc.), which tend to have higher color saturation in the blues and greens, are ideal for Pohnpei’s setting. Keep in mind that, if you prefer slow films, Pohnpei's cloudy weather will require a tripod much of the time.
Polarizing filter – This very useful accessory adds greater color saturation across the spectrum, emphasizes dramatic skies, and reduces the reflectivity of water.
Fully waterproof camera bag or backpack
Underwater camera and accessories, or housing for your regular SLR camera