Pohnpei Surf Club

If you've ever seen photos or footage of the legendary P-Pass doing its thing, you’ll know exactly why you’ve travelled a few thousand ks to arrive at this dot in the middle of the pacific ocean. Hell, if the best surfers in the world claim “Best Ever’s” time after time again it pretty obvious that this place is not overrated! Be prepared for your own trip of a lifetime.

the basics

The camp caters for a maximum of 18 surfers at one time, however the average number of guests is usually closer to 10. All the rooms have twin beds that can be made to doubles, and each room has a bathroom, A/C, TV, veranda, wireless, telephone and a fridge. Having the only surfer living in Pohnpei year round at your service means unmatched local knowledge too.

expedition essentials

hardware: Your normal short board and then a longer board by a couple of inches. Make sure they’re strong boards too.
non-surf: Camera and a stubby cooler.
medical: Travel insurance is mandatory and the two best and biggest clinics in Pohnpei are located 200 meters from the Pohnpei Surf Club. You can see your GP with regards to inoculations, but it’s mostly very clean and safe with no malaria.

the wave you want to ride

P-Pass
In short? There are many waves in Pohnpei, but the one everyone wants to surf is called “P-Pass”. It’s one of the BEST rights in the world, but can produce lefts too.

Heaviness?
Depends on size.
2-4ft 4/10
4-6ft 6/10
6-10ft 8/10

Fun?
Again, depends on size.
2-4ft 8/10
4-6ft 10/10
6-10ft 8/10

Crowds?
Average of around 10 surfers in the water.

Suits?
If you want to surf any reefbreak over four-foot you need to be a good surfer, and the same applies here. Usually its two-to-four-foot and they get six-to-eight-foot swells once or twice a week in peak season.

P-pass truly is one of those waves to “surf before you die”. No doubt you’ve seen many of the sessions that have gone down, right here in ASL (check this very issue, in fact).
World Surfaris’ Dave Scard has seen it all though. “The craziest session was when Shane Dorian flew over and met up with Mark Mathews and Dan Ross. It was in the massive realm; 12-foot-plus and some of the biggest and best tubes ever in Pohnpei were surfed that day. Our guests at the time were so stoked when the swell backed off to six-foot and the boys didn’t surf, leaving them to clock up some of the best waves of their lives. it’s one of the best rights in the world, and there can also be a left on the opposite side of the pass.