P-Pass (Palikir) Alert Guide

Pohnpei, Micronesia · part of the P-Pass (Palikir) spot guide

The North Point Pohnpei buoy (52213) is a waves-only Directional Waverider that reports no wind, so this observation alert keys on swell only — judge wind from a forecast and expect the buoy to occasionally go offline. The height below is the buoy’s open-ocean reading, which the pass amplifies on the face.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Direction first: want the swell from the northwest through north to east (330° through 0° to 90°); straight north is prime, and a west or southwest swell will not turn it on.
2. 2.Favour long-period groundswell — around 14 seconds and up — as short-period wind-swell will not wrap into the pass cleanly.
3. 3.Read the buoy (52213) height as incoming energy, not the face; the reef amplifies it, so a modest long-period height already delivers solid barrels.
4. 4.Judge wind separately — the buoy has no anemometer — and hope for light northeast-to-east trades or glass; you must get wind from a forecast.
5. 5.Any tide works but avoid dead low over the shallow coral, confirm boat access, and cross-check a swell model when the buoy goes dark.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: NE–E trades (offshore/side-off) — from 45° to 90° (NE–E).

Works at essentially any tide and is more user-friendly than many Pacific reefs, but dead low is shallow and dangerous and the channel current strengthens on the biggest tides.

Dial it in