Yap Diving Guam Date-Time: |
Yap Diving Guam Date-Time: |
|
|
YAP ISLAND, MICRONESIA Yap is a great stop-over on your way to Palau and SHOULD be considered as a single destination, but unfortunately most people don't. Yap is most famous for it's incredible Manta Rays which are a great attraction and are normally seen (up close and personal) on almost every dive to the "Manta" channels. But Yap also offers a wide diversity of marine life from very big animals donw to tiny mandarinfish, teeming reefs, and a very special culture.Got a question? Check out the Travel fAQ section to get answers to a lot of your questions.
They also offer village and island tours with prices ranging from $30.00 per person to $65.00 depending upon the tour. Your evenings can be spent relaxing on the deck, visiting with the other guests and enjoying a sumptuous dinner prepared by 5 star chefs or just sipping one of their very special island drinks. By far the most unique attraction at Mana Ray Bay is a HUGE Indonesian schooner. Sailed to Yap in September, 2001, the Mnuw has been converted into one of the most unique restaurants and truly nautical bars you'll find anywhere.
TIPS ON YAP -FSM (Truk, Yap, Pohnpei, Kosrae) passports must be valid for 180 (6 months) days beyond period of intended stay. Currently there is NO departure tax or dive permit requirted.
From our Guam Divers Forum 1. Take extra cash with you or plan on getting a cash advance from the Hotel's front desk (expect a 5% surcharge). There are no ATM's on Yap, and not many places accept checks or credit cards. 2. Get out and explore. If your dive days are like ours were, you'll head out on the boat and 8AM and be back to the hotel by 1:30. Unless you book afternoon dives, you'll have plenty of down time. 3. We rented a car (for $55 cash) from Pacific Bus Company. The car was great! We followed the map that the front desk provided and went ALL over the island. Be sure to get off the paved roads. Much like Guam is built around the local village church, Yap villages seem to be built around their stone money banks and long houses (men's house). Each long house is unique and the money banks are everywhere. The roads and foot pathes are beautiful and well maintained. Take water with you. Each village seems to have a snack and what-not-shop, but the pickings are slim. There are VERY few public toilets, so be prepared for that too. 4. There is an art gallery out the front door, to the left of the hotel and across the street. Great things there in a variety of price ranges to help you remember your trip. 5. Right next door to the gallery, check out O'Keefe's Bar and Grill or the Oasis resturant. Great food and service, and $5 lunch specials that are huge. 6. Batteries are expensive and not reliable there. Bring your own. 7. There is no reliable cable tv there. There is a tv in the rooms. You can rent DVD's at the hotel, but the current selection is very small. Plan on taking your own, or a good book, deck of cards, musical instrument, etc. 8. If the weather is rainy, expect the Cultural tour to be cancelled. (All the more reason to rent the car like I mentioned above.) 9. If there is bad weather in the area expect that your manta sightings might be affected. 10. Our dives were great, as were our boat captain and dive guide. Bring your own snacks unless you're satisfied with sweet bread, water and hot tea during your surface interval.
---When going on a dive trip take a rain jacket!! The boats on the other islands are not like the MDA Boats. So bringing along a rain jacket and dry bag will help. ==Also take a fold up umbrella. At some of the resorts you walk between the buildings and a umbrella is sometimes a nice thing to have. ==Bring your beach towel, sunscreen and a hat. If you are a burner, pack the ALOE! ==Yap was a perfect "get away from it all" diving vacation destination. Go and have a blast!!!
|
