YAP, MICRONESIA

Year:2005

Manta extravaganza

Season: Year-round diving

Visibility: 25-50 metres

Water temperature: 28-30°C

A scattering of tiny islands spread across the immensity of the western Pacific, Micronesia is at the same time one of the most obscure corners of the globe and one of the world's greatest diving destinations, a veritable Mecca that attracts underwater pilgrims from far and wide.

About 300 miles northeast of Palau lies Yap, an island where stone money, carved from the rock islands of Palau and transported across the open ocean by canoe, is still in use today. Yap is a wonderful mixture of past, present and future where ancient culture still exists alongside the 20th century. English is the official language and the US$ is the official currency. It is said that of all the thousands of islands in Micronesia, Yap today is the way the rest of Micronesia used to be with its culture, traditions and language still intact and freely observable.

Yap's rise to world class fame as a diving resort began in the late 1980s when it was discovered that large numbers of Manta Rays could be observed here at very close range. However, there is more to Yap than Manta Rays  the outer drop-offs offer diving in remarkable visibility (30-50 metres is routine, with up to 65 metres at times!). Vertical walls, wonderfully healthy reefs, schools of Spotted Eagle Rays and grottos with swim-throughs full of tropical fish are just some of the diving highlights that can be found in Yap. Over 30 dive sites have been discovered and charted so far.

Manta Ridge is where Manta Rays are encountered almost daily. The combination of plankton, tide and current sets the stage for a truly wondrous undersea phenomenon. The site is a natural coral bridge that crosses one of Yap's deep water channels. Through this channel come the mantas, some with wingspans' of up to 5 metres and weighing as much as one ton! Gliding in battle-style formation, these giants of the ocean line up in single file and hover about a metre above the coral awaiting their turn as the Cleaner Wrasse pop out of their coral homes and get to work picking off their parasites.

M'il Channel is a drift dive in the same channel as Manta Ridge. A slow drift at about 20 metres along the south wall with the incoming tide gives divers time to explore the vertical sides and bottom of the channel as they ride the current. Some big creatures are usually found here, including schools of Bigeye Trevally, White-tip Reef Sharks that rest on the bottom during the day and Manta Rays. Numerous reef fish and often turtles and eagle rays pass before you as you glide along.

Lionfish Wall is an exciting wall site starting at about 5 metres and plummeting to over 50 metres. Because of the staggering visibility here (up to 65 metres at times), this dive has been likened to sky-diving! A large community of lacy-finned lionfish live in the cracks, crevices and small caves and during their beautiful and graceful veil-like dancing movements they waft and wave their long, slim spines.

Yap Caverns provides a unique combination of a wall dive and swim-throughs. This site is marked by a sandy coral shelf cut into the reef, making a natural amphitheatre. Although the shelf is at a depth of 10 metres, the tall, vertical coral growths surrounding it rise through the water to within 3 metres of the surface. A series of caverns, passageways and caves tunnel into the reef from the north side of the amphitheatre.

Just five minutes from the resort is O'Keefe's Island, named after an Irish entrepreneur who allegedly made a lot of conventional money transporting stone money' from Palau to Yap! Here the fantastic little Mandarinfish can be watched carrying out its territorial display at dusk, the males sometimes tussling with each other. These colourful, beautifully patterned fish are a joy to watch as they emerge from their hiding places in the coral rubble. At this site they are unusually fearless, making photography much easier than usual.

MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL

Manta Ray Bay Hotel and Yap Divers are run and personally supervised by Bill Acker, who designed, built and now runs the entire resort! The small hotel is situated on the edge of a sheltered bay with splendid views of the harbour and is completely integrated with Yap Divers. Each of the 23 guest rooms is tastefully decorated and has air conditioning, TV and video. Delicious local and international food is served in the top floor restaurant. Menus feature European, Asian and American food and utilize fresh seafood and local produce along with imported foods. Early evenings are often spent enjoying a glass of wine or a beer in the nautical Weaver Deck and Bar, built out over the lagoon. The cool trade winds that blow in from the reef makes this a popular place to relax and chat to other divers.

The Deluxe Ocean View Rooms include the Mandarin Fish Room, which has a king-sized bed positioned on a raised hardwood floor. A huge shower area is made of river stones and the tiled sitting area is decorated with tropical plants. This room, which is situated on the third floor, has wonderful views of the hills and bay behind the hotel as well as the lagoon at the front of the hotel. The room has an IDD telephone link, refrigerator and full air-conditioning as well as a ceiling fan. Completed with an antique look, the room was designed to offer a romantic setting perfect as a honeymoon choice! The Triton's Trumpet Room on the ground floor has a huge private sun deck complete with teakwood deck chairs and a private plunge pool under a wooden gazebo. A door leads directly from the pool area to the dive deck, making this room ideal for photographers with lots of camera equipment. Facilities also include a king-sized bed, ceiling fan, air-conditioning, TV/VCR, IDD telephone link, refrigerator and a comfortable sitting area with cushions and coffee table.

Diving is provided by Yap Divers who operate a fleet of four custom-built dive boats fully equipped with sun-shade, freshwater, dive platform and ladders. Up to 4 daytime boat dives per day can be taken and night dives can be arranged locally. Yap Divers is a PADI five star centre and the newly-built Manta Visions Photo and Video Centre provides all the services that an underwater photographer could require, including E-6 processing. Nitrox facilities are also available at an extra charge.

Garden View Room

£290 (non-divers: £172) for 3 nights

£382 (non-divers: £219) for 4 nights

£676 (non-divers: £359) for 7 nights

Ocean View Room

£309 (non-divers: £192) for 3 nights

£409 (non-divers: £244) for 4 nights

£717 (non-divers: £401) for 7 nights

Deluxe Ocean View Room

£391 (non-divers: £274) for 3 nights

£511 (non-divers: £348) for 4 nights

£887 (non-divers: £571) for 7 nights

Includes:

" Airport transfers in Yap.

" 3, 4 or 7 nights room-only accommodation on twin/share basis at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel.

" 4, 6 or 12 boat dives, snacks on board, dive guide, cylinders and weights.

Supplement for extra boat dives (up to 4 dives per day are available): £21 per dive

Additional Nights: The cost of these should be calculated by adding together any of the 3, 4 or 7 night modules shown above (these modules fit the infrequent flight schedule into and out of Yap).

Single Occupancy Supplement :

Garden View Room

£102 for 3 nights

£129 for 4 nights

£213 for 7 nights

Ocean View Room

£121 for 3 nights

£154 for 4 nights

£256 for 7 nights

Deluxe Ocean View Room

£182 for 3 nights

£228 for 4 nights

£380 for 7 nights

Deposit: £200

FLIGHTS

The airfares shown are the least expensive fare category available at the time of going to press. We will quote you the airfare applicable, based on current fare levels and booking class availability, at the time of booking. The usual airfare deposit is £100.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

Midday departure on Singapore Airlines from London (Heathrow) on Monday, arriving at Manila the following afternoon. Continue that evening on a Continental Micronesia flight to Yap via Guam, arriving on Wednesday morning. Return flights leave Yap for Manila in the morning on Wednesday or Sunday. From Manila you continue on a Singapore Airlines afternoon flight to Singapore and connect with an onward flight to London (Heathrow), arriving on Thursday or Monday morning.

Monday flights are also available from Manchester at no extra charge.

£1205 for departures 1 January-30 June (excluding Easter)

£1248 for departures 16 August-9 December

£1311 for departures at Easter, 24-31 December

£1373 for departures at 1 July-15 August

£1455 for departures 10-23 December

Manila-Yap Seasonal Supplement: £102 for departures 1-31 January, 1 April-31 July, 11-31 December

Includes:

" Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Singapore/Manila/Singapore/London (Heathrow) by Singapore Airlines.

" Scheduled flights Manila/Yap/Manila by Continental Micronesia Airlines.

MALAYSIA AIRLINES

Midday departure on Malaysia Airlines from London (Heathrow) on Monday, arriving at Manila the following afternoon. Continue that evening on a Continental Micronesia flight to Yap via Guam, arriving on Wednesday morning. Return flights leave Yap for Manila in the morning on Wednesday or Sunday. From Manila you continue on a Malaysia Airlines afternoon flight to Kuala Lumpur and connect with an onward flight to London (Heathrow), arriving on Thursday or Monday morning.

Flights are also available between Manchester and Manila at no extra charge. Flights depart from Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Return flights leave Manila on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Concessionary rates are available for connecting flights between Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Teesside, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and London. Please contact our office for details.

£1295 for departures 1 January-30 June (excluding Easter), 1 September-9 December

£1370 for departures at Easter, 1-7 July, 18-31 August, 25-31 December

£1482 for departures 8 July-17 August, 10-24 December

Weekend Supplement: £12 each way for departures from London, Manchester or Manila on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays.

Manila-Yap Seasonal Supplement: £102 for departures 1-31 January, 1 April-31 July, 11-31 December

Includes:

" Scheduled flights London (Heathrow)/Kuala Lumpur/Manila/Kuala Lumpur/London (Heathrow) by Malaysia Airlines.

" Scheduled flights Manila/Yap/Manila by Continental Micronesia Airlines.

Business Class Upgrades: These are available on Malaysia Airlines between the UK and Manila at attractive rates. Please contact our office for details.

Overnights in Manila: £42 per night at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, a comfortable hotel situated close to Manila Airport, on a twin/share basis with breakfast. A single occupancy supplement of £42 per night applies. Please note: Airport/hotel transfers are not included: local taxis are safe and inexpensive.

Sample Itinerary (including 7 nights in Yap)

Day 1 (Monday): Depart London (Heathrow) at midday.   Day 2 (Tuesday): Arrive Singapore or Kuala Lumpur in the morning and Manila in the afternoon. Connect with Continental Micronesia Airlines flight to Yap via Guam. Day 3 (Wednesday): Arrive Yap in the morning. Transfer to hotel for 7 nights.   Days 4-9 (Thursday-Tuesday): 6 days diving Yap.   Day 10 (Wednesday): Depart Yap for Manila in the morning, arrive Singapore or Kuala Lumpur in afternoon and connect with onward flight in evening.   Day 11 (Thursday): Morning arrival at London (Heathrow).

SINGAPORE STOP-OVERS

Why not take the opportunity to explore Singapore as part of your holiday? Singapore Airlines fly between London and Singapore daily and stop-overs are available at no additional airfare. We can arrange your hotel accommodation: for details please see the Southern Thailand entry in this brochure.

COMBINING YAP WITH PALAU OR TRUK

If you are going all the way to Yap, why not take in Palau's strange and beautiful Rock Islands' with their amazing diving or Truk and its remarkable wrecks? You will have paid for most of the airfare already! Please contact us and we can suggest potential itineraries, but bear in mind you need around three weeks holiday for a combination trip.