The Stone Money Island

This week I want to tell all of you about my dream dive location. Just 7,818.69 miles from Austin, Texas, you will find my fantasy destination: Yap, Micronesia. This miniscule island is known as the best location in the world for swimming with 1,000-pound manta rays.

Map of Micronesia Showing Yap
(Picture From http://www.dankainmicronesia.com/maps.html)

Yap is one of the last remaining islands whose culture remains resistant to Western influence. The indigenous people of Yap still perform their cultural dances to pass down their legends and rich history. The women remain topless and wear traditional grass skirts, while the men don brightly colored loincloths. The men and women also carry on traditional village life by fishing, weaving and sailing. The people of Yap are known to be shy towards outsiders, but tourists are treated kindly if they respect the Yap culture and people.

Yap is also known for it's stone currency. The value of each stone disc depends on the size and its history. The largest stone discs can be up to 12 feet in diameter. The scarcity of the stone discs and the effort necessary to acquire them are what gives the stones their value. Currently, stone currency is no longer being produced and the money supply is fixed. Do not worry, readers: U.S. currency and credit cards are also accepted at most places, but travelers checks are suggested.

When visiting Yap, Micronesia, for scuba diving, the place to stay is the Manta Ray Bay Resort. This resort was built with divers in mind and offers convenient dive facilities and equipment storage a few steps from the rooms. However, if diving is not your vacations purpose, the resort offers island tours, fishing and kayaking, as well as pampering at the Taro Leaf Spa.

Mnuw Ships Bar and Grill
(Pic From http://www.mantaray.com/restaurant-and-bar.php)

The Manta Ray Bay Resort offers a dining experience you will not soon to forget at the Mnuw restaurant and bar. The Mnuw is a 170 foot Phinisi schooner from Indonesia with three dining decks and two bars. At this unique restaurant you will find amazing food influenced by a mixture of Asian, European and local culinary traditions.

As for the diving, Yap, Micronesia, is known for its manta rays. The "gentle giants" have wingspans ranging from 10 to 20 feet and are not threatened by a diver's presence.

An amazing time of year to go diving with the manta rays in Yap is mating season, which starts in late November and lasts through March. During this time divers can see a breathtaking display of manta rays swimming in lines of 12 or more following females as they soar through the water. The Yap waters also offer a diverse amount of marine life besides the manta rays, including sharks (shark feedings are a regular attraction for divers), rare mandarin fish, turtles and many species of tropical reef fishes.

At this point, I know you are asking yourself, "well, how do I get to this must-dive location?" To answer  your question, Continental Airlines serves Yap through either Guam (Gum) or Palau (ROR) airports. However, I have read some warnings that arranging flights to Yap can be difficult for the average traveler. Fortunately, Manta Ray Bay Resort can help you book your flight with no booking fees when you arrange your hotel stay with them.

I hope you will share my dream of diving with Yap's manta rays, and that you book your trip today!

Key West... Not Just A Place To Party

What comes to mind when most people think of Key West, Florida? Is it Duval Street, booze-cruises, Ernest Hemingway, drag shows, the infamous Sloppy Joe's Bar, or the islands unofficial drink, the margarita? If scuba diving in The Dry Tortugas is not on your list, it definitely should be!

The Dry Tortugas islands were first discovered by Ponce De Leon in 1513 and were named Las Tortugas because of the abundance of sea turtles. The 'dry' was added later as a warning of the lack of fresh water on the islands. These islands have been known as "The Dry Tortugas" ever since.

The Dry Tortugas reefs are known to be some of the healthiest in the Caribbean because of the small amount of human interference that has occurred there. While diving, the marine life you will see includes sharks, sea turtles, grouper and a variety of other tropical fish. 

Divers in Dry Tortugas
(Pic From: www.drytortugas.info)

One of the highlights of diving in The Dry Tortugas is exploring the Sherwood Forest reef tract. The Sherwood Forest reef is estimated to be over 9,000 years old and remains an important breeding ground for multiple fish species. 

In addition to Sherwood Forest there is the famous Avanti Windjammer shipwreck located near Loggerhead Key. The vessel is 261 feet long and in excellent condition. The dive is 18 to 21 feet deep and is considered appropriate for a novice diver yet also enjoyable for an advanced diver. 

The only problem with diving in The Dry Tortugas is the lack of one-day dive excursions. Most likely you will have to take a live-aboard dive trip for three to five days of your trip to Key West, unless you have the luxury of your own boat. A highly recommended charter company is Sea-Clusive Customer Charter Company. The company offers up to six dives a day, comfortable living quarters and customizable dives to fit any dive level.

After you pull into the port on your final day of your dive excursion, Key West has numerous activities to offer for the rest of your stay. Your first area to explore should be Duval Street in the heart of downtown Key West.

Extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, Duval Street is home to Sloppy Joe's Bar, as well as world-famous drag shows for the adventurous at 801 Bourbon Bar. Of course, it also boasts plenty of tourist shops to find the perfect souvenir T-shirt to take home.

If Duval Street is too much for you to handle, there is a historical side to Key West that can be found at the Hemingway House and Museum . The house was built in 1851 and became Noble Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway's home in 1931. The house remains almost the same as it was in Hemingway's time, from the beautiful furniture to the presence of the descendants of Hemingway's beloved six-toed cat. This piece of treasured history is one you can't miss while in Key West.

If you have not had enough of the Dry Tortugas, I would recommend you take a trip to Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson, in The Dry Tortugas National Park, is 70 miles off the coast of Key West and is easily accessed by seaplane or ferry. Fort Jefferson is well-known for its rich history and wonderful snorkeling. 

Aerial View of Fort Jefferson in The Dry Tortugas National Park
(Pic from: www.worldtourismplace.com)

Fort Jefferson was built in the mid-1800's and is America's largest coastal fort. It was originally built to protect the Gulf of Mexico shipping-lanes, but was never finished due to construction problems and Yellow Fever outbreaks that plagued the island. It later became a military prison during the Civil War and held the four men convicted of participating in President Lincoln's assassination. Today, Fort Jefferson is a National Monument that provides tours, snorkeling, bird watching and camping.

So whether you're looking for next year's spring break destination or just want to live aboard a boat and dive for a few days, Key West and The Dry Tortugas could be the right place for you!