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!