Diving with Manta Rays in Yap, Caroline Islands
Posted by Jackie Hewett on Tue 7th October 2008 at 03:23 AM, Filed in Wildlife, December
December through to February is the peak season for Manta watching in this region, and this is one of the best places in the world to see them. Yap is actually four islands sharing a coral reef and all islands are covered with pretty dense vegetation and are situated just 9 degrees north of the equator.
Manta Rays have wing spans up to 5 meters (16 ft) and visit the ‘cleaning stations’ in the channels between the shallow lagoon surrounding Yap where cleaner wrasse do the grooming. Whilst 100 or so of these great fish seem to have made Yap their year round home the numbers swell during the winter mating season.
Many people stay for a week – a couple of days diving and the rest to see the island and its unusual culture. The best dives are generally early in the morning (slack high tide) and many divers spend the afternoons snorkelling. Two to Three days after a full moon often provide the best underwater visibility. Tiger sharks and turtles are also plentiful around the island.
Yap Islanders
There are many things to do and beware of!) on Yap:
• The island historically used huge stones (rai) for money. They were quarried on Palau’s Rock Island some 250 miles away and towed to Yap. The money never moves but is situated on the pathside village ‘banks’ at Balabat
• The entire Island is privately owned so visitors must ask permission before walking around
• Visit an ancient faluw (men’s house) – the oldest one on the Island is based at the beachside village of Bechiyal
• Visit the Ethnic Art Village where you can see artisans at work in open air workshops
• Get a guide to show you the WWII relics leftover from Japanese occupation of the island
Rai - Stone Money
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