Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Yap?

Yap is a cluster of islands that stretch for 600 miles in the vast Pacific Ocean. Yap proper, a group of four main islands within a barrier reef, is approximately 500 miles southwest of Guam, 300 miles northeast of Palau, and 800 miles due east of Cebu, Philippines. The other islands that comprise the state of Yap extend eastward towards Chuuk, with one atoll about 80 miles to the south. Yap lies just nine degrees north of the Equator.

How do I get to Yap?

Most visitors arrive via Continental Air Micronesia, with 737 service to Yap three days each week. Flight information can be found on our site by selecting the link in the drop down box above. The only other way to arrive is by sailing vessel (privately owned).

What are the entry requirements?

Most visitors are allowed entry to the FSM as long as they have a valid passport and an onward ticket. U.S. citizens are allowed to stay indefinitely, provided they have a valid passport. Most other nationals are allowed between 14 and 30 days. Please check with your travel agent or email the Yap Visitors' Bureau for more information.

What should I bring?

Yap's year round climate is sub-tropical, with average temperatures in the high 80's (F) to low 90's during the day, and low 80's in the evenings. Loose cotton clothing, shorts, t-shirts, sarongs, and sandals for the day, and light slacks/polo shirts for the evening. There is no formal dress in Yap, so dress casual and be comfortable. Sunscreens are available at hotels and dive shops, but if you have a particular brand you like, bring your own supply. Hats are worn by just about everybody to keep out the sun, and good sunglasses are essential for boating.

What diving equipment should I bring?

We have a full rental department, or you can bring your own. If you are bringing a camera, bring lots of film, batteries and any accessories you might need. Supplies are limited here and not easy to come by.

What is the best season for diving?

Diving is good year round, with the Trade Winds blowing from November to May. During these months, we dive with the mantas in Mi'il Channel, and our reef dives are at the southern tip of the island. boat rides for the reefs can be rough at times, but the diving sites are calm and safe. In the summer months, June through October, we dive in both Mi'il and Goofnuw Channels for the mantas, and all of the reefs around Yap, as the winds cease and the ocean is usually calm.

How long should I stay in Yap?

With our current flight schedule, guests can stay anywhere from two to seven nights or more. Visits of five to seven days is typical, with some guests staying three weeks or more. All of the attention has been aimed towards the mantas, but Yap's reefs and walls are spectacular, with healthy hard and soft corals, sharks, schools of fish, and turtles. Many divers that come for only a couple of days leave disappointed, having learned once they arrived that they'll be missing out on some of Micronesia's best diving.

I've heard about tides affecting the mantas. Will this affect my experience?

The tides don't affect the mantas, but rather our departure times and overall experience. Best visibility in the channels is on an incoming tide. We also need to get to the sites, which might not be accessible at low tide. Many other factors influence the visibility, though, such as the moon phase, so email us for the tidal conditions during your intended visit, and we'll highlight the best times for seeing the mantas.

What is the dive day like?

Our typical two-tank dive day is about five hours in duration. Departure times vary, depending on the destination and weather. Boat rides are between 30-60 minutes, followed by a one hour dive, then a surface interval on the boat of about an hour and fifteen minutes, followed by another one hour dive, then back to the dock.

How many mantas do you usually see at a time?

Our guests see anywhere from one to thirty mantas on any given day, with six to eight more typical. Of course, there are days when we just don't see the mantas. Please remember they are wild mammals, and come and go at will. We are observing them being cleaned and feeding, and should feel fortunate to be able to witness such an experience.

Will I see sharks?

Most definitely, yes. Yap has lots of White Tips, Nurse, Gray Reef, Black Tip, Hammerhead, Tiger, Silver Tip, Oceanic White Tip, and Whale Sharks. And we do see sharks on just about every dive.

I don't want to be on a cattleboat. How many divers do you take at once?

We cater to smaller group sizes, because our staff doesn't enjoy cattleboats either. We usually take from one to four divers plus crew, but larger boats can be used for larger groups. The largest boat we use is set up for ten divers. For larger groups that want to dive together, we would utilize multiple boats.

What is the minimum number of divers needed for any of your trips?

One.

I'm thinking of bringing a group to Yap. What group sizes can you accommodate?

Currently, we can accommodate up to 18 divers /day.

What other dive sites are there?

Yap's reefs and walls offer very good diving. We have about thirty other dive sites that we visit regularly, besides the mantas.

Do you offer extra dives, and night dives?

Yes. We offer third dives, fourth dives, and one-tank night dives daily.

Is Nitrox / Enriched Air available, and what is the mix?

Yes, we are able to offer Nitrox, or Enriched Air, to those guests that have been trained and certified for its use. The mix is a standard 32% blend. We have an Oxygen analyzer for the guests that wish to use Nitrox. Our guides use Nitrox as well, so whether you're on air or Nitrox, you will always have our guide with you on the dive.

What is a "Macro Dive", and do you offer it?

Yes, we offer macro dives. These are dives that focus on smaller critters, such as lionfish and gobies, or the exotic mandarinfish. These dives are generally conducted as late afternoon or early evening one-tank dive trips. Photographers, remember to bring your macro lenses!

Do you go ashore between dives?

Not usually, because all land in Yap is privately owned, and permission needs to be obtained prior to going ashore. Also, the inshore areas are relatively shallow, and not always accessible by boat.

What is the typical dive profile?

We encourage guests to use dive computers, for safety and to maximize their time. Manta dives are between 50 and 75 feet (16-25 meters), and the reefs and walls start at about 10 feet, and plummet to well over a hundred feet (33 meters). We suggest divers keep their dives to 60 ft. (18 meters) or shallower for greatest enjoyment.

I am a beginner diver. Is it okay for me to dive in Yap, or is it strictly advanced diving?

The diving in Yap is good for beginners as well as advanced divers. We run our trips with safety in mind, and most of the sites are fine for new divers. Some sites are better suited for divers with more training under their weight belt, so we schedule our boats with these factors in mind.

Are your dives guided?

Yes, all of our dives are led by our guides; some of the most experienced in all of Yap.

Is there beach diving in Yap?

No. The reef is too far from land to make any beach dives.

What do I do for lunch?

Beyond The Reef provides a fresh snack on the boat, either some home cooked sweet breads, pastries, or island fruit. Your hotel can prepare a picnic lunch for you, if requested the day before the dive trip. We provide ice cold drinking water, and hot chocolate for an "after dive warm up".

Are the hotels and other dive shops close to your operation?

Yes, three out of Yap's four dive shops are within five minutes walk of each other. Most of the hotels are within this same distance as well.

Can I leave my dive equipment at your shop overnight?

Yes. We have a secure overnight equipment locker, so you don't have to lug heavy equipment back and forth to your hotel each day. We also provide free transportation between hotels in Colonia and our shop, and we'll help with your equipment bags. We want to make your dive vacation as effortless and enjoyable as possible.

How long are the boat rides?

The boat rides are between 5 and 60 minutes, depending on the destination.

I am a certified diver, but my spouse is not. Are there other activities for non divers?

Yes. Sight-seeing, biking, sailing, snorkeling, fishing, swimming, shopping, and hiking are available, as well as dive classes, from one day introductory classes to five day certification courses.

Where is the nearest Recompression Chamber, and who is in charge of it?

Yap has its own recompression facility, owned by the Yap State Health Department, located at the hospital in Colonia, and operated by volunteers from both the hospital and the diving community.

Do I need diving insurance?

Although not required, dive insurance in encouraged. Should a diver need treatment in Yap's recompression facility, or evacuated to another location, insurance will help defray the enormous costs involved. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) has reasonable rates for full insurance coverage. For more information, visit them at http://www.diversalertnetwork.org.

Is Yap a place to bring the whole family?

Sure. Bringing a family to Yap is a wonderful experience for children and parents alike.

Are there any luxury resorts in Yap?

Traders' Ridge Resort is Yap's only luxury resort.

I am more interested in a "local style" hotel. Where would you recommend we stay?

For locally constructed cottages, we recommend the Pathways Hotel.

Are there any budget accommodations?

The Ocean View Hotel is Yap's least expensive hotel, with the ESA Bay View being next. Both hotels are clean and well run. The ESA has a good restaurant and a new bakery that's fantastic!

I want to really experience the island lifestyle. Can I stay with a local family?

Yes. Homestays can be arranged through the Yap Visitors' Bureau. Homestays are an economical and educational accommodation.

How do I get around the island?

There are many taxi companies, and transportation is cheap. Fifty cents to one dollar anywhere in town, and about twelve dollars to the furthest point of the island. There are public buses for 50 cents that operate each morning and evening, bringing people to work and home again at the end of the day. Rental cars vary in price from about $38.00-$50.00 / day.

Are there many restaurants on the island?

There are about eight restaurants in Colonia, with most of the hotels having their own, plus a few independant eateries, like the Marina Restaurant, adjacent to Beyond The Reef.

I have heard about Yap's intact culture, and I don't want to offend anyone. What should I wear or do when visiting the villages?

Women should cover their thighs when in public places. Long shorts (down to the knee) or sarongs are fine, as are jeans or slacks. Men should also not wear shorts that are "too short". Bathing suits should be used for swimming or on the boat only (or when lounging by the pool at Traders' Ridge Resort).

What time zone is Yap in?

Yap is GMT + 10 hrs. We are ten hours ahead of London, 15 hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast, and one hour ahead of Tokyo. We are in the same time zone as Sydney, Australia and Guam. Yap does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Is there a general guidebook to Micronesia?

Neil Levy's Micronesia Handbook http://www.southpacific.org/micro.html covers the entire region from the Marshalls to Palau.

Is there a good dive or snorkeling guide book to Yap?

There sure are! Dave Vecella, owner of Beyond The Reef, has written a very comprehensive guide book to all of Yap's sites. The book, which is only available in electronic format here, is filled with photos, highlights and facts from each site.

Also, Tim Rock of Guam has written a comprehensive guide book to both Guam and Yap and can be purchased at Amazon.com. It's called "Guam and Yap" and it's part of the Lonely Planet series of underwater guide books.