Yap is the most intriguing island in Micronesia, just over an hour's flight from Guam or Palau, but worlds away in terms of culture. It is a land steeped in ancient traditions, fascinating legends, and peopled by one of the most distinctive cultures in the Pacific. Attractions like a handmade seaside men's house, cultural village tours, huge, ancient stone money discs and stone money banks, dancing, handicraft making, marine life and mangrove forests highlight a visit to this unique outpost.

Yap is famous for its clear waters where schools of tuna, dolphins and reef fish are found in abundance. Observing the greatly varied marine life on the reefs and in the channels has become a must for divers around the world. While clear waters and sheer dropoffs certainly describe Yap's diving, one fact stands above the rest. Yap is the world's foremost destination for seeing manta rays up close and personal. There is no other place on earth where they can be seen on such a consistent basis year round. This fact has catapulted Yap to the top on all lists of the finest diving attractions in the world.

Diving

Yap is world famous for its large population of resident manta rays. On Yap a manta dive does not mean diving hoping for a manta encounter, it means diving to see the mantas. Although the mantaray dives in Yap's channels are the main reason to visit the island as diver, there is also some reef diving around the islands. Yap's outer reefs abound with species of tropical reef fishes, invertebrates and hard corals. When coupled with the abundance of larger species like mantas, sharks, and turtles, Yap is a paradise for the underwater photographer or videographer.

Other Activities

For the active person, there's plenty to do on land and in the ocean. Visitors can expect to go mountain biking, hike on an ancient stone path or try some deep sea fishing, or, just take a nap under a coconut tree on one of Yap's many unspoilt beaches. The people of Yap are shy but warm. They don't mind visitors who are respectful and appreciative of their lifestyle. With a little coaxing, the visitor may soon find his or herself helping with a chore, like launching a canoe or weaving a basket to carry coconuts. This special kind of island encounter is not unusual on Yap and is part of the Yapese spirit that makes the island so enticing and enchanting.

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