Yap is situated in the Western Caroline Islands, South of Guam and North of Papua New Guinea. Over 140 islands make up the state of Yap but most of the population live on four high volcanic islands that make up Yap proper – Yap, Tomil-Gagil, Maap & Rumung. Despite a series of occupations by the Spanish, Germans, Japanese and then a US administration, it has somehow managed to hold onto its traditions and culture more than other parts of Micronesia. 
The island is famous for Stone Money – huge white doughnuts of crystalline limestone – that is still legal tender on Yap today. They were actually quarried in Palau as far back as 125 AD and then paddled back in wooden outrigger canoes so their value is not just determined by the quality of the stone and carving, but how hazardous the 500-mile journey was.The traditional dress is bright loincloths for men and woven grass skirts for women, so the bare-breasted locals waiting outside the Arrivals Hall is the subject of many a ‘trip report’ on Yap. It’s certainly quite different to see semi-naked grannies in the grocery store with a shopping basket or loin-clothed men in the dvd rental store!
The capital is Colonia and that’s where Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers are based. Bill Acker is originally from the US and came to Yap about 30 years ago with the Peace Corps and never went home. He and his wife Patricia (from Yap) designed and built the resort and have expanded it over the years to 35 guest rooms.
Bill bought a 40m South Pacific Schooner a few years ago and it is now moored in the lagoon next to the hotel and has been converted into a very cool bar & restaurant. And…they even have their own microbrewery! Manta Gold and Manta Dark are brewed on the premises and can be combined like a Black & Tan (or Texas Two-Step) and all three taste great!Bill opened Yap Divers in 1989 and it has become one of the premier dive destinations in the Pacific, famed for its Manta Rays, caverns, walls and pristine coral. Bill & Patricia took us diving and we went to Gufnuw Channel – one of the places that the Manta come in to get serviced at the cleaning stations.
On both dives huge Manta Ray (so enormous I forgot to breathe) passed right over our heads. While we hovered in the channel waiting for the next pass, we saw nudibranchs the size of bananas mating and laying ribbons of pink egg cases, pipefish, white-tip sharks and the coral was incredible too. 
The more time we spent with the Ackers and their 75 staff, we realized that we would be very happy here - so the deal was done and we start work as soon as we have finished our contract in Papua New Guinea!
All too soon we were back on the plane to Guam for another 12 hour layover, some shopping and a quick lunch with Jim & Bonnie. Then back to Cairns for our flight to PNG on July 15th.
All too soon we were back on the plane to Guam for another 12 hour layover, some shopping and a quick lunch with Jim & Bonnie. Then back to Cairns for our flight to PNG on July 15th.
