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Dive Review of Manta Ray Bay in
Micronesia/Yap

Manta Ray Bay, Jun, 2009,

by Martha & Jeff Hubbard, ny, US (Top Contributor Top Contributor 32 reports with 17 Helpful votes). Report 5073.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments We went to Manta Ray Bay for the mantas, and we saw, admired, and photographed a lot of mantas. The well-kept Yap secret, though, is that the diving on the fringing reef is magnificent . . . as good as most reef dives in Palau or Fiji. The dive guides are careful and attentive. “Can you get me where I can photograph mantas head-on instead of shooting up toward the surface?” Answer: “That’s my job” – and he did! The accommodations at MRB are excellent (occupancy was low when we were there.) We had a spacious and well air-conditioned room on the first floor with a little outside “dip pool” which was enjoyable.
The dining isn’t up to the high standards of the diving and accommodations. The restaurant is an Indonesian ship, imaginatively restored and converted to a three-level restaurant and bar before being sailed to Yap. Breakfast was good, and the dinner pizza was tasty, but almost all other food draws on Yapese cuisine to the near exclusion of what is likely to appeal to Americans or Europeans. We aren’t picky eaters, and in twenty-five years of dive resorts and boats around the world we have eaten and enjoyed some odd stuff, but Yapese food was beyond us. The morning dive returns between 12 and 12:30 but the restaurant doesn’t open until - 2:30! There is a nice, much cheaper and air-conditioned place for lunch across the road.
Typically two morning dives, one in the afternoon, one at night - dive when you want. No shore diving from the hotel property – we never heard about anywhere else, either. The dive boats are comfortable and the runs to dive sites are scenic. The guides are personable and expert, and will plan dives to accommodate travel plans. One explained to us that we were going to one manta channel two days running because other divers were leaving the next day. A very nice touch – how many dive guides explain why they’re taking you where they are? Nitrox if you want it - don't really need it - but no facility for O2 analysis.
Visit Yap for the mantas – they are magnificent - but get in a few reef dives, too.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience Over 1000 dives
Where else diving Caribbean, PNG, Fiji, Australia, Hawai'i, Palau, Truk, Brazil
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 84-86°F / 29-30°C Wetsuit Thickness
Water Visibility 20-100 Ft/ 6-30 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas Squadrons
Dolphins 1 or 2 Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 3 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities 4 stars
UW Photo Comments Safe place for camera on boat but no table or tank. Guides help with camera and are excellent at positioning photographers for best manta shots. Photo pro Julie was extremely expert & helpful.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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