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Dive Review of Yap - Manta Ray Bay Hotel/Same in
Micronesia/Yap and Palau

Yap - Manta Ray Bay Hotel/Same, Mar, 2005,

by Dale Thompson, CA, USA . Report 1642.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 2 stars Food 2 stars
Service and Attitude 2 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 3 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 2 stars
Comments Like many went there for the mantas and was not disappointed. During three days of diving (about the right length of time for Yap) had 3 dives in the channel frequented by manatas for cleaning stations - and, at this time for year, for mating. So even in 30 - 40 foot visibility (tidal surge through channel) at one time we saw up to 16 mantas either slowly drifting past cleaning stations or females working up and down the channel with 2-3 males trailing each. Other dive of note was twilight dive in shallos of lagoon for mandarin fish. This is mating season and they come up out of the coral heads and spiral free swimming in the water in pairs. Rest of dives along reef so-so. Boats old and not overly well equipped - no tank racks, benches, or adequate seating. Don BC and tank while standing or perched on narrow boat rail, both hazardous when the chop is up as it was for two of three days, then back roll entry. Scramble up narrow ladder back on baord.
Manta Ray Bay Hotel has seen better years (indeed it looks like it's seen better decades - but it's not that old). Rooms in poor condition, a/c marginal, lights not working, doors to balcony hard to operate/inop, screen doors propped to side as an interesting statement in fashion I suppose. Hotel and restaurant service friendly, slow, willing, and sometimes (not often) competent. May have been poor due to absence of owner during our stay on business trip off island.
Very disappointed upon arrival on the island to find a much newer, first class hotel and dive operation - Trader's Ridge Resort - which we had not been told about by our tour agency - Trip-N-Tour. Had dinner there and spoke to the owner who has contracted rates for a only a little more than the Manta Ray Bay dump. Strongly recommned others double check this tour operator's work with web research on available hotels and dive shops before making payment. We certainly will, should we use them again.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 501-1000 dives
Where else diving Southern california, Cayman, Littel Cayman, Cozumel, Belize, Bahamas
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, choppy
Water Temp 81-82°F / 27-28°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 30-70 Ft/ 9-21 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions Buddy diving, but loosely enforeced underwater, responsible for own profile using computer.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

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

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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