Yap and Pohnpei

[tracydr]

My husband wants to dive wrecks on truk and I'd like to add Yap or somewhere else to the trip. Which would you recommend?
That vertigo dive sounds awesome but really want to see mantas and unique types of fish.
Do any of the Micronesia places have any shore diving to speak of? Or kayak diving?

 

[MikeSK]

Yap has been on my shortlist forever. Just...expensive to get there.

I'm wondering if anyone that has gone has done the Manta specialty course? Wondering if its at all interesting or just "another c-card"

 

[sharkbait98]

Instead of going to Yap, go to Pohnpei. I think it has alot more diversity underwater, but if you want sharks then go to Yap. I wouldn't take the Manta course. If you want to educate yourself then there must be places online free for that. Just my personal opinion

Sharkbait

 

[HBO MD]

Thanks for a great report!
What do you think is the best time of the year to go?

 

[deveyn]

My husband wants to dive wrecks on truk and I'd like to add Yap or somewhere else to the trip. Which would you recommend?
That vertigo dive sounds awesome but really want to see mantas and unique types of fish.
Do any of the Micronesia places have any shore diving to speak of? Or kayak diving?

I live in Pohnpei.

However, you should definitely add Yap to your itinerary.

If you're going to be in Chuuk, be sure to contact Kelvin at the Truk Stop and tell him that Dan sent you. I had a great time diving the wrecks with him the last time I was there.

If you're going to Pohnpei, there are plenty of great dive spots here, including the one we call, "Manta Road."

If you're going to make it out here you can reach me at deveyn@gmail.com and I can help you get set up with some diving.

As far as shore/kayak diving, there isn't much here and the water in the lagoon isn't really something you want to be swimming in anyway.

If you really want some great diving, then you need to get to Ant Atoll. However there are plenty of other great spots here.

Dan

 

[deveyn]

There is actually another dive operation on the island with fully certified divemasters and plenty of rental gear. They haven't gotten a site together yet or any formal booking operations but if you ask around with the local expats here, we all know him and use him frequently. Aside from that, there is a local dive shop where you can rent gear/tanks and if you know the right people you can get a boat to take you wherever you like.

 

[funscuba]

A manta speciality course, seriously, does that exist ? For doing what ?
Soon there's gonna be a shark course LOL.

 

[MikeSK]

A manta speciality course, seriously, does that exist ? For doing what ?

Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers in Yap, Micronesia :: Diving Courses

MANTA RAY AWARENESS
A PADI specialty course to answer all your questions about mantas. Topics cover manta anatomy, feeding and mating behaviors, cleaning stations and seasonal movement. A specialty unique to Yap, the ultimate souvenir certification card signed by the manta man Bill Acker himself. Course is a one day single lecture followed by two dives with the mantas of M'il and Goofnuw Channels. Includes all materials and instruction, diving is on your pre-paid package or a la carte. Cost is $75.00 plus diving.

Soon there's gonna be a shark course

Great White Shark Awareness Diver Distinctive Specialty with Shark Safaris.co.za. A unique specialist course and safari in South Africa.

There's also apparently a Dolphin Awareness in Roatan.

For the manta and great white, I'd take em simply because if i actually make it there on vacation...why not? They're both pretty much once in a lifetime destination. They're basically just a really expensive t-shirt :cool2:

 

[turkbalikadam]

Hey thanks for the update on Pohnepei. I am looking to go there one day. I have been to yap three times, and always try and dive Yap Caverns and the wall on the south. I've seen my mantas, I'm cool with that, I love the outer reefs/Walls of Yap, it's always clear, and actually I've seen so many mantas in blue water there.

I dived with Yap Divers and they did take me to Miil a few times, but that's where the Mantas were, and everybody on that boat wanted Mantas. The next day, I went on the "outer reef boat" and never looked back. Outside outside outside for me, Yap's best kept secret is its outer reefs.

Now I have to get to Pohnepei. Get thee behind me financial crisis.