YAP ISLAND, MICRONESIA - MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL
(Please feel free to phone our USA office any time, for prices & info: 612-yyy-zzzz.)
ABOUT BILL ACKER, the WELL-LOVED FOUNDER of MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL:
Bill Acker, founder of the Manta Ray Bay Hotel and Yap Divers is proud to share his love of Yap and diving with quests from all over the world. A resident of Yap for almost 30 years, Bill is eminently qualified to make your Micronesian dive experience one that you'll never forget. Bill first came to Yap as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 1976. Bill Acker originally hails from Austin, Texas and after graduating from High School in Garland, he attended the University of Texas where he graduated with a degree in marketing. Bill is constantly asked "What brought you to Yap?" and invariably answers with tales of reading Mitchner, Conrad and Kipling plus watching anything produced about the South Pacific. The lure of the tropics has been in Bill’s blood since his early childhood days.
After two years in the Peace Corps, Bill Acker studied at the University of Hawaii Graduate School of Business and was there two years when a call for assistance came from old friends and "family" in Yap. Bill left Honolulu and became the manager of the WAAB Transportation Company where he stayed for the next 13 years. As part of his accomplishments while directing WAAB Transportation, Bill took up the sport of scuba diving. One thing led to another and one of the results of this new hobby became known as Yap Divers. Bill conceived the idea of opening Yap’s first dive shop in the fall of 1985 and by the Summer of 1986, Yap Diver’s was affiliated with both NAUI and PADI and opened for business. As they say, "The rest is history".
With guidance from the late Paul Tzimoulis, Hall of Fame dive pioneer and publisher of SKIN DIVER MAGAZINE, Bill developed the manta dives and the publicity that has culminated in Yap being one of the top international dive destinations in the world. With very few exceptions, all of the dive sites in Yap were found, explored and named by Bill. With over 9,000 dives in the waters of Yap, Bill is a member of the original class of SSI Platinum Pro Divers. As a PADI instructor, Bill remains active in exploring new dive sites and teaching the sport to people interested in sharing his love for the ocean environment.
Along the way, Bill met and married Patricia Mangthin of Yap and they have 4 wonderful children (Numie, Nathan, Valerie and Opie). All of the family are active in the sport of diving and share in their father’s commitment to safety and preservation of this natural resource. Bill and his family own and operate the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers. He can be found at the hotel 7 days a week, ready to help with suggestions on diving, photography, fishing or just relaxing on the back deck. As a family owned and operated dive resort, you can be sure that your satisfaction is taken very seriously and that the "boss" is around to help you in the event assistance is required.
THE FAMOUS MANTA RAYS of YAP ISLAND:
Yap is world famous for it's large population of resident manta rays. On Yap island a manta dive does not mean you submerge just hoping for a manta encounter, it means diving to see the mantas - any day, any time, it's a given. Manta Ray Bay Hotel has made Yap famous for it's large population of resident Manta Rays. Yap is probably the best place on earth to see these gentle giants, & Yap Divers is expert at showing them to you. Over 100 Manta Rays live year round in the waters surrounding Yap. In the winter (usually December to late April) the Mantas congregate in even greater numbers in Mi'l Channel for the mating season. During the summer season, they spend their mornings in Goofnuw channel in the Valley of the Rays, one epicenter of Yap dive vacations. There are few dive resorts like Manta Ray Bay Hotel anywhere in the world, where large fish like this are so plentiful & used to divers. Never a dull day with Yap diving, all ye funseekers!
Every morning on your Yap diving vacation, huge Manta Rays cruise into protected channels that penetrate the barrier reef. They come to "Cleaning Stations" where small specialized reef fishes called cleaners pick off tiny parasites that the Mantas pick up in blue water while feeding. The Mantas slowly circle the cleaning station & frequently pass within inches of the observing diver's heads. Small Mantas are generally about 8 feet from wingtip to wingtip. The largest rays are up to 14 feet across.
During the Manta mating season (December to late April), processions of as many as a dozen of the huge Rays can be seen cruising back & forth in Mi'l Channel. Yap Divers has identified several Manta cleaning stations, & guides are expert at finding the Mantas. These savvy guides make Yap dive vacations an adventure to remember.
MORE YAP DIVING HIGHLIGHTS:There's much more to a Yap diving vacation than just manta rays, however. Yap's outer reefs abound with many multi-colored species of tropical reef fishes, invertebrates & corals. When coupled with the abundance of larger species like mantas, sharks, & turtles, Yap is a paradise for the underwater photographer or videographer. More than 200 species of hard & soft corals form the reefs of Yap.
A dive site called Yap Caverns, at the southern tip of the island, offers a truly spectacular dive with an array of caverns, swim-throughs & pinnacles populated by Lionfish & sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Large schools of Huge Bumphead Parrotfish are often seen here. A unique feature of Yap Caverns is that the dive is not restricted to advanced divers, & beginners have no trouble negotiating the swim throughs. Therefore novices are able to share an experience of rare beauty otherwise reserved for more experienced divers.
The reefs on the east side of the island (windward side) feature gently sloping terraces with one of the most diverse selections of hard corals in Micronesia. The west side of the island (lee side) is composed of a series of vertical walls starting in 15 feet of water & plunging straight down hundreds of feet. The visibility on the reefs usually exceeds 100 feet & frequently is over 150 ft. Yap diving, is often blessed with this extra-terrestrial viz, experts confirm.
Many species of marine creatures that are rare in some parts of the world are plentiful in Yap island. Dive sites such as Lionfish Wall offer a chance to experience the beauty of a pristine coral reef. One perpetual favorite of divers is the colorful clownfish. Five species can be seen in Yap on most scuba diving tours. Some of the anemones they live in are over four feet across & host dozens of clowns at one time. Who says Yap dive vacations are all manta rays? The critters abound down here. So send in the clowns!
Yap is world famous for it's large population of resident manta rays. On Yap island a manta dive does not mean you submerge just hoping for a manta encounter, it means diving to see the mantas - any day, any time, it's a given. Manta Ray Bay Hotel has made Yap famous for it's large population of resident Manta Rays. Yap is probably the best place on earth to see these gentle giants, & Yap Divers is expert at showing them to you. Over 100 Manta Rays live year round in the waters surrounding Yap. In the winter (usually December to late April) the Mantas congregate in even greater numbers in Mi'l Channel for the mating season. During the summer season, they spend their mornings in Goofnuw channel in the Valley of the Rays, one epicenter of Yap dive vacations. There are few dive resorts like Manta Ray Bay Hotel anywhere in the world, where large fish like this are so plentiful & used to divers. Never a dull day with Yap diving, all ye funseekers!
Every morning on your Yap diving vacation, huge Manta Rays cruise into protected channels that penetrate the barrier reef. They come to "Cleaning Stations" where small specialized reef fishes called cleaners pick off tiny parasites that the Mantas pick up in blue water while feeding. The Mantas slowly circle the cleaning station & frequently pass within inches of the observing diver's heads. Small Mantas are generally about 8 feet from wingtip to wingtip. The largest rays are up to 14 feet across.
During the Manta mating season (December to late April), processions of as many as a dozen of the huge Rays can be seen cruising back & forth in Mi'l Channel. Yap Divers has identified several Manta cleaning stations, & guides are expert at finding the Mantas. These savvy guides make Yap dive vacations an adventure to remember.
MORE YAP DIVING HIGHLIGHTS:There's much more to a Yap diving vacation than just manta rays, however. Yap's outer reefs abound with many multi-colored species of tropical reef fishes, invertebrates & corals. When coupled with the abundance of larger species like mantas, sharks, & turtles, Yap is a paradise for the underwater photographer or videographer. More than 200 species of hard & soft corals form the reefs of Yap.
A dive site called Yap Caverns, at the southern tip of the island, offers a truly spectacular dive with an array of caverns, swim-throughs & pinnacles populated by Lionfish & sleeping whitetip reef sharks. Large schools of Huge Bumphead Parrotfish are often seen here. A unique feature of Yap Caverns is that the dive is not restricted to advanced divers, & beginners have no trouble negotiating the swim throughs. Therefore novices are able to share an experience of rare beauty otherwise reserved for more experienced divers.
The reefs on the east side of the island (windward side) feature gently sloping terraces with one of the most diverse selections of hard corals in Micronesia. The west side of the island (lee side) is composed of a series of vertical walls starting in 15 feet of water & plunging straight down hundreds of feet. The visibility on the reefs usually exceeds 100 feet & frequently is over 150 ft. Yap diving, is often blessed with this extra-terrestrial viz, experts confirm.
Many species of marine creatures that are rare in some parts of the world are plentiful in Yap island. Dive sites such as Lionfish Wall offer a chance to experience the beauty of a pristine coral reef. One perpetual favorite of divers is the colorful clownfish. Five species can be seen in Yap on most scuba diving tours. Some of the anemones they live in are over four feet across & host dozens of clowns at one time. Who says Yap dive vacations are all manta rays? The critters abound down here. So send in the clowns!
BEAUTIFUL CLIMATE on YAP:
The climate in Yap is big time tropical -- hot & humid. Average year-round temperature is 81º F (27º C), with a 10º F (6º C) variation between night & day. The average water temperature is 82º F (28º C). Annual rainfall is 121 inches (3090 mm). Northeast tradewinds blow from November to May, resulting in less rain & lower humidity during these months. Typhoons are uncommon. The ones hitting other areas of the western Pacific during the typhoon season usually pass to the north of Yap Island Proper.
LUXURY FEATURES of the MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL:
The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is a dedicated dive resort, designed by divers & built for divers. Its 28 beautifully refurbished rooms offer air conditioning, satellite TV, in-room fridges, & VCR's. The hotel was built with scuba divers in mind. All of the dive facilities & equipment storage are conveniently located within steps of the Hotel. Yap Divers, located on the premises, offers a full service dive shop, all levels of instruction, Mares equipment rental, morning & afternoon two tank dives to either the Manta sites or the reefs, & night dives on request.
Along with these classic Yap diving vacation packages, we also offer world class fishing with Yap Anglers, & an opportunity to explore the wildlife & nature by kayaking with Yap's Planet Blue Kayak Tours. The third floor of the hotel houses the Manta Ray Grill, the Island's finest restaurant with a great view of the lagoon. Our Yap diving guests can also enjoy a refreshing tropical drink in the Nautical Weaver Bar on the ground floor right at the edge of the sea.
The visual theme of the entire redecorated hotel is "vivid marine life." Each distinctly designed room bears a fish name, and is decorated accordingly, with photographs & paintings of that fish, right down to the hand carved key chains and handmade bedspreads. The double doors connecting the rooms of the suite are adorned with carvings of manta rays. The hotel has been expanded to 28 rooms, including 15 Ocean View, 4 Deluxe Ocean View and 9 Standard. The Ocean View rooms are located on the seaward side of the hotel, providing a nice view of the lagoon from their private balconies. The Standard rooms are located on the opposite side, overlooking the road and the hills beyond.
One of the Deluxe Ocean View rooms is located on the 3rd floor and has a private spiral staircase leading to an exclusive roof top Jacuzzi and sun deck. We can offer a suite by opening adjoining doors in the Deluxe Ocean View Room. The suite includes two full bathrooms, one king size bed and two queen size beds, two balconies and two TV/VCRs. Two other Deluxe Ocean View Rooms are located on the ground floor, each having a huge private deck extending over the lagoon with a private plunge pool. There is an antique king-size bed in each of these rooms. Our newest Deluxe Ocean View Room is on the 3rd floor and is a mini-suite with a king-sized bed, tropical hardwood flooring in the bedroom portion, a sitting area and a unique indoor garden shower.
The first floor has 5 rooms with a queen size waterbed and a queen size regular bed per room. Most of the rooms on the second and third floors have two queen size regular beds per room. A few rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors have 1 king size bed per room. The Deluxe Ocean View Rooms have one king size antique bed. All rooms are air-conditioned and have ceiling fan, color TV/VCR, international direct dial telephone, refrigerator (upon request), private bathroom with hot water and built-in hair dryer, as well as a private balcony with the Ocean View and Deluxe Ocean View Rooms. Most rooms have built-in electronic safes and for those rooms that do not have these feature, a bank of individual safes is located at the Front Desk. In addition, we have installed a sophisticated and highly efficient water purification and treatment system, resulting in fully potable in-room tap water. Our 20,000 gallon storage tank means that the Manta Ray Bay always has 24 hour water, which is a unique bonus in the dry season on an island.
The climate in Yap is big time tropical -- hot & humid. Average year-round temperature is 81º F (27º C), with a 10º F (6º C) variation between night & day. The average water temperature is 82º F (28º C). Annual rainfall is 121 inches (3090 mm). Northeast tradewinds blow from November to May, resulting in less rain & lower humidity during these months. Typhoons are uncommon. The ones hitting other areas of the western Pacific during the typhoon season usually pass to the north of Yap Island Proper.
LUXURY FEATURES of the MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL:
The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is a dedicated dive resort, designed by divers & built for divers. Its 28 beautifully refurbished rooms offer air conditioning, satellite TV, in-room fridges, & VCR's. The hotel was built with scuba divers in mind. All of the dive facilities & equipment storage are conveniently located within steps of the Hotel. Yap Divers, located on the premises, offers a full service dive shop, all levels of instruction, Mares equipment rental, morning & afternoon two tank dives to either the Manta sites or the reefs, & night dives on request.
Along with these classic Yap diving vacation packages, we also offer world class fishing with Yap Anglers, & an opportunity to explore the wildlife & nature by kayaking with Yap's Planet Blue Kayak Tours. The third floor of the hotel houses the Manta Ray Grill, the Island's finest restaurant with a great view of the lagoon. Our Yap diving guests can also enjoy a refreshing tropical drink in the Nautical Weaver Bar on the ground floor right at the edge of the sea.
The visual theme of the entire redecorated hotel is "vivid marine life." Each distinctly designed room bears a fish name, and is decorated accordingly, with photographs & paintings of that fish, right down to the hand carved key chains and handmade bedspreads. The double doors connecting the rooms of the suite are adorned with carvings of manta rays. The hotel has been expanded to 28 rooms, including 15 Ocean View, 4 Deluxe Ocean View and 9 Standard. The Ocean View rooms are located on the seaward side of the hotel, providing a nice view of the lagoon from their private balconies. The Standard rooms are located on the opposite side, overlooking the road and the hills beyond.
One of the Deluxe Ocean View rooms is located on the 3rd floor and has a private spiral staircase leading to an exclusive roof top Jacuzzi and sun deck. We can offer a suite by opening adjoining doors in the Deluxe Ocean View Room. The suite includes two full bathrooms, one king size bed and two queen size beds, two balconies and two TV/VCRs. Two other Deluxe Ocean View Rooms are located on the ground floor, each having a huge private deck extending over the lagoon with a private plunge pool. There is an antique king-size bed in each of these rooms. Our newest Deluxe Ocean View Room is on the 3rd floor and is a mini-suite with a king-sized bed, tropical hardwood flooring in the bedroom portion, a sitting area and a unique indoor garden shower.
The first floor has 5 rooms with a queen size waterbed and a queen size regular bed per room. Most of the rooms on the second and third floors have two queen size regular beds per room. A few rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors have 1 king size bed per room. The Deluxe Ocean View Rooms have one king size antique bed. All rooms are air-conditioned and have ceiling fan, color TV/VCR, international direct dial telephone, refrigerator (upon request), private bathroom with hot water and built-in hair dryer, as well as a private balcony with the Ocean View and Deluxe Ocean View Rooms. Most rooms have built-in electronic safes and for those rooms that do not have these feature, a bank of individual safes is located at the Front Desk. In addition, we have installed a sophisticated and highly efficient water purification and treatment system, resulting in fully potable in-room tap water. Our 20,000 gallon storage tank means that the Manta Ray Bay always has 24 hour water, which is a unique bonus in the dry season on an island.
AMENITIES of MANTA RAY BAY HOTEL:
The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is a 23 room establishment, comprising 1 Deluxe Ocean View (which features a Jacuzzi & a private deck area) + 13 Ocean Views + 9 Garden Views. All rooms are air-conditioned & have a ceiling fan, color TV with built-in VCR, satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, in-room fridges, private bathroom with hot water & a built in hair dryer, as well as a private balcony for the Ocean View rooms. In addition, there is a sophisticated & highly efficient water purification system, resulting in fully potable in-room tap water (the only hotel in Yap with this feature). The on-site 20,000-gallon storage tank means that Manta Ray Bay Hotel always has 24-hour potable water, which is a unique bonus in the dry season on this island.
Your Yap diving vacation will not be a rough-it adventure. Nor will it a glitzy touristy experience. It's right smack dab in the happy middle -- between exotic & no frills. The rooms are decorated in tropical elegance. Furniture is natural rattan with a tropical pastel fabric, & pots of exotic tropical plants can be found everywhere. The motif of the entire hotel is marine life. Each room bears a fish name, & is decorated accordingly, with photographs & paintings of that particular fish, right down to the hand carved key chain. The double doors connecting the rooms of the suite are adorned with carvings of -- what else? -- manta rays!
In the evening, you can wander over to the Nautical Weaver Deck & Bar, where you can relax & enjoy the spectacular view of the bay with an aperitif & a lively conversation about the days events with the other guests & staff members. Complement your evening by sampling the excellent cuisine prepared by executive chef Bill Munn, & then polish off your meal with a special dessert created by Caroline Munn, a certified pastry chef. The lodge's menu features European, Asian, & American foods, utilizing fresh seafood & produce from Yap along with the finest imported foods. (BTW: this smilin' gent below is the Manta Maven himself -- Bill Acker, the Manta Man... )
The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is a 23 room establishment, comprising 1 Deluxe Ocean View (which features a Jacuzzi & a private deck area) + 13 Ocean Views + 9 Garden Views. All rooms are air-conditioned & have a ceiling fan, color TV with built-in VCR, satellite TV, international direct-dial telephone, in-room fridges, private bathroom with hot water & a built in hair dryer, as well as a private balcony for the Ocean View rooms. In addition, there is a sophisticated & highly efficient water purification system, resulting in fully potable in-room tap water (the only hotel in Yap with this feature). The on-site 20,000-gallon storage tank means that Manta Ray Bay Hotel always has 24-hour potable water, which is a unique bonus in the dry season on this island.
Your Yap diving vacation will not be a rough-it adventure. Nor will it a glitzy touristy experience. It's right smack dab in the happy middle -- between exotic & no frills. The rooms are decorated in tropical elegance. Furniture is natural rattan with a tropical pastel fabric, & pots of exotic tropical plants can be found everywhere. The motif of the entire hotel is marine life. Each room bears a fish name, & is decorated accordingly, with photographs & paintings of that particular fish, right down to the hand carved key chain. The double doors connecting the rooms of the suite are adorned with carvings of -- what else? -- manta rays!
In the evening, you can wander over to the Nautical Weaver Deck & Bar, where you can relax & enjoy the spectacular view of the bay with an aperitif & a lively conversation about the days events with the other guests & staff members. Complement your evening by sampling the excellent cuisine prepared by executive chef Bill Munn, & then polish off your meal with a special dessert created by Caroline Munn, a certified pastry chef. The lodge's menu features European, Asian, & American foods, utilizing fresh seafood & produce from Yap along with the finest imported foods. (BTW: this smilin' gent below is the Manta Maven himself -- Bill Acker, the Manta Man... )
Click photo to enlarge.
For prices & more info, call John, Susan or L.J. at 612-yyy-zzzz.
For more details on Manta Ray Bay Hotel in Yap, click here.
All photos of resort + Yap village culture are © Copyright Manta Ray Bay Hotel. All rights reserved.
All diving photos are © Copyright specified photogs, as listed at hotlink above. All rights reserved.
For more details on Manta Ray Bay Hotel in Yap, click here.
All photos of resort + Yap village culture are © Copyright Manta Ray Bay Hotel. All rights reserved.
All diving photos are © Copyright specified photogs, as listed at hotlink above. All rights reserved.