Bill Acker

Owner, Instructor

Certifications: PADI Open Water Instructor #34545. TDI Enriched Air Instructor #1919. SSI Platinum Pro 5000 Member.

Bill founded Yap Divers in July 1986 and has pioneered the dive industry in Yap ever since. Most of the dive sites of Yap were personally discovered and named by Bill and he is always looking for new and better diving for his guests. With over 12,000 logged dives, most of them here in Yap, you can be sure that you are diving with an experienced professional when you dive with Bill. He regularly dives with the guests and continues to enjoy discovering new sites and new critters.

Bill is proud of what he has built at Yap Divers. It is the best equipped, most experienced dive shop around and has an impeccable safety record. Personal Promise: The Ocean is a very precious part of this world and we are very fortunate to have the technology to discover and enjoy the underwater wonders. My goal is to ensure that every person diving with Yap Divers has a safe and unique dive experience with memories to last a lifetime. Do we succeed with every person – no? But my personal promise to you is that we will continue improving and trying until we do succeed with every guest, every day, every dive.

Francis Gilmoon

Dive Operations Manager

Dive Certificatons: Assistant Instructor

From: Yap

Village: Dachngar, Rull

Born in Yap on March 3, 1974, graduated from Yap High School in 1992. Started working with Yap Divers in 2023. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is meeting new people and showing the marine environment from Yap to the world.

Francis is part of the Acker family as he is the first son-in-law of Bill and Patricia, being married to Numie. Francis spent twenty years as a government employee in the department of educaton before transitoning full-time into the family business as the dive operatons manager. He has always had a personal relatonship with the ocean, growing up on the westside of Yap into a family of fisherman and spending every available moment on the ocean learning the family secrets of fishing. His decision to switch over to the private sector was made easy when he realized that more effort was needed to revitalize the economy by boosting the survival of the sector. It also helped that it would mean he would be able to spend time doing two of his most favorite things; making new friends and being on his beloved ocean.

Favorite quote: “You get out of life what you put into it”

Nicholas “Nico” Erhieisap

Certificatons:Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Satewal

Born on Satawal Island on the 1st of May, 1965. Graduated from Outer Island High School on Ulithi Atoll in May 1984. Attended Palau Community College and studied business. Nico learned to dive with Yap Divers in 1996 and currently has over 7,000 dives around the island of Yap. Nico makes up 1/2 of the “A-Team”, along with Bill Acker, for his uncanny ability to find the manta rays on every dive.

Favorite Dive: Yap Caverns because on every dive you can see everything from extra small to extra large. From leaf fish to whale sharks (yes I really have seen one there). The crystal clear water on the walls, the shark cleaning station, the occasional pod of dolphins just adds flavor to the macro life found in the sandy parts of the Caverns.

Gordon Keiji

Dive Master, Boat Captain, Brewmaster’s Assistant, Baker

Certificatons:Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap

Born in Yap on the 25th of November 1970 and graduated from Yap High School in 1988. Began working in the hospitality industry immediately after school. His first job was as a jack of all trades for the Alphonso Family, owners of the ESA Hotel. In June of 1997 Gordon moved to Beyond the Reef dive shop and was a dive guide for them until he had to leave work in early 2006 to take care of his parents. Tragically, Gordon’s mom passed away but his father has made vast improvements allowing Gordon to resume doing what he does best – scuba diving. Gordon came to Yap Divers on Halloween of 2006 and has quickly become one of our most dependable guides. He has over 3,000 dives in and around the reefs of Yap.

Update: Gordon has been taken under the tutelage of our brew master Fredy to learn the secrets of our world renowned manta brew. Not only is he learning about beer, but he is bringing Fredy’s culinary skills to light by learning a few baking skill secrets from him. Not only will you be drinking delicious beer while with us, but you’ll be refreshed on the dive boat with a tasty pastry treat made by Gordon himself.

Favorite Dive: The Manta dives because those dives offer a combination of everything. Obviously, the guests are here for the mantas and to help our guests get up close and personal with these magnificent animals is a big thrill for me. I also like all of the other marine life in the channels with the rays.

Frank Kugol

Certificatons:Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Palau

Village: Nel, Kanifay

Born in Yap on July 26, 1981, and graduated from JFK in 2001. Started working with Yap Divers in 2017. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is the professionalism and the upgrade of the hotel itself.

Favorite quote: (YOLO) “You only live once.”

Ferrario “Ferr” Olengellel

Certificatons: Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Palau

Village: Tanayboch, Rull

Born in Palau on Nov 1, 1983, and graduated from Yap High School in 2002. Started working with Yap Divers in 2016. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is going diving.

Favorite quote: “Keep moving forward.”

Kionie Yalwairh

Certificatons: Compressor Operator, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Satewal

Village: Gitam, Rull

Born in Satewal on March 2, 1971, and graduated from Job corp. New Port organ in 1988. Started working with Yap Divers in 2007. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is that I enjoy the works I do and the new people I meet each day.

Favorite quote: “Nothing stays the same.”

Andrew “Andy” Teteth

Certificatons: Dive Master

From: Yap

Village: Yinuf, Rull

Born in Yap on June 3, 1996, graduated from Yap High School in 2014. Started working with Yap Divers in 2023. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is going diving with new people every day.

Favorite quote: “Safety First”

John Paul “JP” Rapisilmal

Certificatons:Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Woleai

Village: Gitam, Rull

Born in Yap on August 2, 1981, graduated from Neighboring Island High School in 2001. Started working with Yap Divers in 2018. What I love the most about working with Yap Divers is geeng to know or meet different people each day.

Favorite quote: “Don’t waste your time on things you cannot control.”

Brian Epulomar

Certificatons:Dive Master, Boat Captain

From: Yap/Satewal

Village: Gitam, Rull

Born in Yap on Dec 24, 1983, graduated from Outer Island High School in 2008. Started working with Yap Divers in 2016. What I love most about working with Yap Divers is the benefits I get, which I learn new things every day and I have fun doing the work I do.

Favorite quote: “Be happy with what you have.”