Yeeeeeehaaaaaa! 2nd Year Back & Still Going Strong!
The crew has been having so much fun at the resort with groups of divers and snorkelers, even a few of our repeat guests have made their way home to Yap in the past couple of months. The mantas have also been excited having their friends back to swim with them. We have had some great manta sightings, from just a couple to more than ten mantas at a time.
As we’re trying to better ourselves and our resort services, the island seems to be following suit as well, from great internet service to providing ESPN services. This allowed our first big group from the US, the Dolphin Scuba Group, to enjoy the Super Bowl on the S/V Mnuw, our over a century old Indonesia Phinisi floating restaurant.
It’s not a secret that getting to Yap is not the easiest feat to overcome, but it is worth it! It is also a godsend that our domestic airline, Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA), has picked up the slack and is continuing their weekly flight service between Palau and Yap. Since starting this direct flight between Yap and Palau, PMA has proven to be a reliable and consistent flight service provider. Not only are they doing weekly flights but they are available for charters as well.
We are also proud to announce that it is now easier to do a Yap-Palau combo trip with the help of both United Airlines and PMA. We are continuing to work hard on making your travels as easy and comfortable as possible, especially between Yap and Palau, by offering ticketing services with PMA and providing day room rates in Guam.
We Will Be In Your Part of the World
My wife, Patricia, and I will be at this year’s SCUBA Show which will be held at the LA Convention Center instead of Long Beach. This event will be from the 1st of June to the 2nd; we are located at booth #237. We hope to see our friends at the show. We will also be attending the DEMA Show in Las Vegas in November if you’re unable to be at the SCUBA Show.
For our European friends, we will again be at the BOOT Show in Dusseldorf and our good friend and ambassador, Klaus Neumann, will be representing us at the Interdive Show in Friedrichshafen. Detlef Trux and I were glad to be able to meet up with friends at this year’s BOOT Show and were very honored to be asked to do a presentation on Yap and the Manta Ray Bay Resort & Yap Divers on the stage.
Calendar-Worthy
Yap Day 2025
One event that should be on your bucket list for Yap is Yap Day. This event happens every year on March 1st and it is a must-see occasion, with traditional dances to various cultural demonstrations and even lessons on local beliefs and folklore. We provide our guests with great diving in the mornings and free transportation to the Yap Day site to enjoy the festivities. Unfortunately, by the time you read this, you have missed this year’s Yap Day but please consider putting March 1, 2025 on your calendar.
MantaFest 2024
Another calendar-worthy event for this year is the MantaFest that will be held from the 24th of August until the 8th of September. This event will not only be fun, but also a great learning experience with the guidance of our photo pros and their over 50 years of combined knowledge of everything underwater. Many people think that this event is only catering to serious underwater photographers, but this is far from the truth. MantaFest was created to bring both the amateur and experienced photographer together in a fun environment where the ultimate goal is to learn and have an unforgettable time.
BlackwaterFest 2024
For those truly adventurous individuals, the BlackwaterFest is right up your alley. This event starting on the 7th of September until the 15th is not for the faint hearted. We all know that the dark brings uniquely interesting things out of their hiding, this is the truth about blackwater diving. You will get to dive in the deepest depths of the earth’s ocean and seeing some of the most beautiful and alien-like creatures of her depths.
Learn more about BlackwaterFest
Our Tribute To Our Military Men & Women
There’s very little that my family and I can offer to the hardworking men and women of our military, but we are very proud to be included as a vacation destination for our troops. For those in the military, you can find us listed in any of the MWR centers.
Parting Shot
If this doesn’t get a laugh out of you, nothing will!
The Toilet Seat
OOPS!
My wife, Judy, had been after me for several weeks to varnish the wooden seat on our toilet.
Finally, I got around to doing it while Judy was out.
After finishing, I left to take care of another matter before she returned.
She came in and undressed to take a shower. Before getting in the shower, she sat on the toilet.
As she tried to stand up, she realized that the not-quite-dry epoxy paint had glued her to the toilet seat. About that time, I got home and realized her predicament.
We both pushed and pulled without any success whatsoever.
Finally, in desperation, I undid the toilet seat bolts.
Judy wrapped a sheet around herself and I drove her to the hospital emergency room.
The ER Doctor got her into a position where he could study how to free her (Try to get a mental picture of this.)
Judy tried to lighten the embarrassment of it all by saying, “Well, Doctor, I’ll bet you’ve never seen anything like this before.”
The Doctor replied, “Actually, I’ve seen lots of them. I just never saw one mounted and framed.”