Diving in Yap

Scuba Diving

Diving in Yap: One of the biggest excitements is to dive in the channels with giant mantas hovering just above you. Diving in the outer reef may mesmerize you with the warm soothing water, clear visibility, and generally mild currents. You may want to identify strange creature, big or small, take photographs, or just meditate in the underwater paradise!
	Geography & Climate: A cluster of four islands connected by roads, waterways and channels are surrounded by a broad mostly shallow fringing reef. Since the location is just 9 degrees north of the equator, the water temperature always stays around 26C ~ 28C / 80F ~ 85F, generally the highest water temperature falls from the month of August through October and the lowest from February through April plus a couple days after heavy rainfalls.
Seasonal Changes: When the trade winds pick up, usually from November to April, there will not be much rain and then the lands dry up. During this season, divers may have the great opportunity to observe the mantas' mating behavior at M'il Channel in the north west of the island. But due to the strong winds and rough water, most of the dive sites on the east coast will be closed.
	When the winds moderate usually from May to October, there will be brief rain showers several times a day and the lands are dressed in fresh green vegetation. During this season, the mantas gracefully hover over the cleaning stations at Gofnuw Channel in the northeast of the island. There will be many days when divers can see that the water is flat calm like swimming pool all over around the island, especially in the month of late June and July.
Tide Timing: Because of the island's geographical features, diving in Yap is very influenced by the tide. Generally the best tide timing is when the slack high falls around 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. In order to have an ideal timing, please check the tide & schedule site bellow or inquire of Nature's Way by email. You also may roughly plan to come to Yap 2 - 3 days after the new moon or the full moon. Then you will enjoy 2 tank morning dives in clear water for a couple days thereafter.

Dive Sites Map

Tips for Environmentally Aware Safe Diving

In order to ensure your enjoyment and safety to the full and to hold your impact on aquatic life to the minimum, Nature's Way would like to suggest some tips as follows;

1. Keep your gauges and alternate air sources secured so that they don't drag over the reef or bottom.

2. Keep your body and equipment from touching any live corals or other fragile environments. Diving without gloves is recommended.

3. Wear fins that match the strength of your legs and always try to feel where the tips of the fins are touching.

4. No souvenirs from the water.

5. Wear the right amount of weights which enables you to clear the surface only when you exhale air from the lungs and perform a safety stop with no air in your B. C. at the end of the dive.

6. Dive within safe limits. All dives are to be limited to a maximum depth of 39 meters / 130 feet within the no decompression limits.

7. We request all divers to carry at least one dive computer and to stay 10 minutes clear of compulsory decompression at any depth.

8. Dive within sight of a dive guide. Dive with your buddy; always monitor yours and your buddy's depth and air consumption.

9. At the end of every dive, always practice a safety stop at the depth of 5 meters / 15 feet for minimum 5 minutes.

10. Three dives a day maximum including a night dive and minimum 16 hours clear of your flight departure time.

See Recompression Chamber at Yap Memorial Hospital.

RATE FOR SCUBA DAILY TOURS (per person)

Scuba Diving Day Trip	$120.00
The above include hotel pick-ups, guide, 2 tanks, weights, iced water/hot tea, and lunch .
1-Tank Day Trip, Near-by Dive Site Only (min. 2 persons)	$50.00
1-Tank Day Trip (min. 2 persons)	$75.00
1-Tank Sunset Dive (starts at 6:00 p.m.)	$65.00
Night Dive (starts at 7:30 p.m.)	$75.00
The above include guide, tank, weight and refreshments
Extra Dive (before 5:00 p.m.)	$40.00/dive
32% Nitrox	$7.00/tank

Ask for Dive & Hotel Packages

*We request a surcharge of $35.00 if only one person requests a tour which needs minimum 2.

RATE FOR SCUBA DIVING COURSES (per person)

Scuba Refresher Course (2 Tank)	$150.00
Program for a certified diver who has been inactive for more than one year or who needs to reestablish proficiency. The course consists of two tank dives with Instructor and an entry-level scuba diver exam. The fee includes tanks, weights, instruction, exam, iced water/hot tea and lunch.
Scuba Introductory Course (1 Tank)	$150.00
Introductory, non-certification programs for non-certified divers. The course fee includes all equipment, course package and one tank dive in shallow water with Instructor, iced water/hot tea and lunch.
Other NAUI/PADI Courses Available on Request (depending on our tour condition).

RATE FOR RENTAL EQUIPMENT (per person)

EQUIPMENT	DAILY RATE	WEEKLY RATE
BC	$10.00	$35.00
Regulator	$10.00	$35.00
Dive Computer	$10.00	$35.00
BC, Reg. & Dive Computer Set	$25.00	$95.00
Mask & Snorkel	$5.00	---
Mask W/Optical Lenses	$10.00	$35.00
Fins	$5.00	---
Wet Suit	$5.00	---
U/W Flash Light	$5.00	---
Digital Camera w/CD Copy	$20.00~	---

We request every diver to carry at least one dive computer with her/him.