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Dive Sites
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Big Bend
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Depth:
3 - 45 m
This dive usually starts about 200 meters north of the Big Bend and lets the gentle prevailing southerly current (approx. 1/2 kt) carry you towards Cabbage Patch. However, be watching out for short counter currents in the area of the Bend. There are also many fissures cutting way into the wall, along with ledges, swim-throughs and niches that make this a good dive to just poke along and explore the holes. Below 50 ft. (15 M) the wall switches to a gentle slope that drops down to the depths. This site features a wide variety of hard coral species. Check out the variety of tube worms in the Porite bommies. Similar to Spanish Wall, some of the small niches are filled with delicate, white Pulse coral.
Almost every ledge and hole hides reef fish. Turtles have been seen resting on the terrace just below the wall. On the longer drifts, you'll be going through more than one of the territories staked out by large, resident barracuda. Watch for them near the large crevice openings.
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Cabbage Patch
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Depth:
5 - 30 m
A vertical wall to 80 ft. (25 M) then a gentle slope to the bottom. There are several large fissures in the wall that are blanketed in soft leather corals. Usually done as a gentle southerly drift dive (approx. 1/2 kt) but watch for the counter currents near the big fissures.Excellent color above 30 ft. (9 M). Some of the large coral heads around 50 ft. (15 M) have many Christmas Tree Tube Worms.Many reef fish above 30 ft. (9 M). Larger reef fish such as Humphead Parrots, down deep. Most dives report sightings of solo Sharks, Turtles, Barracuda, etc.
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Aliko Reef
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Depth:
5-20 m
A mini-wall from 20 - 50 ft. (6 - 15 M) with a broad coral plateau tapering off to the depths.You'll find a great variety of hard corals on the walls and plateau. Some areas have large formations of bright green Cabbage Patch coral. Large coral pinnacles also rise up like giant mushrooms. Massive Boulder Star Coral formations as large as a house dot the reef.Many of the smaller fish school-up near the upper edge of the wall. Lionfish have been found in the crevices along the bottom of the wall. If you swim out over plateau you can see White Tips, Sting Rays and Nurse Sharks resting in small sandy bottomed chasms.
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Tradewind Mini Wall
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Depth:
5-20 m
A series of vertical mini-walls from 20 - 50 ft. (6 - 15 M). Below 50 ft. (15 M) there's a short plateau before a gentle sandy slope starts dropping off towards the ocean bottom.As you move further north along the Mini Wall, the selection of hard corals becomes more diverse.Many of the smaller fish school-up near the upper edge of the wall and lobsters have been found in the cuts and niches along the bottom of the wall. If you swim out over sandy plateau that drops very slowly from 60' to the ocean floor, you can see resting White Tips and Sting Rays.
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Valley of the Rays
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Depth:
15-22 m
Coral outcroppings rising from the sandy bottom of the channel serve as Manta cleaning stations. The Mantas hover over the coral heads & allow cleaner wrasse and other species of small reef fish to pick off parasites.
The center of the Valley is dominated by a huge formation of lettuce coral called the Merry-Go-Round which is the largest of the Manta Cleaning Stations. On the north side of the channel (Maap Side), another smaller formation of lettuce coral serves as another cleaning station called the Carwash. About 20 Meters east of the Carwash is Manta Rock, a large coral pinnacle that rises to within 33 ft. (10 M) of the surface and is the third cleaning station located in the Valley of the Rays. This tall outcropping also offers divers shelter from the current when the tide is strong.
This area is usually dove from moorings on the south side of the channel (Gagil Side). If the tide is slack, the boat stays at the mooring until you return. If the tide is running strongly, you begin the dive at the upcurrent mooring and exit at the downcurrent mooring to avoid a tiring swim. The current can be very strong here at times, especially near the outer cleaning station where the channel is slightly narrower and shallower. Make sure that you stay in the areas that the dive guides position you in. They will place you to get the best view without blocking the Manta's approach to the cleaning station. Stay low, and avoid touching any of the live coral.Beautiful variety of antler and table corals on the top edge of the channel. The center of the channel features a very large formation of lettuce coral.Mantas are the primary attraction at this site. They enter the channel in the morning to be cleaned after spending the night feeding in the open sea. When the tide is running, they will hover motionless over the cleaning station while small wrasse and other species pick parasites from their skin, and inside their mouths and gills. When the tide is slack, the Mantas slowly circle over the cleaning stations and allow the small fish to groom them. Sometimes several Mantas will be circling in a holding pattern much like airplanes at a busy airport. It is common to see several White Tip Sharks along the bottom of the channel. Large puffer fish frequent the sandy bottom of the channel. Octopi are sometimes seen both in the shallows at the edge of the channel and on the bottom near the outer cleaning station. While waiting for Mantas to show up, keep your eyes peeled because the channel is filled with all sorts of marine delights.
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Goofnuw Mini Wall
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Depth:
9-37 m
This site is located on the south side of Goofnuw channel which extends much further out than the north side. It is generally done as a drift into the channel with the incoming tide. At times, current here can approach 2 knots just before high tide, This dive can often be combined as a fast drift to the Valley of the Rays where we then watch the Mantas for the remainder of the dive. There are vertical walls along the sides of the channel from 30-100 ft. (9 - 30 M) that alternate with sandy or coral slopes. Very large coral heads just off the wall attract the fish and are a pleasure to swim around. Near the entrance to the Valley of the Rays, the channel narrows markedly and a white sandy bottom ascends to a depth of 30 ft (9 M). Beyond this shallow area, the bottom quickly drops away and the channel widens out to form the entrance of the Valley of the Rays.The shallow portions of the reef have a prolific growth of hard corals. This would be a great dive at 15 ft (5 M) just to look at the shallow hard coral gardens, but then you'd miss the pelagics down deeper.White Tips and Sting Rays are frequently seen near the mouth along with schools of snapper and humpheads. Near the shallow sandy area at the middle of the drift, numerous White Tips can be seen sleeping on the bottom. It is not uncommon to see 10- 20 sharks on this drift. Occasionally, Leopard sharks are seen laying on the bottom. Ledges near the bottom on the south side of the channel offer refuge to lobsters. The nutrient rich water of the tidal outflow from Goofnuw Channel attracts a wide range of fish species. And of course, this is the only passage into the Valley of the Rays, so all of the Mantas entering and leaving the cleaning areas pass through this restriction.
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Gapow Reef
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Depth:
9-30 m
A double wall. The near vertical wall from 15 to 50 ft (5 - 15 M) sits atop a wide sandy coral reef terrace that very gradually slopes off to 70 ft. (22M) where another vertical wall drops off to the ocean floor.Excellent mix of hard and soft corals.Small reef fish collect on the upper wall. However, divers more interested in watching pelagics usually prefer to swim along the lip of the deeper wall.
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Paaw Reef
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Depth:
9-25 m
The north section of the reef consists of a gentle coral slope that extends to an abrupt drop-off that starts at about 70 ft. (22 M) The south portion of the reef has a large shelf of flat sandy bottom at about 65 ft. (20 M) The coral slope features a wide variety of hard coral species with occasional soft corals interspersed. The mushroom-like Porite bommies are the most outstanding coral feature of the sandy shelf.Along the coral slopes, reef fish are abundant. Sting Rays are frequently seen on the sandy bottoms. Sharks and Turtles are frequent cruisers along this section of reef.
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Peelaek Corner
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Depth:
5-37 m
Following the edge of the plateau at about 60 ft. (18 M) allows you to overlook a large sandy plain. Looking up, you may see schools of reef fish; looking down, you may see sharks and sting rays on the sandy ocean bottom.Mostly hard corals with some soft corals mixed in.Schools of small reef fish and passing gamefish such as Barracuda and Jacks. Turtle sightings are frequent.
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Samakai Wall
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Depth:
6-30 m
A vertical wall that curves in & out. Current usually less than 1/2 knot makes this an easy drift dive. This portion of the reef has a steeper wall than most of the sites on east side of the Island. Sometimes done as a night dive if the seas are particularly calm.Big crevices running perpendicular to the reef are filled with many of the hardy, star and table corals. The wall is covered by a good variety of hard corals with occasional small soft corals mixed in.Look for a lot of small schooling reef fish at the top of the wall. Turtles frequently sleep in crevices along this section of the reef. Sharks, Barracuda and Morays are seen in the daytime. Lionfish, Stonefish and Lobsters at night.
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Sakura Terrace
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Depth:
9-25 m
A series of gentle terraces with many niches, crevices and coral outcroppings which drops gradually to a coral plateau. Often used for night diving when the seas are calm. The gentle slope also helps to make it easy to maintain a safe, shallow depth for an afternoon dive.Good underwater landscape with large mushroom coral heads & bommies to swim around. Excellent selection of hard corals and lots of nocturnal Crinoids.Many small reef fish in the shallower depths. Deeper you may see Sharks, Turtles and the occasional Spotted Eagle Ray. At night, lots of Mortfish, Stone Fish, sleeping Parrotfish and occasional Lobsters.
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O'Keef's Passage
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Depth:
9-37 m
Extending almost 2 miles from the ocean to the docks of Colonia, this sandy bottomed ship channel has several areas worth diving. A drift in along the southern side of the channel sweeps divers through many fish which hang out near the entrance.There is a wreck of a WW-II LCU sitting upright in the channel between Markers 8 and 10. The bow is at 40 ft (12 M), the stern at 60 ft (18 M). Also, there is a torpedo resting in the sand at 70 ft. (21 M) just behind it.
In September 1992, Yap Divers sank an 80 ft. (25 M) former circus boat named the Laura Marie on the side of the channel near Marker 10 which makes a nice night dive when it's rough on the outside.The rich corals of the lagoon floor quickly change to large bommies as the channel wall slopes down to the sandy floor.Along with schools of Black Snapper and Humphead Parrotfish, we commonly have pelagic sightings in the waters near the channel entrance. Lobsters can be found in the niches and small caves in the walls lining the entrance.
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Telegraph Reef
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Depth:
9-25 m
A gentle slope with large coral bommies. A great night dive for exploring among the rocky shelves and bommies before coming to the channel entrances where there is active fishlife. Remnants of a subsea telegraph cable laid by the Germans at the turn of the century can be seen in places along the top edge of the reef. The cable was a communications link that reached to the Asian mainland at Singapore.Being on the windward side of the island, the hard corals and rock formations tend to be more rounded in order to withstand the wave action. At night numerous crinoids can be found.On night dives, this site yields a large number of Lionfish and bright red Stonefish. You may also see huge Sea Hares with brilliant blood red coloration that look like a Nudibranch, but are nearly a foot long.
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Fan Dancer
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Depth:
2-37 m
A channel with sandy bottom and coral walls that pushes more than 3 miles into the lagoon. The mouth of this channel is a favorite site for night diving due to the active fishlife. Near the bottom of the channel are numerous large sea fans. Additionally, the sandy bottom around the channel entrance is littered with artillery shells and other ammunition from WWII plus a Japanese torpedo and a machine gun.The sheltered walls inside are lined with all types of both hard and soft corals in pristine condition. Many swimthroughs, overhangs and sea fans at the deeper depths serve to make this dive even more of a delight despite visibility sometimes being limited by the. tidal wash from nearby mangroves.Reef Sharks are often seen near the channel entrance and nurse sharks commonly hide in the crevices on the bottom and along the walls.
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Millennium Gardens
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Depth:
9-40 m
A series of terraces with an abundance of pristine hard corals offering an amazing variety in shape, form and color. The landscape is interspersed with dive throughs and crevices, some of which open up into small caves. On the outside there is a spectacular wall Millennium Gardens offers so many different hard corals, you'll find new types every time you dive here. All in perfect shape, untouched by coral bleaching.A wide variety of reef fishes as well as Anemone fish and Sting Rays in the sand passages.
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End of the Land
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Depth:
18-40 m
A near-vertical wall from 60' down to the ocean floor covered with soft Corals and crinoids. The reef terrace above 60' has a very gentle slope with many bommies & fissures.In addition to numerous hard and soft corals, there are several different types of crinoids and pink & purple soft corals to be found just over the edge of the wall at 60'.Sleeping Sharks and Black Spotted Sting Rays can often be seen from the upper lip of the wall by looking down to the sandy ocean floor. Turtles cruise the wall and rest in the canyons leading up to the reef.
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Eagle's Nest
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Depth:
9-30 m
This area just north of Lionfish Wall is somewhat reminiscent of Caribbean dive sites. Large coral heads are surrounded by expanses of white sandy bottom. A small coral bommie called the Eagle's Nest sitting in about 50 ft. (15 M) of water on a sandy plateau sometimes hosts several Eagle Rays swimming slowly around it. The sandy plateau tapers down to a flat sandy bottom at a depth of 130 ft. (40 M).Large coral outcroppings in the shallow areas. Smaller patches of corals and some purple soft coral on the slope and near the bottom.Turtles and Stingrays Sharks are often sighted in the area. Occasionally, large schools of Barracuda are also seen. In the shallows, Morays and Lionfish are easy to find.
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Yap Caverns
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Depth:
3 - 18 m
A network of caverns and canyons notched out of the coral wall. Large coral outcroppings in the shallower sections are honeycombed with narrow chasms and chimneys large enough for divers to explore. Skylights in the caverns send shafts of sunbeams down into the dephts.Varied hard coral walls honeycombed with crevices and fissures, some of which rise up to openings inside on the lagoon floor. The vertical walls are rich in soft corals.White tip reef sharks are often found resting in the sandy bowls within the crevices. Expect a wide variety of reef fish and schooling pelagics. Sometimes schools of fifty or more huge Parrothead Humpbackfish are found outside the caverns. At the bottom of the outer mini-wall, schools of 10 - 20 Gray reef sharks are frequently seen. Morays and Stingrays are often seen near or within the caverns. Large schools of Tuna & Amberjack heve been sighted off the entrance. Lionfish abound.
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Gilmaan Wall
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Depth:
6 - 45 m
Vertical wall running northwest from Yap Caverns. Lots of crevices and overhangs. Due to it's proximity to the southern tip of the Island, the life on this wall is very prolific. Predominantly hard corals with very large blankets of brown Porite coral, some of which also play host to colorful tube worms. Frequent patches of Daisy corals interspersed among the hard corals. Patches of yellow soft coral under ledges at a depth of about 70 ft. (21 M) can be found when the current is running.Lots of Squirrel Fish, Snappers, Groupers, large schools of small Anthias and occasional Lionfish. Expect a wide variety of reef and pelagic fish life. Clown Triggerfish are sometimes spotted near the bottom of the wall.
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Magic Kingdom
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Depth:
5 - 30 m
A gradually sloping reef. This site was considered as one of Micronesia's most beautiful diving jewels until a typhoon in November of 1992 inflicted heavy damage to the corals. The gently sloping bottom in this section of reef caused the storm surge waves to build and cause damage while the vertical walls only a few hundreds yards away escaped unscathed.The stronger hard corals were unaffected by the storm, but much of the lettuce coral sustained damage and large areas of staghorn were virtually reduced to rubble. However, the reef can already be seen to be going through the colorful process of rejuvenation.On a positive note, the storm damage created lots of habitat for small reef fishes to hide in. Frequently clouds of them are found surrounded by large schools of Jacks and other predators on the lookout for stragglers. Schools of hundreds of barracuda are seen at this site on occasion. White Tip Reef Sharks and occasional Gray Reef Sharks are seen cruising the reef.
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Spanish Wall
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Depth:
5 - 30 m
Usually done as a slow drift dive past the slopes & walls. You'll find steeply descending slopes high- lighted by a series of vertical walls from 60 - 85 ft. (18 - 25 M). Each of the walls is roughly 50 meters long.This part of the reef takes it's name from the delicate, white Pulse corals which look like Spanish lace and grow in the alcoves, crevices & undercuts. These lace corals will only be found in niches that are sheltered from heavy wave & current action. There is also an abundance of pink & purple lace coral growing among the soft corals.Expect a full range of pelagics and larger reef fish down below 30 ft. (9 M) and when you face the Blue. The deeper sections of the wall are visited by sharks more often than the upper reef. You'll find morays if you look for them.
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Cabbage Patch
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Depth:
5 - 30 m
A vertical wall to 80 ft. (25 M) then a gentle slope to the bottom. There are several large fissures in the wall that are blanketed in soft leather corals. Usually done as a gentle southerly drift dive (approx. 1/2 kt) but watch for the counter currents near the big fissures.Excellent color above 30 ft. (9 M). Some of the large coral heads around 50 ft. (15 M) have many Christmas Tree Tube Worms.Many reef fish above 30 ft. (9 M). Larger reef fish such as Humphead Parrots, down deep. Most dives report sightings of solo Sharks, Turtles, Barracuda, etc.
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Big Bend
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Depth:
3 - 45 m
This dive usually starts about 200 meters north of the Big Bend and lets the gentle prevailing southerly current (approx. 1/2 kt) carry you towards Cabbage Patch. However, be watching out for short counter currents in the area of the Bend. There are also many fissures cutting way into the wall, along with ledges, swim-throughs and niches that make this a good dive to just poke along and explore the holes. Below 50 ft. (15 M) the wall switches to a gentle slope that drops down to the depths.This site features a wide variety of hard coral species. Check out the variety of tube worms in the Porite bommies. Similar to Spanish Wall, some of the small niches are filled with delicate, white Pulse coral.Almost every ledge and hole hides reef fish. Turtles have been seen resting on the terrace just below the wall. On the longer drifts, you'll be going through more than one of the territories staked out by large, resident barracuda. Watch for them near the large crevice openings.
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Cherry Blossom Wall
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Depth:
3 -80 m
Vertical walls that are very much alive on both sides of Nimpal Inlet. The shallow entrance to the inlet prevents entry by boats seeking a sheltered surface interval.Due to this portion of the wall extending much deeper than most of the other walls, this is one of the few places on Yap's reef that black coral and deep water sea fans can be found, though they are most frequently located below 120'.Typical of many of the walls on the western side of the island, reef fish are found in numbers near the top of the wall and schooling gamefish and pelagics are often sighted by keeping an eye trained towards the blue side of the dive.
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Kurrekurredutt Dropoff
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Depth:
6-30 m
This area on the western side of the Island is still largely unexplored. Kurrekurredutt Dropoff wasn't dived until 1998. There are still areas here that you might be the first diver to visit. If you have the oppurtunity to do one of those discovery dives, you get to name the dive site.Good variety of hard corals. Look out for the large brain coral called "Niklas" Lots of anemones with a variety of anome fish species. Keeping an eye towards the blue waters you might catch large pelagics and schools of barracuda.
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Vertigo
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Depth:
6-100 m
The center section of wall contains the steepest and deepest drop-off on the west coast of Yap. The south end of the wall gives way to a more gently sloping portion of the reef.Shallower sections can be a very colorful mix of both hard & soft corals, and black coral can be found below 80'.Many reef fish near the surface. Schooling barracuda are sometimes sighted here. Due to the sites close proximity to Mi'l Channel, sightings of turtles, mantas and eagle rays are possible here.
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Manta Ray Bay
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Depth:
9-25 m
Once over Manta Ridge, the channel widens and deepens significantly and the current slows a bit. The north side of the channel consists of a wall starting in less than 10 ft. (3 M) and dropping is a series of ledges to a sandy bottom at about 70 ft. (22 M.) A large coral formation at a depth of about 55 ft. (17 M.) provides shelter for numerous cleaner fish and attract Mantas to this large cleaning station.Numerous species of hard and soft corals are abundant in this section of the channel. The deeper formations of coral form the foundations of the cleaning stations. Between coral outcroppings, areas of sand and coral rubble provide places that you can settle to the bottom to watch Mantas without disturbing the surrounding live coral. It is very important that you don't touch the live coral, because it provides the habitat for the cleaner fish which attract the Mantas.Cleaning is done by several species of wrasse, but butterflies and angels that are not normally associated with cleaning behavior get into the act sometimes when an opportunity as large as a Manta is involved.
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Mi'l Channel
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Depth:
15-30 m
Channel with sandy coral rubble bottom and vertical coral walls. Currents here require caution since they may be barely perceptible at slack tide and then rip to as much as 4 mph (6 km/h) during tide changes. Surface and bottom have been know to have swift currents running in opposite directions. During an incoming tide this channel makes an impressive drift dive with both sides of the channel visible while you "fly" down the center.Tightly packed hard corals interspersed with wide swaths of leather and similar soft corals. Near Manta Ridge, large quantities of purple soft coral open their polyps to feed when the current is strong.Scores of tropical reef fish including Soldierfish, Humphead Parrotfish and Moray Eels live amongst the Coral. Mantas, Hawksbill Turtles, large Barracuda, Reef Sharks, Eagle Rays, and schools of Jacks and Snappers are sighted in the outer waters of the channel. You'll find Lobsters and Octopi in the nooks & crannies.
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Manta Ridge
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Depth:
10 m
A 30 ft. (9 M) coral ridge across Mi'l Channel. This intensifies the tidal current, thereby creating an easy cleaning station for the Mantas. As many as thirty Mantas ranging in size from about 6 to 13 ft. (2 to 4 M) have been sighted from this ridge at one time.Hard corals interspersed with small clumps of soft coral and anemones.Schools of Jacks and Black Snappers congregate on the ridge. White Tip Reef Sharks regularly cruise the ridge along with occasional Gray Reef Sharks. A wide variety of small reef fish are present to provide cleaning services for the Mantas.
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Yap Corner
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Depth:
6-100 m
With large oceanic gray sharks as well large schools of jacks, snappers, barracudas and eagle rays, Yap Corner is a very exciting, newly discovered (autumn 2000), dive that has all the potential to equal Palau's famous Blue Corner.A variety of corals on the top reef, as well as a large number of anemones in deeper water.Large oceanic gray shark as well as white tip reef sharks. Large schools of jacks and snappers are there every dive. A school of eagle rays has been seen on almost every dive and a school of large barracuda are regular guests.
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Hunter's Bank
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A seamount whose top was !eveled by wave action as it slowly sank beneath the surface. In the Yapese language, this area is known as Sippin, which literally translates as 'sunken island'.Flat lying hard coral & rock formations. Few soft corals.In addition to lobsters on the bottom and deep-water reef fish like Humphead Parrotfish, the whole spectrum of ocean fishes are drawn to this bank. This area has a healthy population of Blue water species such as Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Barracuda, and Shark species not normally found on the reefs.Due to the distance from a land mass, this site is a jewel that is visited only three or four times a year. This is an all day 3 or 4 tank trip for a minimum of 6 people. Strong currents can sometimes sweep across the top of the banks. The depths involved make this an advanced dive site. Trolling for Marlin is also an option during surface intervals between dives.
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