Favorite Underwater Photography Destination // Yap, Micronesia with Ma

Yap is a small island in the Federated States of Micronesia, about 500 miles off the coast of Guam. It's the perfect dive destination either on its own, or combined with trips to see Jellyfish Lake in nearby Palau or dive WWII shipwrecks in Chuuk Lagoon (Truk Atoll). Yap is known for their aggregations of giant Manta Rays, in addition to colorful corals filled with clownfish and other photogenic reef life. Be sure to check out some of the specialty photo dives they offer including sunset shark dives, evening mandarinfish excursions, and blackwater adventures.

"Our basic philosophy is we are a dive shop with rooms. So we want to be as friendly, as helpful, and as easy to get from your room to a dive site as possible."

The accommodations at Manta Ray Bay Resort are built around the dive operation to maximize bottom time in the most convenient and comfortable way possible. The resort features a dedicated camera room, onsite restaurant, pool, and spa.

Image of clownfish in an anemone by Logan Wood

Whether you're into shooting teeny tiny critters, big sharks, or the mysterious larval species on a blackwater experience, there's something for everyone on every dive at Manta Ray Bay Resort. Image © Logan Wood

We frequently enjoy traveling to Yap for their MantaFest and BlackwaterFest events in late August/early September which feature lots of diving and several photo pros on hand in a small group atmosphere. Thanks to their limited group sizes, attendees of these boutique events also walk away with some major prizes from their photo contests including trips, dive computers, and more. Ambassador David Fleetham and Ikelite Video Producer Logan Wood are expected to be on site at MantaFest 2025.