Yap is a Western Pacific island with a unique culture and spectacular diving with giant manta rays.

__**Yapese children dressed for traditional Yapese stick dances.**

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The Island:** Located in the Western Pacific between Guam and Palau, Yap has a tropical climate with temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees throughout the year. Though Yapese is the traditional native tongue, English is widely spoken. The island's women and children still perform traditional stick dances wearing grass skirts and fresh-picked flowers. Men have tattoos signifying manhood.

Getting there: Continental Airlines has flights to the island. Visitors must possess a passport or U.S. birth certificate and a return ticket.

Diving: Yap offers more than just manta ray diving. It also has spectacular drop-offs, healthy coral reefs, exotic fish species, shark cleaning stations, schools of jacks, underwater caverns and very good night diving.

Current Weather Reports: From the National Weather Service, Guam.

Dive operator: Yap Divers is the island's only PADI 5-Star Dive Facility. The center, which is next to the Manta Ray Bay Hotel, operates five dive boats. Yap Divers offers an array of PADI training courses, Nitrox diving, underwater photo and video services and a variety of daytime and night diving experiences. In addition, it is the only dive center that offers a PADI-certified Manta Ray Awareness Course.

Accommodations: The Manta Ray Bay Hotel is a cozy dive resort with 23 air-conditioned guest rooms that include satellite TV, a VCR and mini-refrigerator. Located at the water's edge in Colonia, the hotel is within walking distance of restaurants and stores.