Because the Manta Ray Bay Hotel is owned and run by Bill Acker and his family it has those nice personal touches that are often missing in larger, corporate hotels. For starters there are only 23 rooms, and each is based around a particular sea creature – The Manta Suite, The Seahorse Suite etc. Wonderfully colourful fabrics and distinctive, individual decorations make each room a pleasure in which to stay. All rooms have ensuite bathrooms and most have panoramic views across the calm protected eastern lagoon of Yap. Some even have water beds! All are air-conditioned and have satellite TV, VCR, mini-bar and IDD telephones.

The resort has its own in-house dive operation, Yap Divers. A fleet of small but well designed dive boats allows small groups of divers to enjoy the variety of Yap’s manta sites & reefs without the fear of overcrowding! The dive shop offers a full range of PADI dive courses as well as dive instruction to all levels, and a range of rental equipment. A variety of photographic & video services are also on offer.

For non-divers or those wanting a break from diving, sea kayaking amongst Yaps reefs and mangroves is also on offer. This is the only way to access the intimate waterways of mangroves, coral and rock that surround Yap, and you will observe wildlife including the rare archerfish that blows insects of their perches with a spit of seawater!

With all this in mind, one of the greatest highlights of the Manta Ray Bay Hotel is the food! Bill Munn, the head chief and Yap’s food guru, used to work at the Palau Pacific Resort, and now oversees perhaps the best hotel food in Micronesia. Local food stuffs, in particular seafood, is blended with dishes from other regions of the world to make for some fabulous gut-expanding experiences!

The latest addition to the Manta Ray Bay Hotel is the Mnuw, a converted 170ft Indonesian phinisi, that is now anchored by the waterside dock at the hotel. The boat now houses the bar, restaurant and kitchens for the resort, and there are plans to add an internet café. This will allow for some redesign of the main hotel and the addition of some spectacular new suites on the top floor of the hotel with incredible views of the island and reefs.