Yap Divers and the Manta Ray Bay Hotel is beginning a program that could be just the ticket for you and your future. If you are a certified Scuba diver at any level and have an interest in diving the best in the world, we have an offer for you.

Come to Yap for a minimum of 3 months and we will provide you with a furnished apartment, a staff meal a day from the Manta Ray Bistro, all the diving you can handle PLUS we will give you free instruction up to PADI Dive Master level. If you handle yourself well and are an asset to our operations, you may also receive a permanent job offer.

To qualify, you must be able to speak the following languages: German/English, Japanese/English, Portuguese/English and/or French/English and be a certified diver willing to work and learn. If interested, please send your resume to Bill Acker at billacker@mantaray.com.

John Pekailug, a veteran dive guide with Yap Divers for the past 6 years wanted to try something new on a dive last May with his group of 4 divers. John noticed a spot on the reef outside Yap's famous Mi'l Channel which seemed to always have sharks and eagle rays. For this particular dive, John decided to keep the group on the "corner" as opposed to simply drifting through, as had been the previous norm for this dive. To the group's surprise, they were immediately surrounded by several large oceanic gray sharks with a sprinkling of reef white tips thrown in for good measure. Quite a dive by anyone's standards.

John reported this to Bill Acker, the dive pioneer of Yap who has almost single handedly made this tiny Eden in Western Micronesia into one of the world's most sought after dive destinations. Bill began a systematic tracking and testing routine for this new dive to see if it really rated a name and designation as an official Yap Diver's Dive Site. To his amazement, the stories just kept growing. Sharks are there every dive. 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. Add to the amazing fish life the number of anemones, the clear water, the invertebrates on the reef and you have a very exciting dive that has all the potential to equal Palau's famous Blue Corner.

Bill and his staff have named the new site Yap Corner and have determined the optimum times to dive here. The dive is dependent on the current and the tides and is definitely better at different times of the day. There have now been over 100 dives made at Yap Corner and no one has come away disappointed. For years, Yap has been more than Manta Rays and Yap Corner is but another in the ever increasing number of world class dive sites being offered customers diving with Yap Divers.

On the 27th of October, Heike and Michael Balogh of Kvnigswinter, Germany came out of Yap Caverns with John Chomed of Yap Divers. As they exited the Western most cavern and looked down the vertical wall, they saw a 15 foot (5 meter) whale shark coming toward them. As they continued to watch, they saw that the whale shark was accompanied by 10 to 12 gray reef sharks and a multitude of pilot fish.

They simply hung in the clear, blue water and watched the procession pass by. Wouldn't you have liked to been there with them? For more information about diving Yap and Micronesia, please contact Bill Acker via e-mail, fax or phone. He will be happy to assist you with any plans.

Last night at the Nautical Weaver Bar, two of Japan's top Sushi Chefs treated the staff and guests of the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers to a rare treat. The day began with Tokoroyama-San and Goto-San joining Teolu Pedrosa and "Small" Willy Seiwemai on Yap Divers' boat - Bettlenut Express for an afternoon of fishing. The Chefs wanted nothing but the freshest ingredients, so - they went out and caught 2 very nice Yellowfin Tuna, among other fish.

Back at the dock, Chef Goto-San showed his expertise at preparing fish by cleaning and slicing the fresh tuna. While Chef Goto-San was doing this, his fellow traveling companions were in the Manta Ray Bistro preparing special rice as well as marinating other ingredients for the feast.

As the Meet the Managers Cocktail Party was winding down, Chefs Tokoroyama-San and Goto-San brought out all the fixings and the party began! Chef Goto-San dazzled everyone with his speed and dexterity as he prepared the Nigiri Sushi.

His hands moving faster than the eye could follow, Chef Goto-San deftly combined just the right amount of rice, Wasabi and a filet of tuna, shaped it and had a sushi slice on the plate every second or so.

All the guests and staff gathered around to watch the show and sample this special Japanese delicacy. Our heartfelt thanks to Chefs Tokoroyama-San and Goto-San for a wonderful evening that won't soon be forgotten.

Nights like this have become frequent at the Nautical Weaver Bar. We have some amazing talent visiting the hotel to dive with Yap Divers and they have been all too willing to entertain the staff and their fellow guests. For more information, please browse through our web site or contact Bill Acker, owner of the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers at his e-mail address: yapdivers@mantaray.com to talk diving or make reservations.

On Tuesday evening, September 19th a historical first took place on the dive deck at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel. Mr. Mike Musto and his wife Vikki Musto, owners of one of North America's premier dive travel wholesale companies hosted a reception for our staff. The Musto's presented the staff with a huge cake, a large basket of bettlenut as well as an ice chest full of soft drinks and beer. The cake was inscribed "Thanks to MRBH Staff, From TNT Staff" and was accompanied by a card and TNT staff photo.

Mike Musto addressed the staff and told us this was the first time he had done something like this for any hotel. He mentioned that all guest comments coming back to Trip N Tour about our operation were very positive and because of the good care we are showing his clients, his business is prospering. Mike thanked each of the departments and mentioned how easy it was for him to see that we were working like a family and that his guests really enjoyed being a part of our family.

A card, signed by all members of the Trip N Tour staff was presented to Bill Acker. Bill read the various TNT comments to the MRBH staff and once again told everyone how proud he was of them and their efforts at making the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers the best dedicated dive hotel in Micronesia. Bill in turn voiced his appreciation to Mike and Vikki for their many years of thoughtful advice, cooperation and support of MRBH, and of course, their friendship.