Manta Ridge - Yap
Manta Ridge in Yap is exactly what it sounds like. We’ve found ourselves finning along a coral ridge, usually around 10-15 meters, watching manta rays glide past. It’s a reliable spot for encounters, particularly on incoming tides when they come to feed and visit cleaning stations. Currents can be strong, so it’s best for confident divers comfortable in moving water.
- Location
- Yap, Micronesia, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- 9.603797, 138.126390
Best Time to Dive in Yap
The warmest water temperatures in Yap occur in January, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C (air: 27.5°C)
- February: 29.0°C (air: 27.5°C)
- March: 29.0°C (air: 27.5°C)
- April: 29.0°C (air: 27.7°C)
- May: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- June: 29.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 29.0°C (air: 27.7°C)
- September: 29.0°C (air: 27.9°C)
- October: 29.0°C (air: 27.9°C)
- November: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- December: 29.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Yap
- 1 2
- Big Bend
- Bird Island
- CHIDAI MARU NO 25 - 2m (wreck)
- Choqol Mini Wall - 10-30m (wall)
- CURACO - 10m (wreck)
- Eagle’s Nest - Micronesia - 25m (pinnacle)
- Gabach Channel (drift)
- Gapow Reef (reef)
- HAYABUSA MARU NO.2 - 0m (wreck)
- Kurrekurredutt Dropoff (wall)
- Laura Marie Wreck (wreck)
- Lionfish Wall (wall)
- Magic Kingdom - 21m
- Main Channel (drift)
Nearest Dive Centres to Manta Ridge
Marine Life in Yap
Home to 316 recorded species including 253 reef fish, 20 hard corals, 17 sea cucumbers, 13 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 clams & mussels, 3 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Parrotfish (Scarus oviceps) - Reef Fish
- Clown Tang (Naso lituratus) - Reef Fish
- Blunt-head Parrotfish (Chlorurus microrhinos) - Reef Fish
- Blackfin Soldierfish (Myripristis adusta) - Reef Fish
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Bluefish (Kyphosus vaigiensis) - Reef Fish
- Long-nosed Parrotfish (Hipposcarus longiceps) - Reef Fish
- Sea chub (Kyphosus cinerascens) - Reef Fish
- Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
- Greenfish (Stichopus chloronotus) - Sea Cucumbers
- Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Black-barred Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigricauda) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Schlegel's Parrotfish (Scarus schlegeli) - Reef Fish
- Stony coral (Porites cylindrica) - Hard Corals
- Pinkfish (Holothuria edulis) - Sea Cucumbers
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Manta Ridge
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories