Manta Rays Focus of Annual Photo School and Competition on Remote Island of Yap

Colonia, Yap. Hey! You there sitting in your wet suit and fins in that bathtub filled with warm water! Daydreaming about getting back in the swim and going diving when the world opens for business again?

Now’s the time to start planning your next adventure while you have plenty of time on your hands.

Manta Ray Bay Resort and Yap Divers is a once-in-a-lifetime destination for scuba divers, both new and experienced, who want to dive or snorkel among its namesakes. Located on the remote, exotic island of Yap in the western Pacific, Yap is home to a resident population of these gentle giants that often come within an arm’s length of divers. It also enjoys one of the best-preserved cultures in the Pacific Ocean that’s a dream-come-true for photographers and divers alike.

Beginning in late August, two weeks every year are devoted to the MantaFest Photography School & Competition, the resort’s annual celebration of underwater photography. This year, shooters from around the world will once again gather between August 30 – September 12 to dive in the bathtub-warm waters with the manta rays, reef sharks, sea turtles, and colorful inhabitants and coral of the protected reef that surrounds the main island.

A team of professional photographers will join in the action above and below water, sharing their knowledge in workshops and one-on-one sessions. Topics range from Lightroom workflow, film editing and histograms to drone flying and everything in between. A competition culminates on the final day when everyone comes together on the Mnuw, the antique Indonesian schooner that serves as the hotel’s restaurant and bar. There they show their work on the large outdoor screen, collect prizes, cheer each other on, and down ice-cold steins of Stone Money Beer that’s brewed on the premises.

To help you emerge from isolation and get back in the world, Manta Ray is offering a travel special between now and December 31, 2022. Make your reservation and put down a deposit of only 10% with final payment not due until 30 days prior to arrival. Plus, you’ll receive a refund guarantee of 100% should you need to cancel due to any COVID-19-related issue. You can also purchase vouchers for $100 each for redemption at checkout worth $150 each for on-premise expenses. Buy as many as you want, there’s no limit.

So, stop daydreaming and start making plans for that next great dive adventure. Guaranteed it’s more fun and a whole lot more comfortable than sitting in that bathtub in those fins.

For more information, go to www.mantaray.com, @mantaraybay on Facebook, or email yapdivers@mantaray.com.