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Yap is a good place for diving. It has virgin reefs with beautiful corals, sea caves, sea turtles and amazing grey sharks and barracudas that most divers would love to witness.
But the most famous attraction for divers would be Yap’s manta rays.
Climate Temperatures in Yap are moderate and fairly constant. Average temperature during the spring and summer months are 82 Fahrenheit Celsius, and 80 Fahrenheit Celsius during the fall and winter. Relative humidity ranges from 65 to 100 percent, with an annual average of 83 percent.
The State’s Capital and commercial center is located here. Most of the outer islands, stretching nearly 600 miles east of Yap Island, are coral atolls and are sparsely populated by people who are different from the Yapese in culture and language.
The official currency in Yap is the US Dollar. Yap is famous for its Stone Money which is still in use for traditional exchanges such as the purchase of land or in village ceremonies.
There are four indigenous languages in Yap: Yapese, Ulithian, Woleian, and Satawalese. English is the common language of the FSM and is commonly spoken and understood. Many elderly Yapese are fluent in Japanese.
Yap is located in the Western Pacific, stretching from 6 to 10 degrees North Latitude and 137 to 148 degrees East Longitude in the Western Caroline Islands. Yap is one of the four States that make up the Federated States of Micronesia and is some 450 miles southwest of Guam, and 360 miles northeast of Palau.
Yap State consists of 134 islands and atolls of which 22 are populated, stretching across more than 100,000 square miles of total area. The main island of Yap is made up of four high volcanic islands and accounts for 38.7 of Yap’s total 49.7 square miles of land area.
(GMT + 10) – Yap is on the same time zone as Sydney, Australia, and one hour earlier than Tokyo, Japan. Yap is on the other side of the international date line from the United States, and on the same time zone as Guam, where “America’s Day Begins.”
This is home to one of the most accessible beaches in Yap, which is the Wanyan beach. It is a great place to hold picnics and also for swimming. Kayaks too can be rented out to tourists who are looking for more of an adventure at the beach.
Yap has two villages that might be worth a visit. They are the Balabat Villager and the Okau Village. The villages of Yap are still used as meeting house by the elders to discuss community matters.
Bechiyal is another friendly beach-side but it was destroyed during the typhoon in 2004. Visitors are still welcomed to the beach and also allowed to camp out here for about US$5 a night.
There are many atolls to visit near Yap. Some of them include Ulithi atoll which is said to be the most modern and largest amongst the outer islands, Woleai atoll which would make a good diving spot thanks to its Japanese wrecks surrounding the island and last but not least is Fais.
Article by: Kate Mulalap ( first published on year 2000 ).
Yap is a wonderful tropical island. It is surrounded by lucious, green coconut trees and sandy beaches. The beaches are privately owned, and you may rent one for a low price. These beaches are exclusive and perfect for birthday parties (this from past experience) or any other parties.
Yap’s capital is Colonia, where all the teenagers go to hang out after school. During summer, you will find the place flooded with teenagers and sometimes an elderly couple going to and fro in their journey to buy canned food. There is a small “mall” called YCA (short for Yap Cooperative Association) which attracts people from all over the island, like bees are to honey.
There are ten major municpalities on Yap. In these, ten municpalities throughout the island, you may find well tended gardens as well as taro patches and clean roads throughout the island. Sometimes bikers are a common site, which would usually be teenagers who view their bikes as a way to get away from it all.
Yap is a host to a friendly, hospitable people. There will be smiles all around and the view from any high spot is breathtaking. The ocean water is just the right temperature and many children find that they like to romp with the waves of a passing motorboat. All in all, Yap is a great place for a vacation or a permanent home and you will always feel welcomed.