420 Dive Log Australasia OCTOBER 2026

One of the pleasures of diving Yap is the journey itself. A boat leaving Manta Ray Bay Resort can soon disappear into narrow passages through dense mangrove forest. In places the channel is scarcely wider than the boat. Roots reach into dark water on both sides and the forest closes overhead.

Then the trees open.

There is a lagoon.

Another passage.

Then blue water.

Kingdom of Mantas

Mi’l Channel is one of the places that put Yap on the diving map.

The tides push ocean water through this natural passage, and manta rays use it as a highway and a place to visit cleaning stations. On a flooding tide, the incoming water can be remarkably clear. We dropped to the bottom at about 55 feet and let the current carry us. There was no reason to fight it. A manta appeared almost immediately.

A single grey reef shark, Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, glides over a reef off the island of Yap

It came toward us against the current, its great wings moving slowly. The animal seemed to be doing nothing while we worked to maintain our positions. It passed, turned slightly and disappeared into the blue.

Ahead was a school of jacks.

Moorish idol, Zanclus cornutus, and reef manta rays, Mobula alfredi, over hard coral off the island of Yap

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Dive Log Australasia #420 Oct’ 26

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