No diving holiday to Yap would be complete without at least one shark dive. The rich upwelling of nutrients that feeds the magnificent fish and coral around these four tiny islands keeps populations up, drawing in huge numbers of reef sharks that can be seen at almost every dive site the area has to offer. Still, some sites are better known for sharks than others! Let’s take a look at just three of Yap’s best shark dives.
Vertigo
Not only is Vertigo an incredible dive site in its own right, with a magnificent wall that drops from a shallow six meters all the way into the blue at one hundred meters, it is a great place to encounter sharks, and even to take part in a shark feeding adventure. While divers enjoy stadium seating formed by a balcony of dead hard coral that offers a perfect vantage point, dive operators pop a chumsickle made from bits of fish into the water, attracting the attention of the sharks which are nearly always present here.
If you take a shark feeding dive, you may see as many as ten to fifteen grey or white tip reef sharks all munching away at once! Besides the sharks which dominate the scene here, you will often see groups of eagle rays and manta rays, as well as schooling barracuda, turtles, and lots of reef fish near the surface.
Yap Corner
A very exciting dive and an exceptional place to see some larger oceanic sharks, Yap Corner features a wall that drops from six to one hundred meters, and offers exceptional visibility, which often exceeds thirty meters. Often compared to Palau’s Blue Corner, this area is a great place to see large tuna, plus massive schools of jacks and snappers. Look for eagle rays and turtles as you await the arrival of some of Yap’s largest sharks, which often hunt around the schooling fish in search of strays.
Hunter’s Seamount
Located seventeen miles north of Yap, Hunter’s Seamount is also known as Slippin, which translates to “Sunken Island.” At depths of twenty to forty meters, the seamount’s surface is mainly composed of large rocks and flat, rocky coral, and the entire area is washed by very strong currents that can be a challenge to even the most experienced diver.
An excellent place to encounter large grey oceangoing sharks and marlin, wahoo, and other large fish, the site is not visited often, and is home to plenty of deep water reef fish, such as humphead parrotfish and big barracuda, along with smaller reef sharks.
Whether you want to take a simple shark feeding dive, or enjoy a real adventure out in open water, you are certain to enjoy all that Yap’s favorite shark dives have to offer. Choose a reputable dive operator, and be sure you’re well acquainted with your underwater camera before the sharks arrive! Exceptional shark encounters like these are just one more reason to take a spectacular diving holiday to Yap – you’ll make memories that last a lifetime!