There’s no better way to start the day than spotting a pod of dolphins on the boat ride to our first dive site. Just when I thought that would be the highlight of my day I dove in the water and was immediately in awe. I’ve never seen so many different shapes, sizes and types of coral in one place.

We drifted with the current for over an hour past a wall of sponges and hard and soft coral that seem to go on forever. Yap is surrounded by almost 100 miles of barrier reef and the water it sits in is just perfect. As a spoiled Floridian I am usually quick to get cold but here the water is up to 85 degrees even 60 feet down, and even I don’t need a wetsuit.  

I still haven’t seen a manta ray but I have a few days left and if I don’t see one I won’t be disappointed; the diverse reef and marine life has been worth the trip.