MantaFest is an annual international photography festival held in Yap at Manta Ray Bay Resort & Yap Divers that is known for being a small event with BIG prizes taking place this year August 27 to September 11.

(TRAVPR.COM) FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA - YAP - June 22nd, 2016 - This year's MantaFest has 5 professional presenters that include some of today’s top underwater shooters - Frank Schneider, contributor of Tauchen magazine, Steven Miller from Ikelite photo school, Andy Schumacher from Schumacherfilms in Germany as well as Ray Bullion and Brad Holland.

“Yap is destination that is great for any level diver / photographer there’s something for anybody’s style, from the big animals to super macro”, says Frank Schneider who presented at the last 6 MantaFest events. The presenters are tasked with challenging participant photographers with advanced shooting scenarios, teaching advanced techniques, as well as covering the basics in workshops and one-on-one training appointments throughout the two-week event.

Special photographic dives are planned to get participants in the water with the presenters to shoot the scenarios learned in their workshops, such as split images in low light with big animals. The festival culminates in a photo contest with more prizes than photographers - everyone goes home with something from our sponsors - compact camera shooters win the same prizes as big dSLR ( digital-single-lens-reflex cameras) systems.

Top prizes include live aboard trips with Dive Damai to any of their destinations and to Guadalupe Island for Great White sharks with Solmar V, Mares gear sets as well as a bunch of prizes from Henderson, Pelican, Armor bags and McNett towels while dSLR and non-dSLR categories winners will receive special titanium jewelry by Diver Design.

The Cultural Experience; Yap Islands boasts the most intact island culture where colorful grass skirts are still part of every household - One of the photo categories is “People, Land and Culture” and throughout the event we setup several opportunities to shoot local people in traditional attire and village life... as well as fun scenarios over sunsets, cocktails and gold sand beaches with models.

To celebrate this year’s Manta Fest Event in the middle of our 30th Anniversary Year we have decided to give a 20% discount across the board on all our Hotel/Dive-packages* says Manta Ray Bay Resort founder/owner Bill Acker. Where normally special promotions cannot be combined we like to share our 30-years success with divers being able to profit both from our 30th Anniversary special and the 20% Discount deal during this year’s Manta Fest meaning divers can book a complete Hotel/Dive-package for as low as US$ 99,-- per day** which includes accommodation, dives, breakfast, round trip airport/resort transfer and all taxes, Acker adds.

Located just 9 degrees north of the equator. Unlike many South Pacific islands, Yap is an uplifted portion of the Asian Continental Shelf. It is surrounded by a broad shallow lagoon and nearly 90 miles of barrier reef. Long before Yap became famous in the diving community for its Manta Rays, it was known as the Land of Stone Money. The huge disks of stone, some over 12 feet (3.5 meters) in diameter are still used today in major transactions.

Even though Yap is world renowned for its world-class diving. There is so much more to experience; World class fishing, explore the wildlife and nature by kayaking or a full range of island tours specifically designed to showcase Yap’s unique indigenous culture and World War II history. Yap is being served two times per week by United Airlines from Guam and Palau with connecting flights to Japan, the Philippines, Seoul, Hong Kong and Hawaii.

* When booking Hotel-/Dive-packages for 7 nights/10 dives or more/for new bookings only.

** When booking the 14 night/22 dives Hotel/Dive package in a Standard room with automatic upgrade to a 20 night/22 dive Hotel/Dive package.

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