That said, and no disrespect to Yap, what led you to settle on it for repeat immersion trips, vs. other potential destinations (whatever they'd be)? Is it the war history? Just wondering where else your immersion approach might be extra special.
No disrespect perceived.
Specifically with regard to Yap, I'd always wanted to go to Yap since I was five years old (true story) because of the Stone Money. On top of that, on my first trip there in 2002, I just really got along well and sort of bonded with the owner of Manta Ray Bay, Bill Acker, dive guide John Pekailug, and boat captain Willie, not to mention the rest of the staff. And that's a relationship that's grown over the years. I really do feel like one of the family there, they really take good care of me and my groups (and not at the expense of other groups who are there at the same time), and that all translates into a trip experience that transcends just the diving.
I also think Yap has a lot to offer. Not every dive is spectacular but the mantas, sharks, and Mandarinfish are all very interesting dives. The people are really friendly, the history of the culture is interesting (in addition to the Stone Money), and you definitely feel like you're in a foreign country yet there's a lot of familiarity (language being a big one) too.
By going back to places I've been before (I ran annual Sea of Cortex trips for 26 years straight with Baja Expeditions and the Don Jose, I go to Manado, Indonesia, a lot to dive with Murex and Danny/Angelique/Basrah/Hanny/etc., same with Maldives, Isla Mujeres, and other places), I've already got an idea of what the good spots are and what the less-than-good spots are. I've also got a good sense of what the operators can and can't do. And because they already know me and how I operate, I'm likely given a bit more leeway and latitude than perhaps someone they didn't know.
So it all adds up to a better trip for the people who choose to book with me,hopefully an easier/better trip for me since I can anticipate pitfalls, and hopefully a better group experience for the dive operator since I;'ll ride herd on my group (and we generally tip fairly well). Win/win all the way around.
- Ken
