Diving in Saipan

Hafa Adai,

Welcome to a Saipan Diver's Blog about Diving in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI, Saipan, Tinian, and Rota) with descriptions of the Dive Sites in the CNMI, information on Saipan Dive Shop Operators, Saipan Dive Boat Charter Companies, Saipan Restaurants, and Scuba Instruction.

The aim is to provide as much information on diving in the CNMI in general, but most specifically Saipan, as possible. Hopefully visitors will further add to the information on this site by leaving comments. Comments will be posted and the relevant and useful ones will be incorporated in the original post if at all possible.

If you can't find the information you are looking for on this site, feel free to contact me by email at rsikkel@pticom.com

Did Kamikaze Pilots wear Helmets?

The answer is No! Like all WW II pilots they wore flight caps and goggles.

I recently found part of a what I think is a pair of Japanese flight goggles. I know, I know you're not supposed to remove things from sites, but I was afraid that if I didn't pick it up that a small piece like this would be lost for all enternity. A recent storm uncovered this eye piece and I thought I'd better bring it up. The plan is to donate it to HPO or the museum. Pretty cool shades though aye?

9/11/07

Site: Bird Island

Talked to Brady yesterday and we decided we should try to do a dive at Bird Island. Cooper, always up for doing something crazy, joined us. The water turned out a little rougher than expected. From the lookout it looked pretty calm, but then again you are quite a ways up there. Once we made it down to the beach the waves looked a whole lot bigger. The two normal cuts looked too rough, so we decided to look for an entry on the other side of the island. Found our way into the water inside a canyon (with a hellish current ripping through it) on the South side of the island. Brady and Cooper, carried out by the current, disappeared around the corner in a jiffy and I, the pussy that I am, took my time getting my bearings and trying to figure out if there was even a way for us to make it back alive. Passed the canyon however the water was much calmer and the diving very nice.

Brady and Cooper gearing up in the Bird Island parking lot. They had a little trouble finding the road to Bird Island. When I showed up they were trying to find a way in by the Bird Island Drive sign. I guess they forgot that that sign was placed in the wrong spot and that the road leads to nowhere. The actual road to Bird Island parking lot is the dirt road before the sign.

Brady sliding down the trail aided by an old rope

Looks pretty calm right? Well it wasn't!

This Thorny Ray was chillin' on the bottom of the canyon unaffected by the strong current. I was holding on for dear life with one hand while with the other trying to take this picture. The topography underwater is really interesting with huge rock formations, caves, and passages.

We didn't venture out too far because of the water conditions, but this is definitely a site worth visiting more often. Saw lots of large fish and healthy coral. It is a pain to get down there, but the diving is well worth the effort. On a calm day this could be one awesome dive.