Dive sites in Northern Mariana Islands

Located off the rugged northern headland of Saipan, Banzai offers deep, blue-water diving along sheer limestone drop-offs and vast submerged boulder fields. Because the site sits exposed to open Pacific swells, dive operators only run trips here when summer conditions flatten the ocean surface.

Saipan's Grotto is an iconic collapsed limestone cavern connected to the open ocean by three underwater exit holes. Divers descend a steep set of concrete stairs down into the cavern before giant-striding into the interior pool. Once submerged, glowing cobalt light pours through the massive arches leading outside to the open reef wall, where sea turtles, pelagics, and schooling fish patrol the blue.

Saipan's signature dive begins with a trek down steep concrete stairs into a massive collapsed limestone cavern. Divers step into the sheltered pool before descending toward three expansive underwater archways that open directly into the Pacific Ocean. As sunlight filters through the exit passages, the cavern interior fills with deep cobalt blue light, framing dramatic swim-throughs and sheer outer walls.

Resting upside-down on a sandy floor inside Tanapag Harbor, this Kawanishi H8K flying boat is one of Saipan's distinctive World War II aviation wrecks. The massive four-engine maritime reconnaissance aircraft lies broken into several recognizable sections, including the wings, bent propeller blades, engine blocks, and parts of the inverted fuselage. Corals encrust the aluminum surfaces, offering shelter to diverse juvenile fish and macro life across the shallow lagoon floor.

Located on the southeastern coast of Saipan, Lau Lau Beach provides reliable shore diving over an expansive reef system. Divers wade across a shallow reef flat before descending along hard coral formations that transition into sandy plains. The site holds large aggregations of schooling fish alongside resident macro critters.

Situated along the southeastern coast of Saipan, Lau Lau Bay is one of the island's most frequented shore entries. Divers follow a cut through the shallow reef flat before descending along a gently sloping bottom comprised of sprawling coral formations and wide sand flats. The site features isolated coral bommies, patches of sea grass, and scattered pipe structures that act as artificial habitats for diverse reef fauna.

Located at the southern tip of Saipan, Naftan is celebrated for its sheer wall dropping straight into the abyss. The top plateau features hard coral heads and sea fans before plunging dramatically into the open ocean. Outstanding clarity is the hallmark here, creating sensational blue-water vistas and regular visits from cruising pelagics.

Situated along the southern shoreline of Saipan, Obyan Beach features an expansive white sand floor punctuated by scattered coral bommies. Divers navigate through a shallow reef cut to access open water, where massive colonies of garden eels sway in the sandy expanse.

Resting upright on the sandy seabed of Saipan's sheltered lagoon, the Shoan Maru was an auxiliary Japanese cargo vessel sunk during World War II. Corals now crust over its skeletal iron hull, kingposts, and remnants of the wheelhouse. The protected shallow setting makes it an easy orientation dive while offering plenty of structural nooks for macro subjects to settle into.

Located off the rugged northern cliffs of Saipan, Spot Light is a cavern dive defined by a natural aperture in the rock ceiling. Around midday during the calmer summer months, direct sunlight filters straight through this overhead opening, casting a dramatic, focused beam into the darkened chamber below. Outside the cavern, the volcanic seabed drops away into clear oceanic water characterized by large boulders and shelf coral formations.

Resting on a sandy seafloor in Saipan Lagoon, this Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser is an accessible World War II shipwreck. Sunk during the Battle of Saipan in 1944, the broken vessel has become an artificial reef where coral encrusts the remaining hull plates, engine blocks, and propeller shaft. The sheltered lagoon setting makes this a calm, shallow dive suitable for exploring historic wreckage and observing reef fauna sheltering within the iron frame.

Located off the northwest coast of Saipan, Wing Arch centers around a massive natural underwater rock archway carved out of the limestone reef. Divers drop down along an open slope before entering the cavernous passage, which frames deep blue offshore water. Because the site sits exposed to open ocean currents, pelagic fish frequently patrol the edge of the drop-off.

Located off the northern coast of Saipan near Wing Beach, Wing Crevasse features a dramatic geological fissure cutting deep into the volcanic limestone reef. Divers navigate through the vertical chasm, which opens out toward an oceanic drop-off where pelagic visitors often pass in the clear blue water. Swells and tidal flow can generate strong water movement across the reef crest.