Dive-site story
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.
Well-preserved radial engine blocks and twisted multi-blade propellers resting on the sand
Sections of inverted main wing structure overgrown with hard and soft corals
Schools of glassfish and cardinalfish congregating inside hollow fuselage compartments
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The dry season provides the calmest conditions in the lagoon and optimal underwater clarity.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LionfishPterois volitans | Common | ||||||||||||
| Spotted Eagle RayAetobatus narinari | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Yellowstripe GoatfishMulloidichthys flavolineatus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Pygmy SeahorseHippocampus bargibanti | Rare | ||||||||||||
| Honeycomb GrouperEpinephelus merra | Common |
Marine forecast
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