Saipan, the central island of the Northern Mariana Islands, is buzzing with excitement! Over the past few weeks, divers have been encountering spectacular marine life. Here are some thrilling reports from local dive shops, along with stunning photos.

On January 22, following a recent humpback whale sighting, we kept an eye out while heading offshore. Suddenly, the captain spotted a large shadow—it turned out to be a pod of over 20 spinner dolphins! The crystal-clear water allowed for perfect underwater filming.
Report & Photo: AKARI, SAKURA MARINE

On January 28, after hearing about sightings in the north, we headed to Bird Island. After four hours of searching, we finally spotted both dolphins and a humpback whale!
Report & Photo: Hiromi Moriya, AQUA CONNECTIONS INC Saipan

On January 29, we were diving at Grotto when, unexpectedly, I spotted a massive shadow—it was a whale shark! Despite hearing rare reports over 19 years of diving here, I had never seen one myself. I quickly adjusted my camera to capture my guests and the whale shark in one frame. It was an unforgettable moment!
Report & Photo: Taku Takahashi, SAIPAN MAKE SURE DIVING

On January 30, while moving between dive sites, the captain spotted a large black shadow. Initially thought to be a shark, it turned out to be a manta ray feeding on plankton. Following expert advice from a guest from Ishigaki, we carefully approached and observed it circling near the surface.
Report & Photo: Yutaka Nishikawa, DIVE HOUSE ANCLAR

Saipan isn’t usually known for such frequent sightings of large marine life, but in the past few weeks, it’s been a hotspot. Even a tiger shark was spotted on February 2! Just 3.5 hours from Narita Airport, Saipan is a great destination for beginner international divers. With high chances of spotting eagle ray schools until mid-April, now is the perfect time to dive in!

Information provided by:
SAKURA MARINE
AQUA CONNNECTIONS INC Saipan
SAIPAN MAKE SURE DIVING
DIVE HOUSE ANCLAR