Scuba diving in Saipan

Saipan offers a diverse selection of dive sites that combine pristine coral reefs, dramatic underwater terrain, and historically significant wrecks. Many sites are accessible from shore or via short boat rides, making the island suitable for both beginner and experienced divers.

The Grotto is Saipan’s most famous dive site and is considered a must-dive for experienced divers. This natural limestone cavern connects to the open ocean through a series of underwater tunnels and openings. Strong surge and depth changes can occur, but the reward is spectacular blue water, excellent visibility, and encounters with reef sharks and large pelagic fish.

Puntan Patan features steep walls and deep drop-offs that appeal to advanced divers. The site offers dramatic scenery, strong currents at times, and sightings of sharks, rays, and large schools of fish. It is especially popular for drift diving and wide-angle photography.

Japanese Shipwrecks from World War II lie scattered around Saipan’s coastline. These deeper wrecks attract experienced divers interested in historical exploration. Many are encrusted with coral and sponges and are home to schools of fish, moray eels, and other marine life.

Lao Lao Bay is one of the most beginner-friendly dive sites in Saipan. With easy shore access, shallow depths, and calm conditions, it is ideal for training dives and newly certified divers. The bay features coral gardens, sandy patches, and abundant reef fish.

Obyan Beach offers gentle slopes, excellent visibility, and minimal current, making it another popular choice for beginners. Divers can enjoy relaxed reef dives with frequent sightings of turtles, rays, and colorful tropical fish.

Wing Beach provides shallow reef structures and sheltered conditions that are well suited for novice divers. The site is known for clear water, healthy coral, and easy navigation, allowing beginners to gain confidence while enjoying Saipan’s underwater beauty.

The cost of scuba diving in Saipan is generally in line with other Pacific island destinations, reflecting the logistical requirements of accessing offshore reefs, wrecks, and deeper sites. Diving here is considered a good value given the quality of the underwater experience and the well-organized local dive operators.

A standard two-tank dive, including tanks, weights, weights belt, guide, and boat transportation, typically ranges from $90 to $140 USD. Prices vary by operator, season, and whether the dive is shore-based or requires a longer boat ride to offshore sites or wrecks.

Many dive centers in Saipan include basic equipment rental in their dive prices. If equipment is rented separately, expect to pay an additional $25 to $50 USD per day for full gear, depending on the type and quality of equipment provided.

Certification courses such as Open Water Diver usually range from $350 to $500 USD, including instruction, classroom materials, pool or confined water sessions, open-water dives, and certification fees. Advanced and specialty courses, such as Advanced Open Water, Nitrox, or underwater photography, are priced separately and vary by dive shop.

Multi-dive packages and extended dive week rates are commonly offered by operators, which can significantly reduce the average cost per dive for divers planning several days of diving. While Saipan is not the cheapest dive destination in the Pacific, the combination of diverse dive sites, excellent visibility, and professional operations delivers strong overall value.