Arpa Harbor—Gigantic and several miles long, it reaches depths in excess of 150 feet. Protected from ocean swells and wind, surface conditions are quite calm and consistent. Underwater visibility ranges from 50 to 75 feet. Some of Guam's best shipwreck and shallow reef dives are within Apra Harbor. The Tokai Maru, a 465–foot WWII Japanese cargo vessel, torpedoed in 1943, now lies on her port side in 138 feet of water. Less than six feet away is the stern of another shipwreck—the SMS Cormoran, a 335–foot WWI German auxiliary cruiser, deliberately scuttled by her crew in 1917. Another popular wreck is the 272–foot long WWII Japanese freighter, Kitsugawa Maru. The deck gun is still mounted on her bow and diving depths range from 60 to 130 feet. Other wrecks include—American Tanker, Salvage Tug, Seaplane Wreck and Japanese Dive Bomber. In addition, Arpa Harbor offers shallow and deep coral reefs loaded with exotic marine life.

Blue Hole—Guam is perhaps best known for the Blue Hole a cylindrical shaft that drops from a barren limestone bottom at 60 feet to a depth of approximately 300 feet. At 130 feet a "window" opens to the sea, allowing an exit and ascent up the outer wall. Colorful seafans grow inside the hole and bluewater pelagics are often seen on the outside. Visibility can be more than 100 feet.

The Crevice—opens up in the same sloping hard bottom area. The canyon floor leading to the vertical wall reaches a depth of 160 feet. A giant rock formation in the center rises to 130 feet. Yellow and orange seafans protrude from this giant boulder.

Blue Grotto—Saipan's most unusual dive experience and truly an extraordinary natural formation. Reached by dive van or car, a walk down 103 stone steps carved into the rock formation leads to an awesome underground cavern with a high, domed ceiling. The bottom part of the cavern is a luminescent blue pool of seawater—lit by sunlight streaming through two underwater tunnels. The pool, roughly 100 feet in diameter slopes down to a depth of 60 feet. Tunnels lead from the pool to the open ocean, where they exit onto the face of a vertical wall. Underwater visibility is generally 150 feet. The outside vertical wall has an interesting array of seafans and marine life, including schooling jacks and whitetip sharks.

Tanapag Harbor—A major wreck diving area, an estimated 18 Japanese ships were sunk and many remain undiscovered. Diving depths in Tanapag Harbor range from 17 to 35 feet. It is an excellent area for snorkeling, beginner divers and underwater photographers. The sea floor of this harbor is littered with WWII wrecks—a Japanese Seaplane, Multi–engine Bomber, Sub Chaser, Zero Fighter and Landing Craft. Shoan Maru—The most interesting shipwreck is the Shoan Maru, a 407–foot long WWII Japanese freighter torpedoed in 1944. The other big wreck in the area is the Cement Wreck—a 350–foot long concrete supply barge that lies in 20 feet of water with parts of the deck awash. Underwater visibility in the harbor area is generally 70 feet.

North Point—A most interesting dive site! The northwest side of the island appears to have been a giant dumping ground for WWII equipment—which was pushed off the cliff. Average diving depth is 35 feet, and underwater visibility is crystal clear—exceeding 100 feet. Among the artifacts that litter the bottom are Japanese tanks with treads still in place, trucks with rubber tires intact, bullets and shell casings of all sizes. Swimming along this debris are many exotic tropicals including Lionfish and Moorish Idols. Carolinas Point on the west side offers a vertical drop off with quite a bit of shark action. There is more current, but also a great deal more fish and marine life.

Senhamon Cave—An underwater grotto, with a dramatic archway entrance at a depth of 40 feet, and an inner chamber illuminated by an overhead skylight. The excellent visibility allows photographers to shoot dramatic silhouettes when the sun is streaming through the skylight. Whitetip sharks are frequently encountered as they swim through the cavern. Grouper, squirrelfish, and bronze sweepers are common, as are lobster hiding in the crevices. A side exit is decorated with delicate sponges and lace corals, along with a spectacular flame scallop that sports a vivid electric bolt pattern outlining its lips. The reef in front of the cave is a breeding ground for horse conch—hundreds lie scattered throughout the area. A tunnel, or alleyway system, runs throughout the reef, housing lobster, morays, and whitetip sharks. Pelagic visitors spotted include tuna and marlin.

          Pacific Gardenia, 3 nights * 2 dive days * $328.
          Pacific Islands Club, 3 nights * 2 dive days * $445.
          Rota Figueroa, 3 nights * 2 dive days * $255.
          Rota Coral Gardens, 3 nights * 2 dive days * $272.
Includes airport/hotel transfers * All prices are per person, double occupancy plus tax and subject to change.

Ulithi Adventure Resort—has air conditioned rooms, very tastefully furnished, and shower walls covered with beautiful rock tile. The lobby/lounge is inviting as well as the outdoor, covered veranda for meals. The second story rooms have a very large balcony. Ulithian staff at the hotel are warm and gracious, and sincerely want to please. They have good command of the English language!

Ulithi Accommodations—
          Ulithi Resort, 4 nights * 3 dive days * $532.
Includes airport/hotel transfers * All prices are per person, double occupancy plus tax and subject to change.

More Dive Adventure Options

Dive adventures can be custom-tailored re: length of stay, number of dives, type of room, and divers vs. non-divers in party. Do you want a Resort Course, to become certified, go for advanced certifications and specialties, use the OW Referral to complete your basic certification? If you don't see what you are looking for here, please ask.