Saipan Info

[ksevit]

plan to be in Saipan and Rota next week - wondering if this is the time of year to be there? What shops are there? Have nto gotten replies from emails I have sent to shops in Saipan off web search.

thanks

[sunfish]

It's not a particularly bad time at all to be in Saipan, as long as a typhoon doesn't hit. Are you a non-Japanese speaker? Most of the dive shops there cater to Japanese (makes sense, as the vast majority of the divers who go to Saipan are Japanese). There are only one or two shops which will cater to non-Japanese speakers, which may explain why you have not received any replies. I did a quick check, and the only shop I was 100% sure that they catered to English speaking divers (Abracadabra) had a defunct website! Sorry this isn't much help.

[marpacifica]

Hi, I just sent you a PM with some suggestions. Good luck.

[mokong]

Hello There,
Hi, this is Eric from Speedy Tertle a dive shop in Saipan, there is a two English Dive shop over here (Speedy Tertle and Stingray Divers),
If you like to get some diving over here we can entertain you guys, we are both NAUI & PADI Dive Shop, so if you want to get more information you can e-mail me at ejavier@speedytertle.com.

Eric L Javier
NAUI # 39597
Speedy Tertle - Saipan

[ultradeep]

Greetings from Stingray Divers in Saipan.

Stingray Divers dedicates intself to the english speaking diving world. Our shop has catered to divers from all over the world with an emphasis on a western dive style, small groups of english speaking divers. We have brought out groups from Thailand to Nepal. Our DMs are US citizens and our head instructor is Dutch who has lived in the US for years. So, if you want the dive shop that can call itself without a doubt the only western style dive shop on Saipan, look no further.

Brady Barrineau
NAUI Instructor 18320
Richard Sikkel
PADI MSDT
stingraydivers@saipan.com

[Fatboy]

Just got back from a 10 day Christmas trip to Saipan, (went there last Christmas / New years too!) and the post by Brady is correct - I've been diving with 3 places on the island and found Stingray divers to be very professional and very English Friendly.
(BTW his shop was the only one that even bothered to return my calls - or even had an answering machine and call forwarding!)
My wife and I dove with them 2 days (boat and grotto - shore) and Brady was excellent. He spent extra time with my wife who got seasick on the boat dive and when we wanted to do Naftan wall on a 3rd day he said he wouldn't do it due to rough seas. Which I felt was the acid test - he could have made some extra $ but he was sensitive to my and my wife's lack of sea legs and that extra measure of safety instead. Plus he's a fun guy to talk with on the way to the sites - Have fun with Stingray! Kent in Tokyo.

[Saipanman]

Either Speedy Tertle or Stingray will do you fine. On Rota, try Dive Rota.

[bob1dp]

Saipan is great in so many ways. Lots of World War II relics. Check out my profile to see a cool tank 100 yards from shore.

[CARHILL]

I just got back from Rota. There are 3 dive shops on island but only one speaks English---Dive Rota owner Mark Michael. They make sure you have a full tank on each dive, other shops on island dont always fill to 3000PSI ( So dives will be shorter ) WEB www.diverota.com e-mail maek@diverota.com ph 670-532-3377 My favorite DM there is Nanette.

PS make sure you have your cert card and log book or " no dive for you!!!"

[KonaGecko]

Hey Bob,
I need info about Saipan. If you don't mind (or anyone that reads this thread) to email me your phone #. i can call for a short chat. I want first hand info, good or bad about dive shop, hotel.......

Thanks

Joe
San Jose, CA
konagecko@aol.com