Considering Rota

[k4kafka]

Planning a trip to Palau (via Guam) in October,and considering a few days diving in Rota before my live aboard departs. Not expecting too much on Rota,and wondering it it’s worth the extra effort to get there and back? Interested in hearing from anyone who has been diving there recently.

 

[k4kafka]

The purpose of my post was to get some updated personal reviews from recent divers at Rota. Did you consider it worth the effort to get there?
From the lack of response, I think I'm on to something special...For those unfamiliar with the Northern Marianas, tiny Rota is only a short plane ride from Guam, and from what little I have been able to research, looks to be much more interesting underwater. As you can imagine, options are limited.One dive op gets all the cudos, and I will be diving with Mr.Yamamoto and his crew at Rota Dive Center Rubin. Your suggestions and impressions are welcome...not traveling until October...

 

[CARHILL]

Rota is very pristine lots of turtles coral in good shape compared to Guam. Very limited flights as of June 1 United will no longer flies there. Star Marianas or Arctic Air from Saipan make flights to Rota.

 

[Netterz0087]

I just returned from Rota a couple weeks ago. I live on Guam and was able to take advantage of the Guam flights, but as Carhill mentioned - United no longer flies there as of June 1 leaving Star Marianas or Arctic Air. I personally find Palau to be significantly better than Rota. Rota's hole is pretty cool, and some of the macro photography is great, but if Palau is my final destination, I wouldn't waste my time. If you wanted to spend a couple days in Saipan that would be easy and I'd recommend Grotto, but again - my personal opinion - it's not really worth it.

 

[k4kafka]

Yep, the United thing was the final blow...I’ll probably do a few days diving in Guam just to get wet,before my departure to Koror.

 

[tursiops]

I really enjoyed my one trip to Rota. Used Rota Scuba Center Rubin
and ate a lot of meals at Tokyo En. Sorry to hear about United. Bummer.

 

[k4kafka]

Now considering a few days in Saipan...Any dive op recommendations?

 

[Netterz0087]

Now considering a few days in Saipan...Any dive op recommendations?

I've gone with both Speedy Tertle and Axe Murderer (no affiliation with Guam Axe Murderer). I would double check with Speedy Tertle and see if they are still open, last I heard the owner left island for a family emergency. But both were great! Axe is run by a guy named Harry, and has been on island for over 20 years. The two dive sites I hit when I go there is Lau Lau Bay and Grotto. Grotto is breathtaking -- especially at night. Lau Lau is a super easy dive with a diverse selection of marine life. There's also some wreck dives I believe and I've heard Wing Beach is pretty good. Both shops are flexible - I email two weeks before I plan on going and what dives I want to do (night/day) and get an idea of what their schedule is (most of the time it's open) and go from there. It's super low key. Out of 6 trips to Saipan only once was I with someone else on my dive and she was working on a cert - it was a site I was familiar with so I just followed along behind them looking for macro-things.

 

[Netterz0087]

I really enjoyed my one trip to Rota. Used Rota Scuba Center Rubin
and ate a lot of meals at Tokyo En. Sorry to hear about United. Bummer.

Yeah it's such a bad situation! I'm crossing my fingers for another airline to come in. We used both Rubin and Blue Palms. Blue Palms wouldn't do night dives so that's when we used Rubin. Rubin only accepts cash which is a total bummer because I never carry cash there - only card. If he took cards I would for sure use him next time for all of my dives.

 

[dgrauman]

I live on Saipan, and Rota and Rubin dive are my among my favorite spots in Micronesia. You can still get there on Star Marianas from Saipan, as noted, but there is a 25 lb weight limit on baggage if you want to take your own gear. I ship my gear a couple of days ahead on Star Marianas, not terribly costly but a headache. Palau/Pelileu has a lot going for it, but it has become so crowded I am not planning on returning. On Saipan my favorite shop is Syd Takaheshi at Fishguyz dive group out of the Kanoa resort. He does mostly boat dives, which is my preference. He gets to Tinian frequently as well, weather permitting, if you are collecting islands dived. In the summer he can often get to the dive sites on the northern parts of the island, and there is Spotlight, a lovely cave with hole overhead and that magic shaft of light. Harry Blalock and Axe Murderers is a good dive operator, but I don't think he has his own boat if that is important (like the northern dives). I went with Speedy Tertel (sic) a couple of times, but did not care for it. Netterz007 is right about the cash... it is a headache, but it is pretty much standard on the smaller islands and often on Saipan and I've had to adjust.