Beautiful Saipan

Saipan

We arrived into the port of Saipan to another day of overcast skies and occasional showers.  We had a full tour scheduled and got an early start at 7:30 am.  Our first stop was The Grotto.  It's is an ocean cave system which is a favorite for diving and snorkeling. Because of the storm following us, the grotto conditions were a little more turbulent than normal and only a handful of our group decided to actually get in.  To get into the water we had to jump from a 10ft ledge into the grotto pool below. It's seemed easy enough until you had to hold onto your snorkel and mask strapped to your head and a camera around the wrist.

The water was warm.  There were not many fish due to the strong push of ocean water coming in through the underwater cave holes which open into the ocean from the interior for the grotto cave system, but a few schools were around. I was able to get a few cool pictures underwater of the ocean openings.  We did not try to swim through them, but on a calm day you can.    

After snorkeling at the grotto we went to Bird Island Sanctuary, Suicide Point - where hundreds of Japanese men, women, and children jumped from a towering cliff to the jungle below instead of being captured by American forces during the battle of Saipan.  We also stopped at the last command post for the Japanese troops where guns, tanks and munitions are left still today.

 

When our tour of Saipan was finished we were dropped off at the Mariana's Resort and Spa for a wonderful buffet lunch.  We were then able to use the resort and spa facilities for the remainder of the afternoon for beach snorkeling or just relaxing at the spa.  It had since started to downpour so we opted to hit the spa and relaxed in the hot flower soaking pool until it was time to leave.

Saipan is a beautiful tropical island and we enjoyed our day there. We have another sea day before we reach Kobe, Japan, our first big city stop.