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These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Northern Mariana Islands.
Dive Site
Among dive heads, Saipan is famous for this unique diving spot, a collapsed limestone cavern with a pool of cobalt-blue seawater filled by three underwater passageways. Sometimes the Grotto is calm and at other times powerful surges of water come whooshing in and out.
Beach
Mañagaha is an old patch reef that geological forces lifted above sea level 10,000 years ago. It's now covered with a fringing white-sand beach and has Saipan's best snorkelling. The clear surrounding waters have lots of colourful tropical fish and abundant coral, although much of the near-shore coral shows signs of being trampled on.
Beach
Obyan Beach is a pretty white-sand beach with calm waters protected by Naftan Point. The expansive beach is good for snorkelling. At the head of the parking area is a large WWII concrete bunker and just inland from a grove of coconut trees are the remains of eight latte stones dating back to 1500 BC.