(MVA) — For the second consecutive year, The Marianas —including the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota — has been named #2 Best Overseas Diving Area Overseas at the Marine Diving Awards 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. The islands also placed #3 in the “First Overseas Destination” category.
Marine Diving Awards 2024 was held in conjunction with Marine Diving Fair 2025 — Asia’s largest SCUBA diving exhibition — and winners were determined by the online vote of divers across Japan who are users of “Marine Diving Web.” Diving opportunities in The Marianas were touted by the Marianas Visitors Authority to 29,153 attendees at the fair held on April 4-6, 2025, at Ikebukuro Sunshine City.
Megumi Takaku Shimada of Blue Palms Dive Service Rota was voted #1 in the Best Diving Instructor category. Sharing the Top 10 billing from The Marianas were Miyuki Ishihara (#6) of Anclah Saipan and Noriko Akari Baidya (#10) of Sakura Marine. Several operators in The Marianas also placed in the Top 10 for Best Dive Shop: Blue Palms Rota (#3), Sakura Marine (#6), and Anclah Saipan (#9).
“We are truly honored to receive this recognition for The Marianas and for Japanese divers to continue to believe our islands are one of the best places to have an extraordinary dive experience,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “The Marianas has been blessed through the years to receive numerous recognitions at Marine Diving Awards, thanks to our outstanding dive and snorkeling sites, beautiful beaches, and top-level dive operators. As a government, business sector, and community, let us continue our work to preserve and protect our ocean and land resources so that The Marianas remains a beautiful overseas destination for all visitors.”
The fair was joined by 296 exhibitors, including major diving equipment and camera manufacturers, and educational institutions such as PADI and SNSI. The event attracted a wide range of users, including non-divers interested in the ocean. Stage presentations were also made, and discussions were held on marine environments and safe diving practices.
Joining MVA staff in promoting The Marianas were representatives of several dive shops, including Takaku, Baidya, Sugaru Takahashi of Saipan Make Sure Diving, Tomoe Yoshida of BIG EYE, and Yumiko Tanaka Halstead of Sakura Marine, as well as Jun Shimada of Star Marianas Air. In addition to sharing information about diving and other visitor opportunities in The Marianas, MVA garnered 1,000 new Instagram followers and promoted flight services to Saipan from Tokyo by United Airlines and inter-island flights by Star Marianas.
“The Marianas is a diver’s dream,” MVA Marketing Manager Thomas Kim. “The water is always sub-tropical temperature, visibility is amazing, and travelling time to get here from Japan is short. We also promote our vast variety of shore, boat, cavern, and other types of dives available across all our islands for all experience levels, and in addition to all that, we have a warm and welcoming community. Thank you to all the divers and ocean-lovers who voted for us!”
The 34rd Marine Diving Fair is scheduled for April 3-5, 2026.
The Marianas Visitors Authority promotes diving opportunities and other attractions in The Marianas at Marine Diving Fair in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4-6, 2025. The Marianas — including the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota — were awarded 2nd place for Best Diving Area Overseas and 3rd place for First Time Visit Overseas Dive Areas at Marine Diving Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4, 2025.
MVA photos
The Marianas — including the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota — are awarded 2nd place for Best Diving Area Overseas and 3rd place for First Time Visit Overseas Dive Areas at Marine Diving Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4, 2025.
The Marianas — including the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota — are awarded 2nd place for Best Diving Area Overseas and 3rd place for First Time Visit Overseas Dive Areas at Marine Diving Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4, 2025.
Megumi Takaku Shim of Blue Palms Dive Service (Rota) in The Marianas is awarded 1st place Best Diving Instructor at Marine Diving Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4, 2025. The Marianas Visitors Authority and diving operators attended the awards ceremony and the accompanying Marine Diving Fair to promote the destination and its diving attractions.
Megumi Takaku Shimada of Blue Palms Dive Service Rota, left, and Suguru Takahashi of Makesure Diving represent The Marianas — including the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota — in receiving the 2nd place award for Best Diving Area Overseas at Marine Diving Awards in Tokyo, Japan, on April 4, 2025. The Marianas Visitors Authority attended the awards ceremony and the accompanying Marine Diving Fair to promote the destination and its diving attractions.
