SAIPAN ranked third among the 20 Dive and Travel Awards 2001 “best area overseas.”
The ranking was issued by the Japanese-based Marine Art Center which publishes three sea travel magazines monthly— Marine Diving, Travel Diver and Marine Photo.
The 2001 award was decided by the vote of over 10,000 participants who were the readers of the three magazines and other travelers who attended the annual Marine Diving and Beach Resort Fair in April.
Established in the 1960s and 1970s, these publications have become the authority in diving, traveling and underwater photography in Japan.
Based on the survey result, Saipan garnered 1,443 votes, making it the no. 3 best area overseas.
Maldives was voted no. 1, Palau was no 2, Sipadan and Mabul in Malaysia were no. 4 and Great Barrier Reef was no. 5.
In best dive site category, Saipan’s Grotto was no. 2, next to Palau’s Blue Corner.
Obyan Beach ranked no. 12; Rota Hole, 15th; and Tinian Grotto was the 19th best dive site.
Saipan’s Aqua Resort ranked no. 20 in best resort category, while Obyan Beach was top four in the best beach category.
Three other beaches made it to top 20: Teteto Beach on Rota, 12th; Laolao Beach, 15th; and Managaha Island, 20th.
Three Saipan-based dive operators were also in the top 20 favorite dive operators: S2Club Saipan, 10th; Sea Horse Saipan, 14th; and CMLC Saipan, 16th.
