Battleship Island

Battleship Island

Highlights

Top three paid activities on Battleship Island: Battleship Island Swimming Tour (3 hours) – $35, Jungle Adventure (3.5 hours) – $55, Sightseeing Submarine (40 minutes) – $75. Introduction

With a circumference of only 1.5 kilometers, Battleship Island is a representative dive site for shipwrecks and airplanes. It takes just about 20 to 30 minutes to circle the island. The island gets its name from the remnants of Japanese military ships and aircraft left over from World War II. There is a large shipwreck about 40 meters in length, surrounded by colorful soft corals. The windows and hatches are completely covered with soft coral, and butterflyfish, surgeonfish, and damselfish swim among them—a breathtaking sight. For snorkeling at Battleship Island, it’s best to bring your own equipment or purchase it on Saipan. It’s said that during World War II, American forces mistook this small 1.5-kilometer island for a warship during an aerial bombardment and launched a fierce attack. Strangely, no matter how hard they bombed, it wouldn’t sink. Only when they looked down from the bombers did they realize it was actually an island. That’s how it got the name Battleship Island. This is also why there are so many shell fragments and wreckage in the nearby waters.

Admission / Opening Hours

Fees: Since Battleship Island is leased by the Japanese for $5 million per year, each visitor must pay $35 (including boat fare, insurance, etc.).

Tinian, Saipan, Saipan Island