Showing posts with label Tinian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tinian. Show all posts

Monday, February 18, 2008

Tinian Hot Pepper Festival 2008

The Tinian Hot Pepper festival kicked off this past weekend. This was the 4 or 5th year of the event and at least in the eyes of this years participants it is believed to be the most successful.
The best seat in the house for the main event, the hot pepper eating contest was high above the grounds squarely positioned up a tree!Many vendors selling the true Tinain hot pepper paste and other hot pepper products. They really are quite delicious and great in almost everything if you like things a little spicy!As part of the entertainment 13-year-old ukuleleWiz Kid Ryan Imamura from Guam amazed the crowds with his abilities.
As part of the weekend Marianas Dive members were busy with various events including exploratory dives and an underwater clean up as well as providing free discover SCUBA diving lessons.Here, our booth helps to get the word out about our group, our mission and our goals including the addition of many more dive sites around the island. Stay tuned for much more information on this program.
Mmmmmm, that looks good - where did you get that, I want one!
And one of these too!
The folks from the Fleming Hotel and restaurant take a quick time out for a photo op!
Of course what event on Tinian would be complete without a performance from the Taga cultural dancers
Including a little hot fire, appropriate considering just how hot those little peppers are!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Marianas Dive & Tinian Hot Peppers

As reported in the Tribune today...

Against the backdrop of Tinian’s annual pepper festival, members of local dive group Marianas Dive will conduct a series of events designed to increase Tinian’s appeal to divers while creating a foundation of new divers with a greater understanding of what lies beneath some of the most inviting water in the world!

On Saturday and Sunday morning, Feb. 16-17, group members will make exploratory dives with Tinian Fun Diving, a local dive operation. Owner Mr. Shine states that the area around Tinian's southwestern tip is “untouched and full of possible dive sites,” including relics from World War II.

As described by Marians Dive president Mike Tripp, “the ultimate goal is to put Tinian on the diving map with multiple dive sites that are short, easy boat rides from the harbor. This will help make Tinian a destination where divers spend a few days or more, taking in all the sites the island has to offer both above and below the surface.”

In addition to these morning dives, Marianas Dive will lead an underwater cleanup of Taga Beach on Saturday at 4pm. This will be the group’s fifth cleanup of this kind and the first on Tinian.

“We're excited to do one of our 'treasure hunts' at Taga beach. The water is so clear I can't wait to jump in,” said member Mark James. Tanks and mesh bags will be provided. All certified divers wishing to participate are encouraged to do so.

The final dive event of the weekend will take place at the Tinian Dynasty Hotel pool from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday afternoon. Marianas Dive instructors will offer free Discover SCUBA lessons to interested individuals over the age of 12. Discover SCUBA participants will have the opportunity to try diving in a controlled environment, including using full SCUBA gear and breathing underwater. An adult must accompany participants under the age of 18.

Discover Scuba signup forms and additional information about these and other events will be available from members at the Marians Dive booth on the festival grounds during festival hours. Those interested in hearing a dive tale or two as well as learning more about the group's goals and objectives are encouraged to stop by and jump in!

“We are really excited about this weekend. Not only do we get to experience the best of Tinian hospitality with the pepper festival but we also get to make a positive contribution to Tinian's tourism industry. Of course it would not be possible without the help from those making it all happen including Debra Fleming of the Fleming Hotel, Kiri Jackson from the Dynasty and local boat captain John Barcinas as well as the staff at the mayors office,” said Tripp.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Texas Hold'em Poker on Tinian!

Today when planning the Marianas Dive excursion to Tinian this weekend I was informed by Kiri at the Dynasty about their big Poker night(s)!
It's also the Tinian Hot Pepper Festival this weekend so the island will be THE place to be and we will be there! Our mission will be to find at least one new dive site and in general raise awareness about Tinian divng. We'll also be trying to get a few kids hooked on breathing underwater by doing a discover scuba event in the pool at the Dynasty. More on all this soon but perhaps in our full schedule of events we'll find some time to throw down a few hands and try our luck!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Scuba Diving Tinian - Tinian Dive Sites

Thinking about diving our neighbor to the South? Here's a brief look at what this quiet, friendly island has to offer underwater! Check back soon for a full discussion about Tinian SCUBA diving, it's about to get that much better! I'll also ad some pictures and video soon too!

Tinian Dive Sites

Two Corals
Two Corals is a short boat ride from Tinian Harbor. This shallow pinnacle on Tinian’s west coast has great visibility and is a photographer’s dream. Crystal clear blue water and white sandy outlines accent the beauty and pristine conditions of the coral at Two Corals. Rising from a maximum of 70 feet, divers can easily swim a figure 8 formation around two small underwater mountains or adventure away from the mooring to discover an array of hard corals and sandy channels. Be prepared to go slow and stay awhile to enjoy abundant fish life of all sizes and colors. It’s not uncommon to see octopi and moray eels cruising in broad daylight while curious turtles check you out. Two Corals is a full 45-minute ride from Saipan.

Fleming Point

Fleming Point is a fantastic wall dive with dramatic drop offs and currents that can be like gentle breezes or raging winds. This boat dive on Tinian’s western shore boasts a high probability of turtle sightings along the top ridge, which curves from the cliffs at the surface down to about 45 feet before taking a 90-degree turn and heading straight to the abyss below. Sea whips and large Gregorian coral fans line the wall and brace themselves against the current while schools of Fusiliers and triggerfish dart about. The amazing visibility of an early morning dive will offer silhouettes from the rising sun while an afternoon dive will find the wall bathed in sunlight making it well worth doing more than once. In fact, you’ll probably need a few days just to get the most out of the point as Fleming can also be distinctly different whether you choose to go north or south from the mooring.

The Tinian Grotto
Tinian’s answer to Saipan’s Grotto, the Tinian Grotto is a popular cavern dive. It’s a bit smaller than its Saipan counterpart, but well worth exploring. Located midway along Tinian’s west coast this boat dive is popular with both Saipan and Tinian operators. Entering the water you can often see rising bubbles escaping through the coral from the inside of the cavern long after divers have left. Most divers enter through the top hole at about 35 feet and explore the inside looking for lionfish, nudibranchs, and schools of soldierfish. Bring a light with you to really bring out the color and discover those creatures that might be a little more shy. Exiting through one of two large holes divers are able to explore the top of the reef under the watchful eye of many types of hawkfish and Damsels. As with most Tinian dives, you’ll need to do the Grotto more than once here as another wall dive awaits those who come back and explore a little further (and deeper) out from the shore.

Dump Coke North
Often mislabeled as Dump Cove, Dump Coke North gets its name from the many Coco-cola bottles thrown from the cliffs during WWII. But bottles aren’t the only thing that made their way over the towering limestone walls. Littered with WWII artifacts including tanks, planes, jeeps and ammunition, this site which served as a trash can during and after the war, is now an intriguing glimpse into a bygone era. The undersea critters—octopi, grouper and the ubiquitous Green sea turtles—seem to love the artificial reefs.
WARNING: Care must be taken not to handle ammunitions or touch the white substance (phosphorus) which coats the rocks. Many of the shells are still “live” and can explode even after all these years, while the phosphorus will instantly burst into flames once it mixes with oxygen on the surface. Rising to the surface at the end of the dive may find it burning anything it is in contact with including skin. All the more reason to use good buoyancy and take only pictures to get the most out of this unique spot.

Tatzumi Reef

Located on the eastern side of Tinian, this interesting site is dependent on wind and sea conditions for the journey to explore its unique coral formations. Not often visited, this secret spot will treat lucky divers to pillars of hard corals that often resemble the goal posts on a football field. It’s not hard to imagine kicking a field goal through the uprights. Many crevices and small caves line the large plateau reef, which has an average depth of 60 to 90 feet. Clouds of parrotfish munch on the corals, while blue fusiliers gather in large schools and play in the surge and swirling currents. Keep an eye open for sleeping white tips and cruising grey reef sharks.

Goat Island / Aguijan

Located a short boat ride from Tinian harbor, or a full 90-minute ride from Saipan, this uninhabited island is rugged frontier diving at its best. Pristine conditions await those who come here as few operators venture this way. The untouched terrain, cruising sharks, turtles and Napoleon wrasse don’t get the attention they deserve. Is it worth the ride or a few days on Tinian to experience the Marianas Dive’s best-kept secret? Absolutely!

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Tinian Ferry!

I took my Mom over to Tinian for a couple of days this weekend and will post more than this in a few days but, what is up with the Tinian Ferry! Every time I get on it I think how much better the ride over there would be if we could just see out the windows!That's not water splashing on the windows. It's permanent remnants of the destruction caused by constant salt water without any fresh water rinse. The result - this is the best view you can get for the hour ride over crystal clear, turquoise water! Unless you stand and look out the rear porthole!
Of course when you get off the boat and make your way over to Taga beach you can clearly see just how beautiful the water is! Just imagine the extra PR that would come from people snapping photos of the islands coast line on the way there and back.
I mean this is how clear the water is. The shot below is taken while standing at the lookout in the picture above! You don't even need to SCUBA or snorkel it's so clear.
Of course a future post will discuss exactly why you would want to take the time to dive the sites around Tinian but that I'll leave for another day.

My point today is for the Tinian Ferry people to invest in replacing the windows on their boat. It will help with PR as well as relieve that sea sickness feeling for those who don't like being on a boat where they cannot even see the horizon!

For more pictures of Tinian and the Tinain Fiesta from a previous trip click here

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Diversity - Land, Sea & Culture

Speaking of branding!

How about playing on the word diversity! I'm a diver (duh) so the diver thing is a no brainier and since diving (including water sports) makes up the biggest part of the economic engine that will get the economy back on track, why not.

Now lets look at following that up with Land, Sea & Culture.

With the island chain stretching as long as it does and with the differences in the composition or make up of each island this is also a no brainier. Images could easily show the diversity of the Land from black to white sand beaches. From Rugged untouched coastlines to the businesses and "city" of Garapan. From Lime stone caves to very long runways and expansive grassy fields... you get the picture. This does not even touch on the diversity of activities available on land here. Golf, trecking, shopping, historical site seeing, museums, go carts (I like go carts) etc.
Diversity of Land

The same can be said for the terrain below the ocean's surface and the life that calls these waters home. The fish and coral species is, well, a no brainier too. I've heard from a scientist type that we actually fall within the "coral" triangle, which includes Indonesia along its bottom arm and the Marianas at the top point. The coral triangle being the area where the largest diversity of species exists in the ocean, not hard to show diversity there! Add in the multitude of activities available on the surface and you've got diversity other islands would salivate over. Besides the usual stuff like snorkeling, fishing, jet skies and banana boat rides we also have windsurfing and kyteboarding (from beginner to advanced conditions) even Triathlons must be added here- they do swim.
Diversity of Sea

The key, however, to the Marianas becoming a truly un-matchable experience to even the seasoned traveler is the diversity of culture one can experience here. Many who live here may not see this or they may not be willing to accept it but IF each of the varied cultures calling these islands home were allowed to flourish we would quickly become the envy of all competing nations within the region.

It is true that when we talk about diversity of culture here we are speaking mainly of Saipan. With the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian peoples followed by Spanish, German and Japanese rule before the end of WWII when the Americans took over, multiculturalism is already taking hold. Throw in a longstanding guest worker program with folks from the Philippines, China, Bangladesh, and various other Asian nations and you end up with a melting pot of culture. Add tourists with the same diversity of origin; Japan, Korea, Russia, China and it's a, you guessed it, no brainier. Diversity of culture.

When people think culture for vacation. You know like… "Honey where should we go on vacation this year" - "oh I don't know maybe somewhere with some culture". They are usually thinking indigenous culture and here too the Marianas excels. Even if the multitude of nationalities and shear size of the population has "watered down" the Chamorro and Carolinian Cultures on Saipan they are still very much present and in the forefront on Tinian and Rota. So we have the best of both worlds to offer especially to those who stay a little longer to experience the whole package.

As mentioned this diversity must be allowed to flourish before it becomes an unbeatable asset. From a multitude of authentic restaurants offering a sample of the worlds cuisines to various festivals that feature each unique aspect of the individual culture - tourist will eat it up. Done without conflict and prosperity will follow since stability and respect will drive consumers to the land of happy friendly people, all people! You can't get that in very many places around the world and unlike Mother Nature it is in our hands to control. We've been blessed with beautiful white sand beaches, green tropical jungle and warm sunshine but these alone will not make our islands stand out- the people will!
Diversity of Culture

Diversity- Land, Sea, & Culture

Lets all just get along - you heard it here first.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Flame Trees

I have a bit of catching up to do!
The last couple of weeks have been busy with capturing flame trees in bloom and diving, diving, diving! The last few days of rain and wind have been a nice break from being out in the hot sun and it's also given me a chance to review some footage. The bad news is flame tree season will be that much closer to being over after this storm passes. Before it hit I spent a few days on Tinian where, among other things, I found more opportunities for flame tree shots without power lines!







A few people like Harry and Ruth have already written about the amazing spectacle that is flame tree season here in the CNMI and I second their thoughts. That way I can just get to posting some pictures! These ones from Saipan.




Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Turtle Cam

This is a moment I captured on a recent dive trip to Tinian. This little guy was at a site called Fleming Point and was quite content to let me get close. These guys can stay submerged for as long as two hours if at ease and not harassed.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Tinian Fiesta

This past weekend I hitched a ride on the safety boat as members of the Saipan Outrigger Canoe Club (SOCC) and a team from Guam paddled their way across the channel to Tinian in time for the great Fiesta feast.

An early morning start.

Calm waters and beautiful scenery.


About 4 hours start to finish for the team from Guam.

The Fiesta is a 4 day celebration of the islands patron saint. Saturday included a parade, crowning of the king and queen, and a huge feast (free to all) as well as a full line up of entertainment.




I met all the cooks and got to taste their works before anyone else!


Above is the line up for the feast! Below is the award winning Tinian Cultural Dancers!




Thankfully I was able to pitch my hammock in the dark and awoke to this view. Not a bad place to start the next day!