ROTA

Rota is the tip of a submerged mountain rising more than 36,000 feet from the floor of the Marianas Trench, the deepest waters in the world.

Visibility is around 200 feet. Rota is a beautiful island with mountains, jungle, spacious parks and beaches. For divers, it offers arguably the clearest water in Micronesia, along with at least two world-class dive sites: the Shoun Maru and Senhamon Cave.

Shoun Maru

The Japanese freighter Shoun Maru wreck rests upright in the sand at a depth of 110 feet, and from the surface you can almost see its entire 393-foot length. For underwater photographers, the Shoun Maru is a dream come
true. Because most shipwrecks are found in waters of limited visibility, one of the most difficult things to depict is the total look and feel of the vessel. On this one, you can drop back and shoot the broad vistas, depicting its massive size and bulk. This is wreck diving the way it ought to be.

Senhamon Cave

This is actually an underwater grotto, with a dramatic archway entrance at a depth of 40 feet, and an inner chamber illuminated by an overhead skylight. The excellent visibility allows photographers to shoot dramatic silhouettes when the sun is streaming through the skylight. Whitetip sharks may be frequently encountered as they swim through the cavern. Groupers, squirrelfishes, and bronze sweepers are common residents, as are lobsters hiding in the crevices. A side exit is decorated with delicate sponges and lace corals, along with a spectacular flame scallop that sports a vivid electric bolt pattern outlining its lips.

The reef flat in front of the cave seems to be a breeding ground for horse conches; hundreds lie scattered throughout the area. A tunnel, or alleyway system, runs throughout the reef, housing lobsters, morays, and whitetip sharks. Pelagic visitors spotted here have included tuna and marlin.

 

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