π²π΅ Sasanhaya Bay Fish Reserve (Coral Garden)
Sasanhaya Bay / Coral Garden Β· λ‘ν μ‘μ‘(μ¬μ°νμΌ λ§)
Location
Overview
Sasanhaya Bay, off Songsong village on Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, was designated in 1994 as the CNMI's first no-take marine reserve, and its Coral Garden section is widely regarded as Rota's premier snorkel and dive site. Over 200 species of hard coral and dozens of reef fish species crowd the reef, with real chances to spot octopus, sea turtles, and even reef sharks, all in water just 2-18m deep with a legendary 30-50m visibility locals call 'Rota Blue.' As of this writing in July 2026, however, Super Typhoon Bavi made a direct hit on Rota on July 6, and airport, port, and power infrastructure across the island were still being repaired β confirm current tour operations locally before you go.
Highlights
Coral Garden: Rota's signature boat-access reef with 200+ coral species and dozens of reef fish species
Chance encounters with octopus, nudibranchs, reef sharks, and green sea turtles
Six WWII-era shipwrecks nearby, including sunken Japanese submarine chasers known as the '7-Screws' wreck
'Rota Blue' visibility often reaching 30-50m, among the clearest water in the Pacific
CNMI's first marine reserve (designated 1994), stretching from Sagua Beach to Pona Point
Good to know
SafetyEven inside the bay, currents can run through the Coral Garden section β snorkel with a buddy, carry a signal buoy/float, and stay well clear of boat traffic lanes.
SafetyCoral and rocky patches can cause cuts or stings from sea urchins and fire coral, and extended time in the water can bring on mild hypothermia β beginners should break the swim into shorter sessions.
RulesAs a no-take marine reserve since 1994, fishing, collecting marine life, and anchoring are all prohibited (only approved moorings may be used); violations carry fines of $100-2,500.
MannersNever stand on or touch coral, and keep a respectful distance from turtles and sharks β no touching or feeding.
SeasonSnorkeling is possible year-round, with the best visibility and calmest seas in the dry season (roughly December-June); the wetter July-November stretch brings squalls and typhoon risk β Super Typhoon Bavi struck Rota directly on July 6, 2026, causing island-wide damage.
RulesThe Coral Garden section itself is boat-access only, so booking a guided tour with a Songsong dive shop is safer and more reliable than trying to reach it independently.
Practical info
Rota is reached via a roughly 30-minute prop-plane hop from Guam or Saipan, and Coral Garden sits a 10-15 minute boat ride from Songsong's west harbor, so a guided dive-shop tour is effectively required. Because Super Typhoon Bavi hit Rota directly on July 6, 2026 and airport, power, and port recovery were still underway as of this writing, verify current tour availability, pricing, and schedules directly with a local operator or the Marianas Visitors Authority before you travel.
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