Rota · Northern Mariana Islands · Cave & cavern · Wall
Pearlman Tunnel
A tunnel that climbs from the drop-off to open water near the surface
Pearlman Tunnel is a cave cut into one of Rota's drop-offs, combining wall, tunnel and macro diving on a site that reaches 35 m. A couple of white-tip reef sharks live in the tunnel, which climbs from its entrance at about 24 m (80 ft) to an opening less than 6 m (20 ft) below the surface.
Also known as Pearlman tunnel.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Rota and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The cave entrance sits at about 24 m (80 ft) on the drop-off. From there the tunnel runs up a slope to less than 6 m (20 ft), where it opens up again, so the dive passes from the wall into the cave and climbs through it to the shallows. A couple of white-tip sharks are resident in the tunnel.
Marine life and season
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Rota: Rota Hole is at its best from March to September for the light beams; the Shoun Maru is dived year-round.
Know before you go
- Currents on the drop-off are occasionally moderate.
Sources
- Dive Sites of Blue Palms Rota — Blue Palms Rota
- Diving into the CNMI — Outdoor Japan
More dive sites in Rota
Cave & cavern
Shafts of sunlight beaming down into a cave
Wreck
A former China river ship seized in a smuggling bust and sunk for divers
Wreck
A 122 m (400 ft) freighter often visible end to end from the surface
Similar dives elsewhere
Cave & cavern
Les Arches
Huahine · French Polynesia
Light falls through crevices into a cave beyond a stone arch
A swim-through in a vertical wall, open at both ends
Three underwater holes lead out of the cavern into open ocean
Swim-through chimneys lit by skylights in the coral