Micronesia might yet appear on the CMAS map. A meeting was held between the CMAS Vice President Dr. I. Nyíri and the representative of the Northern Mariana Islands' Visitors Authority Mr. Bruce A. Bateman to discuss an eventual cooperation.

The visiting CMAS Vice President met the representative of the Northern Marianas Government  Mr. Bruce A. Bateman to discuss the possibility of forming a closer relationship between CMAS and the Marianas Visiting Authority to develop projects of mutual interest. During the meeting,   the possibility of Saipan Diving Association requesting CMAS membership, as well as  diving clubs joining the CMAS system was among the touched upon topics. A few thoughts were given to the likelihood of CMAS General Assembly of 2013 or 2014 being organised on Saipan, the largest island of the Northern Marianas. This could  bring Micronesia closer to the CMAS diving community. Visiting Authority's representative would discuss with the relevant Government authorities the framework within which such annual meeting could be supported.

The Diving clubs of the islands expressed interest in acquiring CMAS CDC status. The Saipan Dive academy is already putting forward a request to be given a high level CMAS diving instructor to prepare instructors of the Academy for the professional roll out of CMAS courses with the possibility of issuing CMAS cards.

Qualified divers would find a lot to see,  enjoying the strong currents (B 29, Icecream, or Banzai Cliff), crystal clear sea and flora, fauna of the Saipan, Rota and Tinian waters. The more adventurers could eventually visit a the  smaller of the Northern Islands of the Marianas (Farallon de Pajaros, Maug, Asuncion, Agrihan, Sarigan, Anathan and Farallon de Medinilla), finding intact beauty of the marine habitat.  The strategically important role that the Northern Marianas play in the South-Western Pacific region is witnessed by the fact, that lucky divers can any time suddenly even  face a US nuclear submarine at the depth of 20-25 meters.

On land, nature's diversity of the three bigger and a number of smaller islands would add to the satisfaction of the diver that decides to travel to the heart of Micronesia,  best known by non-divers for its place in the history of  World War II, producing memorable battles with shocking number of casualties on both sides.  Saipan is a memento as well of all that happened in world politics in the first half of the 1940s.

(Photo: Curtesy of Hyatt Regency Hotel Saipan)