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  1. CNMI ON LAND
  2. SAIPAN 2014

MAY 9, 2014: EL TORO THROUGH THE TUNNEL

The first time I was "brave" enough to walk through the Dragon's Tunnel!
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The tunnel starts maybe 15 yards from the water and ends at the water's edge.  When the surf is rough this would not be a good place to be.  In fact, I have started to walk through it on several trips when the surf was reasonably calm only to get half way and then chicken out.  You can't see just "around the bend."  Also, there are lots of little air channels surrounding you as you walk into the tunnel, so with each wave you hear hissing and groaning on all sides.  For me, even when I KNOW that the waves are small enough that this is a safe trip, it spooks the bejeebers out of me.<br />
<br />
On this date the seas were very calm and the tide was just beyond high (starting back down).  I knew that there was no way any waves could come up here, so I decided to finally go for it.  This video and the next photo are from the landward end.<br />
<br />
Make sure that your sound is on.  Click on the triangle.  Let it buffer a bit.
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The tunnel starts maybe 15 yards from the water and ends at the water's edge. When the surf is rough this would not be a good place to be. In fact, I have started to walk through it on several trips when the surf was reasonably calm only to get half way and then chicken out. You can't see just "around the bend." Also, there are lots of little air channels surrounding you as you walk into the tunnel, so with each wave you hear hissing and groaning on all sides. For me, even when I KNOW that the waves are small enough that this is a safe trip, it spooks the bejeebers out of me.

On this date the seas were very calm and the tide was just beyond high (starting back down). I knew that there was no way any waves could come up here, so I decided to finally go for it. This video and the next photo are from the landward end.

Make sure that your sound is on. Click on the triangle. Let it buffer a bit.

vaaintothetunnel

  • The tunnel starts maybe 15 yards from the water and ends at the water's edge.  When the surf is rough this would not be a good place to be.  In fact, I have started to walk through it on several trips when the surf was reasonably calm only to get half way and then chicken out.  You can't see just "around the bend."  Also, there are lots of little air channels surrounding you as you walk into the tunnel, so with each wave you hear hissing and groaning on all sides.  For me, even when I KNOW that the waves are small enough that this is a safe trip, it spooks the bejeebers out of me.<br />
<br />
On this date the seas were very calm and the tide was just beyond high (starting back down).  I knew that there was no way any waves could come up here, so I decided to finally go for it.  This video and the next photo are from the landward end.<br />
<br />
Make sure that your sound is on.  Click on the triangle.  Let it buffer a bit.
  • That light at the end of the tunnel (to your right a bit) is where we are headed.  It's a tall enough opening that I can walk through bending over (no need to crawl).
  • This video was taken from the seaward end.  It starts looking back toward the tunnel, then pans around to the west to look out over the Philippine Sea.  Notice the rock formations which end up just above the horizon to your right a bit.  For some reason, I kept feeling like I was being watched by the Simpsons.
  • Untitled photo
  • 'Nuther nice Saipan Sunset, this time from a little vantage point where I had not been "brave" enough to venture before (although I had been all around it -- and believe me I watched long and closely for any hint that there may be sneaker waves up to here before I finally set up the tripod and camera). I guess that silhouette to the right doesn't really look like Bart, but it still conjures (to me) the feeling of a Simpson-esqe character sitting up there and watching the sunset with me. If a wave HAD come up here, I would have most likely said a very loud "Doh!"
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