Tourist drowns at Lau Lau Bay Dive Site

A leisurely dive at the scenic Lau Lau Bay dive site turned fatal last Friday evening, May 17, when a male tourist lost his life while enjoying the waters of Saipan. It’s Saipan’s second known fatal drowning of 2024.

According to the Department of Public Safety and acting public informant officer Simon T. Manacop, the victim, whose name is being withheld, was a 40-year-old Chinese tourist.

DPS indicated that the man arrived at the dive site around 4:30pm that Friday, accompanied by a female companion and two hired dive operators. The group, including the victim, his companion, and the dive instructors, descended to a depth of 12 meters without any apparent issues during their initial dive.

According to the report, when the group approached the reefline, witnesses observed the victim repeatedly ascending to the surface and descending back to the ocean floor, displaying signs of distress. Despite efforts from the dive instructor to offer assistance, the victim’s panic escalated, and he was seen waving his arms frantically.

The report continues stating that when the victim’s air gauge reached 0 psi, indicating a complete depletion of his oxygen supply, the dive instructor attempted to offer a secondary regulator, which was refused by the victim. Subsequently, the victim was escorted back to shore, where he was discovered unconscious by the instructor. Immediate CPR was administered until medical assistance arrived.

Tragically, despite efforts to revive him, the victim was pronounced dead at 7:29pm at the Commonwealth Health Center, succumbing to drowning.

Authorities have assured that the case remains under investigation, urging anyone with information to come forward. Individuals can contact DPS Marine Patrol Section (MPS) at (670) 233-9120, DPS headquarters at (670) 664-9001 or the Crime Stoppers Hotline at (670) 234-7272 if they wish to remain anonymous. DPS also encourages the public to call the emergency line “911” to report a crime or emergency.

The public is urged the importance of safety precautions and vigilance during recreational activities, especially in environments as unpredictable as the ocean.

The incident is the second reported drowning of the year. Last Jan. 3, 22-year-old Traven Quitugua drowned off the coast of Hidden Beach while spearfishing with a companion.