AZURE sea, white sandy beaches, golden sunshine and the mysterious world under the sea are things I always dreamed of when I was a child. After a four-hour flight from Shanghai, we arrived at the place of my dreams. Saipan, the capital of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, greeted us with its clear sky, blue sea and the warm smiles of its people.

The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, composed of 14 islands, is a territory of the US. Among the islands, Saipan, Tinian and Rota are the northernmost ones, and they are favoured destinations for visitors from all over the world.

Of the three, Saipan has the largest area and is the most built-up, while Tinian and Rota are tranquil escapes where visitors can free the mind and relax.

The night flight, combined with the two-hour time difference, wore us out. The moment we got to the hotel we threw ourselves onto bed for a sound sleep. When I woke up, I was surprised by the scene. The gentle breeze ruffled the curtains as my husband stood by the window, smiling at me. Outside, the sea was glittering green and azure, its deep blue waves rolling onto the white sand. Was I still dreaming? I felt we were sailing on an ocean of happiness.

Diving paradise

The most interesting activity on Saipan is diving. In fact, the islands are considered by some to be the world's finest diving destination.

After lunch, we left the hotel and visited Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, the Last Command Post and other sites named after the fighting of World War II. We were impatient to visit the Grotto, the most unique diving spot on Saipan. The Grotto has been called the world's second-best diving site. It is amazing in a way that might be hard to imagine until you try it yourself.

After entering the water, I found a huge limestone cavern surrounded by schools of colourful tropical fish, turtles, clown triggerfish, dolphins and jellyfish.

The beautiful coral reefs made the undersea world even more splendid and fantastic. The sunlight streamed down through the tunnels into the deep blue water, as if it were the only hint which could help divers find their way back to the world on land.

It was a pity that we could not dive deeper than three metres; otherwise we would have had a chance to explore the limestone cavern by ourselves. But the marvellous cavern was only for more experienced divers, and the breathing apparatus and pressure surely would have made us suffer.

Plenty to do

Besides diving, we had many other entertainment choices, such as fishing, surfing, jungle exploration, parasailing, helicopter flights, banana boat trips, even submarine expeditions. The golf courses of Saipan, with their distinctive tropical character, are both picturesque and challenging.

Whenever we wanted to participate in any of these activities, either the local tour guide or the hotel reception helped us. A shuttle bus took us to the appropriate sites, though a car-rental service was also available.

I especially enjoyed dining beside the swimming pool of the hotel, enjoying impromptu entertainment. Young girls with flowers in their hair showed off their dancing talents to visitors. In the warm evenings, I liked to take walks on the private beach of the hotel with my husband. We stood on the fine sand beach, caressed by gentle waves and looking at the setting sun; we felt our honeymoon dreams had come true.

On the third day, we left early in the morning for Tinian. During this one-hour boat trip many passengers got seasick. The guide told us it took only 15 minutes by seaplane, but the cost was also significantly higher.

During our visit to the island we made sure not to miss the Blow Hole. Over hundreds of year, the holes in the coral reefs took on their present porous shapes under the erosive action of the waves. When air and water are forced out together, they form great fountains. When the wind is strong enough, the height of the fountain can reach 20 feet.

One of the most attractive places on Tinian is the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, which is equipped with 5-star facilities and offers all kinds of cuisines, as well as slot machines and table games.

Rota is quite a long way from Saipan, about one hour by seaplane. It is known as the "Undiscovered Gem" of the Northern Marianas, where most of the original landscape and wild life still survives. At Sagua'gaga Seabirds Sanctuary, thousands of seabirds make their home. Looking from the cliffs, birds can be seen soaring, hovering and gliding around. People on this island are famous for their hospitality. During the Rota San Francisco De Borja Fiesta, visitors may celebrate with the locals and enjoy native food and music all day long.

Shopping on Saipan, visitors should not miss the biggest duty-free shop, DFS. It is only seven minutes' walk from the Dai Ichi Hotel, and 10 minutes from the Hyatt. The shop provides buses every 15 minutes to pick you up from your hotel and drive you back. The shop stays open until 11pm.

As for the cuisine, visitors can find Western, Japanese, Korean and various local dishes on Saipan. There are not many taxis on the island, but for those who are not in a tour group, hotels will help arrange transportation or contact car rental service companies, such as Budget and Toyota, which have service offices in both hotels and the airport.