Page 479 - Visitor Guides

Family Fun in the Sun · Snorkeling Family Fun in the Sun · Scuba Diving

favorite snorkeling spots The outer reef dives range and smaller creatures, like nu-
include Gun Beach, the Tumon from deep dropoffs to coral dibranchs can be seen in holes
Bay Marine Preserve, and Piti head and sandy flats of gar- inside the shaft walls.
Bomb Holes. For more infor- den eels.
mation, see our Sightseeing &
Landmarks section beginning A wide variety of fish, sea
on page 38. anenomes, and larger marine
life like sea turtles, barracuda,
and the occasional reef shark
can be found at any of Guam’s
Snorkeling 150 dive sites.
Surrounded by hues of blue, Hap’s Reef
Guam’s fascinating under- Some of our most popular Host to an array of tropical
water world of corals, ship- sites include: fish and coral, Hap’s Reef is
wrecks and rich marine life is located off Agat Bay in the
great for snorkeling. Rippling island’s southern region. At
serenely over the island’s shal- 45 feet, the site is a favor-
low, pristine, white sand, the ite among beginning divers.
ocean turns the lightest shade Scuba Diving Squirrelfish, butterfly fish,
of aqua. Rated in the Top 20 percent in trumpet fish and soldierfish
the world, due in large part to inhabit this area. Pay atten-
Mesmerized by the blue rich- more than 300 types of coral, tion, and you’ll even see an
26 ness of the ocean, taking a dip 220 species of benthic marine anemone of clownfish. During 27
in Guam’s warm waters will algae, and 950 fish varieties, the boat ride, keep your eyes
connect you to hundreds of Guam is home to a diverse peeled for a school of dolphin
varieties of marine life. You’ll marine environment. Named that play in the area.
be welcomed by teems of one of the most affordable Blue Hole
tropical fish including schools places to dive in Micronesia, Located toward the tip of
of goatfish, convict tangs, par- our island offers a variety of Orote Peninsula on the south-
rotfish, and even larger ma- sites for each certification ern coast, Blue Hole is one of
rine life like eels, barracuda, level. the island’s most unique dive
and the occasional manta ray. sites. Characterized as a 300-
Dive environments for begin- foot shaft cut into reef made
Snorkeling further out, you’ll ners and more experienced of limestone, the site offers
experience the coral beds and divers are concentrated more excellent visibility that often
friendly unicorn fish, emper- heavily in the south, with the allows divers to see the top of
ors, trevallies, and oftentimes, exception of a few accessible the hole from the surface. SMS Cormoran & Tokai Maru
sea turtles that venture closer dive spots in northern Guam. The Tokai Maru, a Japanese
to the surface. Treasure all the Experience two types of dives The shaft actually drops much freighter sunk by a submarine
underwater world has to offer on Guam – those within Apra further than air diving allows, torpedo attack during WWII,
you, explore the bright-col- Harbor and those outside near but a large window opens to rests above the SMS Cormo-
ored coral, go eye-to-eye with the outer reef. Harbor dives, the outer wall at about 125 ran, scuttled after WWI. The
a clownfish and his anemone mostly accessible by boat, feet, allowing divers to exit and site marks the only instance
home, and let the butterfly take place at WWI and WWII ascend after a free fall through in the world where wrecks
fish surround you. Some shipwrecks or hard coral reef. the shaft. Resident moray eels from two different countries