Guam Dive Facilities

[gr8diver]

I have read this article on the internet and you might want to look at it before diving into the waters of Guam or the big trouble.
But wait, does Guam have problems?

Guam's dive facilities: A real embarrassment to all local divers. The dive ignorant government does not have any idea how to create a world class dive location. No money or effort is put forth in helping the dive facilities look their best. Instead we have dirty toilets and marina piers that are falling apart and are unsafe do to rusting World War II metal pier parts waiting to gouge a divers legs. The harbor passages are filling in with sand and the heavy dive boats almost ground during low tide. Garbage is everywhere and even underwater. You can see rusting auto parts, tampons, beer cans and other trash just standing on the dock. Much of the trash was there even before the dive shops but the government does nothing to help improve this situation. No government money is spent on helping improve diving tourism. Both GVB (Guam Visitors Bureau) and JTB (Japan Travel Bureau) do very little or nothing to enhance the diver's realm. In the 30 years I've been working in the dive industry on Guam there is nothing to be proud of. Only Real World Diving has spent it's own money on a nice looking concrete docking pier. Otherwise you're looking at stepping in puddles of mud, crushed coral and water to get to your boat or walking down a very long and narrow pier with no cover while hauling your heavy gear bag in the rain.

Environment: Guam's diving resembles diving in a war torn zone of underwater destruction. Nothing has ever been done to prevent boats from dropping anchor in the beautiful corals. Even today, large dive vessels in excess of 45 feet continue to drop heavy anchor and chain on the coral beds. This not only destroys the coral but tears up anemones, sponges and kills many small critters. The Government of Guam while professing an interest in tourism and preserving Guam's beauty, actually does nothing to deter, prevent or enforce any actual protection for the reef. The dive shops talk but demonstrate no concern.