Underwater diving in Guam

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Divers at Blue Hole, one of the most popular dive sites on Guam Blue Hole, Guam (38973926660).jpg
Divers at Blue Hole, one of the most popular dive sites on Guam

Underwater diving encompasses a variety of economically and culturally significant forms of diving on the U.S. island territory of Guam. Scuba diving tourism is a significant component of the island's tourist activity, in particular for visitors from Japan and South Korea. Recreational diving by Guam residents has a lesser but still substantial economic impact. Marine biologists have raised concerns about the effect of diving upon the health of some of Guam's reefs. Recreational dive sites on Guam include submerged shipwrecks, such as the double wrecks of SMS Cormoran and Tokai Maru , and natural features, such as Blue Hole.

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Freedive spearfishing is a culturally and economically important activity for Guam residents, with a history extending to the pre-Spanish CHamoru people. Guam is well represented in local and regional spearfishing competitions. Scuba spearfishing was banned by law in March 2020, after over ten years of resistance from local fishing groups.

Recreational diving

Tourists in Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve in Seawalker helmets with surface-supplied air posing for a photo Tourists posing at a Guam reef attraction (reef317440452).jpg
Tourists in Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve in Seawalker helmets with surface-supplied air posing for a photo

Scuba diving tourism is a subset of tourism that is dependent on a healthy marine ecosystem. In 2006, the Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA) estimated that 30% of the island's economy was tourism, while 65% comprised the economic impact of the U.S. military. [1] In 2001, a study by the Guam Visitors Bureau identified 13 dive companies operating on Guam, which employed 13 dive boats and 99 certified instructors. Authorities also believe there to be a large number of "fly-by-nighters" who operate out of vans and can handle small groups of tourists. According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the largest diver certification agency, there were just over 10,000 PADI certifications issued on Guam in 2003, compared to about than 5,000 in 1990. The vast majority – 88% – of PADI certifications issued from 1980 to 2003 on Guam were to Japanese, with 9% to local divers and 3% to "other". [2]

A recreational open-water scuba class on Andersen Air Force Base Children, adults can experience Guam below sea level 130622-F-OG799-132.jpg
A recreational open-water scuba class on Andersen Air Force Base

In a 2007 study published by the University of Guam (UOG) Marine Lab, researchers attempted to estimate the number of dives and divers being conducted on Guam. The first method was to use 2002 numbers and tourist segment studies published by the Guam Visitors Bureau. Using this method, UOG study calculated that 6.3% of the 976,351 visitors in 2002 were divers, or 61,746 people. [2] Since this study, number of Koreans tourists surged, eventually outnumbering Japanese tourists in 2017. [3] Doing a similar calculation for fiscal year 2019, there were 734,339 arrivals from South Korea. [4] Exit interviews by the Guam Visitors Bureau in FY2019 found that 27% of Korean visitors reported participation in scuba diving activities. [5] This corresponds to about 198,271 Korean visitors diving at least once during the year. For the same time period, there were 674,345 arrivals from Japan, [4] of whom 7% reported scuba diving, [6] corresponding to about 74,204 divers. For context, the population of Guam in July 2021 is estimated at 168,801. [7]

The 2007 UOG study estimated the annual number of dives by locals to be between 64,00 and 128,000. Combined with the visitors numbers for 2002, this yielded an estimated total number of annual dives on Guam of 190,000 to 375,000. This was comparable to the second method used by the researchers; using reported daily tank fill numbers, they alternately estimated that there were 256,00 to 340,000 dives annually. The study used 300,000 as its approximation of the number of dives per year on Guam, with one-third being made by locals and two-thirds by international visitors. [2] After estimating the various costs of dives and certifications, the 2007 UOG study estimated that the direct economic value of visitor diving was $4 million, the most valuable water sport activity on Guam that is dependent on a healthy ecosystem. Diving by locals was valued at $1.2 million, third-place after dolphin watching. [2]

PADI reports that there are 15 PADI dive shops on Guam, of which seven are 5 Star Instructor Development Centers/Resorts and four are PADI 5 Star Dive Centers/Resorts. The majority of PADI shops were located in central Guam, [8] with the exceptions of dive shops catering to Naval Base Guam [9] and Andersen Air Force Base. [10]

Naval Base Guam has operated the U.S. Navy's busiest recompression chamber in the Pacific region since 1971. [11] It is the only chamber, also called a dive locker, in the Micronesia region and treats both civilian and military divers suffering from decompression sickness. [12] In 2016, the dive locker treated one person per week on average, down from three per week before the widespread use of dive computers. Most patients were tourists or local scuba spearfishermen. [13] [14]

Environmental impact of recreational diving

Diver with negative buoyancy standing on live coral structures DSC6690 (38657939150).jpg
Diver with negative buoyancy standing on live coral structures

A number of recreational diving activities may have harmful environmental impacts, including touching or breaking coral, kicking sand or silt over living coral, and feeding or harassing wildlife. A small number of protected sites on Guam receive a disproportionately large percentage of inexperienced divers and students receiving open water instruction, who are the most likely to engage in harmful behaviors. These sites are Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, located in the tourist center of Tumon, and Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve, along the coast of Piti. The number of divers at Piti Bomb Holes increased dramatically after access to a third location, Outhouse Beach on Apra Harbor, was restricted in 2001. [2] In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Outhouse Beach was deemed too close to critical infrastructure around the Port of Guam.[ citation needed ] An estimated 50 to 200 dives occurred daily within a 0.25 hectares (0.62 acres) section of Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve, putting the number of annual dives at over 18,000. The threshold at which coral damage can rapidly accumulate is 4,000 to 6,000 dives, putting Piti Bomb Holes at severe risk. [15]

The International Coastal Cleanup is a popular event on Guam, which routinely ranks in the top 25 countries for pounds collected. The event typically includes cleanup scuba dives near the Agat World War II Amtrac site off Agat Cemetery and at Asan Cut, which are dive sites particularly prone to accumulating trash washed out by nearby rivers. [16] [17]

Spearfishing

A steephead parrotfish in Tumon Bay. Parrotfish are highly desirable food fish on Guam Steephead parrotfish near Tumon Bay, Guam.jpg
A steephead parrotfish in Tumon Bay. Parrotfish are highly desirable food fish on Guam

Breath-hold spearfishing is both a cultural and economic activity on Guam. The ancient CHamoru people used a barbed spear known as a fisga. The 8-foot wooden shaft was tipped with either wood or bone, and used for both surface and subsurface spearfishing. Spearfishing by skin divers was called etokcha' in the CHamoru language. Fishermen would swim with their eyes open and use an underhand thrust for small prey or an overhead thrust for larger prey. Irritated eyes were treated with drops from Scaevola taccada , known as nanasu. [18]

Spearfishing continues to be widespread on Guam. Most spearfishing occurs from 5 to 60 feet (1.5 to 18.3 m), with the favored prey fish being parrotfish and unicornfish. Speared fish are often sold through the Guam Fisherman's Cooperative. [19] A 2017 Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council meeting noted that the Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation was taking the lead in teaching spearfishermen to enter their catch in NOAA's Marine Recreational Information Program website/mobile app. The Federation noted, "they are trying hard to legitimize spearfishing as a sport, [but] there are many others who are pillaging the resources by spearing fish that are too small or taking more than what is needed." It was also noted that much of the catch recorded thus far was for personal use. [20]

Bluespine unicornfish, known as tataga' in CHamoru, is a popular food fish on Guam Bluespine unicornfish - Guam.jpg
Bluespine unicornfish, known as tataga' in CHamoru, is a popular food fish on Guam

A 2010 study found that the establishment of Guam's marine preserves had more than doubled the death rate by drowning of CHamoru fisherman, including spear fishermen, with the hypothesis being that they were pushed into more hazardous areas. Prior to the establishment of the preserves in 1997, residents of Guam fished primarily on the western coast, which is leeward of the trade winds, and in the reefs along Cocos Lagoon in the south. Non-CHamoru fishermen who were resident on Guam were primarily recreational fishermen, while CHamoru residents were more likely subsistence fishermen. With the enforcement of marine preserves in the historical fishing grounds in the west and south, non-CHamoru recreational fishermen reduced their fishing activity, while CHamoru subsistence fishermen began more heavily fishing the windward eastern coast, which has more hazardous conditions that increase the risk of drowning. Comparing the pre-preserve period of 1986–2009 and post-period of 2001–2009, the study found that the drowning rate of CHamoru fishermen increased 225%; the proportion of drowning deaths on the east coast increased from 20% to 63%; and the drowning death rates of non-CHamoru fishermen fell by about 50%. [21] Deaths of spearfishermen remain common. [22] [23]

Competitive spearfishing

Guam athletes participate in competitive spearfishing. Guam took gold in both the individual and team events at the quadrennial 2018 Micronesian Games, with one sports site commenting, "Guam has a very experienced and well-equipped crew that has a great deal of international spearfishing experience." [24] Guam also took team gold and individual silver at the 2014 Games, [25] as well as team gold [26] and individual bronze at the 2010 Games. [27]

In 2008, Guam made its first appearance at the Inter-Pacific Spearfishing Competition as a social competitor. It was voted in as a core member in 2014 and hosted for the first time in 2017. [28] Guam placed third in the 2018 games. [29] Guam representatives also competed at the inaugural Freshwater World Spearfishing Championships resulted in silver in individual men's in 2017. [30] At the 2019 games, Guam won silver and bronze in mixed pairs. [31] The Marianas Underwater Fishing Federation also sponsors an Annual Marianas Spearfishing Challenge in Hagåtña. [32] [33] [34]

Commercial, military, and scientific diving

Apra Harbor is the focus of much commercial diving, in particular for inspection, repair, and construction of wharves and mooring systems for the Port of Guam and Naval Base Guam.[ citation needed ]

Naval Base Guam has about 180 personnel who dive as part of their duties. This includes personnel from Naval Special Warfare Group One's Special Warfare Unit 1 of the Navy SEALs, elements from Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, and the submarine tenders USS Emory S. Land and USS Frank Cable. [13] In August 1974, the hulk of RMS Caribia, a decommissioned passenger ship, ran aground at the tip of the Glass Breakwater and broke apart in Typhoon Mary. The ship salvage to clear the port entrance [35] was complicated by the discovery of a Korean War-era LCU wreck next to Caribia with 50 tons of unexploded ordnance. This prompted the biggest EOD project ever conducted on Guam, requiring 952 dives over 388 hours. [36]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guam</span> Unincorporated US territory in the Pacific Ocean

Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. Guam's capital is Hagåtña, and the most populous village is Dededo. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States, reckoned from the geographic center of the U.S. In Oceania, Guam is the largest and southernmost of the Mariana Islands and the largest island in Micronesia. As of 2022, its population was 168,801. Chamorros are its largest ethnic group, but a minority on the multiethnic island. The territory spans 210 square miles and has a population density of 775 per square mile (299/km2).

The history of Guam starts with the early arrival around 2000 BC of Austronesian people known today as the Chamorro Peoples. The Chamorus then developed a "pre-contact" society, that was colonized by the Spanish in the 17th century. The present American rule of the island began with the 1898 Spanish–American War. Guam's history of colonialism is the longest among the Pacific islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Guam</span>

Guam is a U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean, at the boundary of the Philippine Sea. It is the southernmost and largest member of the Mariana Islands archipelago, which is itself the northernmost group of islands in Micronesia. The closest political entity is the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), another U.S. territory. Guam shares maritime boundaries with CNMI to the north and the Federated States of Micronesia to the south. It is located approximately one quarter of the way from the Philippines to Hawaii. Its location and size make it strategically important. It is the only island with both a protected harbor and land for multiple airports between Asia and Hawaii, on an east–west axis, and between Papua New Guinea and Japan, on a north–south axis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional Association of Diving Instructors</span> Recreational diver training and certification agency

The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) is a recreational diving membership and diver training organization founded in 1966 by John Cronin and Ralph Erickson. PADI courses range from entry level to advanced recreational diver certification. Further, they provide several diving skills courses connected with specific equipment or conditions, some diving related informational courses and a range of recreational diving instructor certifications. They also offer various technical diving courses. As of 2020, PADI claims to have issued 28 million scuba certifications. The levels are not specified and may include minor specialisations. Some of the certifications align with WRSTC and ISO standards, and these are recognised worldwide. Some other certification is unique to PADI and has no equivalence anywhere, or may be part of other agencies' standards for certification for more general diving skill levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spearfishing</span> Hunting for fish using a spear

Spearfishing is fishing using handheld elongated, sharp-pointed tools such as a spear, gig, or harpoon, to impale the fish in the body. It was one of the earliest fishing techniques used by mankind, and has been deployed in artisanal fishing throughout the world for millennia. Early civilizations were familiar with the custom of spearing fish from rivers and streams using sharpened sticks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diving activities</span> Things people do while diving underwater

Diving activities are the things people do while diving underwater. People may dive for various reasons, both personal and professional. While a newly qualified recreational diver may dive purely for the experience of diving, most divers have some additional reason for being underwater. Recreational diving is purely for enjoyment and has several specialisations and technical disciplines to provide more scope for varied activities for which specialist training can be offered, such as cave diving, wreck diving, ice diving and deep diving. Several underwater sports are available for exercise and competition.

Underwater divers may be employed in any branch of an armed force, including the navy, army, marines, air force and coast guard. Scope of operations includes: search and recovery, search and rescue, hydrographic survey, explosive ordnance disposal, demolition, underwater engineering, salvage, ships husbandry, reconnaissance, infiltration, sabotage, counterifiltration, underwater combat and security.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apra Harbor</span> Seaport in Guam

Apra Harbor, also called Port Apra, is a deep-water port on the western side of the United States territory of Guam. It is considered one of the best natural ports in the Pacific Ocean. The harbor is bounded by Cabras Island and the Glass Breakwater to the north and the Orote Peninsula in the south. Naval Base Guam and the Port of Guam are the two major users of the harbor. It is also a popular recreation area for boaters, surfers, scuba divers, and other recreationalists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piti, Guam</span> Village in Guam, United States

Piti is a village located on the central west coast of the United States territory of Guam. It contains northern and eastern coastlines of Apra Harbor, including Cabras Island, which has the commercial Port of Guam and the island's largest power plants. Piti was a pre-Spanish CHamoru village and, after Spanish colonization, became the primary port town on Guam. The town was largely destroyed during the 1944 liberation of Guam and the population relocated during the wartime construction of Apra Harbor.

PADI AWARE Foundation is an environmental nonprofit organization with three registered charities in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia. Their mission is to drive local initiatives contributing to global ocean conservation efforts, through engagement with the international community of professional and recreational scuba divers via the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI).

Tumon Bay is a bay in the United States territory of Guam, opening to the Philippine Sea. It is bounded to the north by Two Lovers Point and to the south by Ypao Point. The entirety of the bay falls within the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, also known as the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve Area (MPA) and Tumon Preserve, one of five marine preserves on Guam. The Preserve measures 4.54 square kilometers and is roughly two miles long. The platform of the fringing reef that separates the open ocean from the lagoon is up to 1,450 feet (440 m) wide. and up to one mile from the shore. The bay is located off of the Tumon area, the tourist center of the island, in the village of Tamuning. The bay is extensively utilized for recreation and fishing.

SMS <i>Cormoran</i> (1909) German armed merchant raider of WWI scuttled at Guam

SMS Cormoran or SMS Cormoran II was a German armed merchant raider that was originally a German-built Russian merchant vessel named Ryazan. The ship was active in the Pacific Ocean during World War I. Built in 1909, she was captured by the German light cruiser SMS Emden on 4 August 1914 and converted into a raider at the German colony Kiautschou. She was forced to seek port at Apra Harbor on the US territory of Guam on 10 December 1914. The United States, then declared neutral in the war, refused to supply provisions sufficient for Cormoran to make a German port. After the US declaration of war on April 6, 1917, the Naval Governor of Guam informed Cormoran that she would be seized as a hostile combatant, prompting her crew to scuttle her.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodwana Bay</span> Bay of the Indian Ocean on the northern KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa

Sodwana Bay is a bay in South Africa on the KwaZulu Natal north coast, between St. Lucia and Lake Sibhayi. It is in the Sodwana Bay National Park, and the Maputaland Marine Reserve, and is a popular recreational diving destination. The term is commonly used to refer to both the marine reserve and the terrestrial park, as well as the geographical bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques</span> International organisation for underwater activities

Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) is an international federation that represents underwater activities in underwater sport and underwater sciences, and oversees an international system of recreational snorkel and scuba diver training and recognition. It is also known by its English name, the World Underwater Federation, and its Spanish name, Confederación Mundial De Actividades Subacuáticas. Its foundation in Monaco during January 1959 makes it one of the world's oldest underwater diving organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of scuba diving</span>

The history of scuba diving is closely linked with the history of the equipment. By the turn of the twentieth century, two basic architectures for underwater breathing apparatus had been pioneered; open-circuit surface supplied equipment where the diver's exhaled gas is vented directly into the water, and closed-circuit breathing apparatus where the diver's carbon dioxide is filtered from the exhaled breathing gas, which is then recirculated, and more gas added to replenish the oxygen content. Closed circuit equipment was more easily adapted to scuba in the absence of reliable, portable, and economical high pressure gas storage vessels. By the mid-twentieth century, high pressure cylinders were available and two systems for scuba had emerged: open-circuit scuba where the diver's exhaled breath is vented directly into the water, and closed-circuit scuba where the carbon dioxide is removed from the diver's exhaled breath which has oxygen added and is recirculated. Oxygen rebreathers are severely depth limited due to oxygen toxicity risk, which increases with depth, and the available systems for mixed gas rebreathers were fairly bulky and designed for use with diving helmets. The first commercially practical scuba rebreather was designed and built by the diving engineer Henry Fleuss in 1878, while working for Siebe Gorman in London. His self contained breathing apparatus consisted of a rubber mask connected to a breathing bag, with an estimated 50–60% oxygen supplied from a copper tank and carbon dioxide scrubbed by passing it through a bundle of rope yarn soaked in a solution of caustic potash. During the 1930s and all through World War II, the British, Italians and Germans developed and extensively used oxygen rebreathers to equip the first frogmen. In the U.S. Major Christian J. Lambertsen invented a free-swimming oxygen rebreather. In 1952 he patented a modification of his apparatus, this time named SCUBA, an acronym for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus," which became the generic English word for autonomous breathing equipment for diving, and later for the activity using the equipment. After World War II, military frogmen continued to use rebreathers since they do not make bubbles which would give away the presence of the divers. The high percentage of oxygen used by these early rebreather systems limited the depth at which they could be used due to the risk of convulsions caused by acute oxygen toxicity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberation Day (Guam)</span> Public holiday in Guam

Liberation Day on the U.S. territory of Guam is an annual commemoration of the invasion by U.S. military forces on July 21, 1944, which ended the Japanese occupation that had begun in 1941. Begun in 1945, it is Guam's largest celebration. Festivities include a queen contest, summer carnival, fireworks display, and mile-long parade on Marine Corps Drive in Hagåtña from Adelup to Paseo de Susana, as well as solemn memorials and visits to massacre sites. It is organized by the Guam Island Fair Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve</span> Marine protected area in Guam

Piti Bomb Holes Marine Preserve is a marine protected area comprising all of Piti Bay on the western coast of Guam, located off of the village of Piti in the Philippine Sea. The defining "bomb hole" features, named because they look like bomb craters in the reef flat, are actually natural percolation pits where fresh water filters into the shallow lagoon at a depth of 25 to 30 feet. The largest pit houses the commercial Fish Eye Marine Park tourist attraction, which includes a wooden pier to a underwater observatory and a Seawalker tour of the lagoon bottom. It is visited by more than 200,000 people annually. The Piti preserve is the most ecologically diverse of Guam's five marine preserves. The pit around Fish Eye is a popular snorkeling and recreational diving site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asan, Guam</span> Census-designated place in Guam, United States

Asan is a community and census-designated place (CDP) along the western coast of the U.S. territory of Guam. Asan, along with Maina and Nimitz Hill Annex, are the three communities in the village of Asan-Maina. It is known for being the location of the northern invasion beach used by the United States during the retaking of Guam in 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pago Bay</span>

Pago Bay is the largest bay on the U.S. territory of Guam, located at the mouth of Pago River on the island's eastern coast. There is extensive evidence of CHamoru settlement before Spanish colonization during the late seventeenth century. During the Spanish-Chamorro Wars, the Spanish transferred the populations of Tinian and Aguigan to the village of Pago. However, a smallpox epidemic in 1856 killed much of the village's population and the Spanish moved survivors to other villages, leaving the bay shoreline largely uninhabited. The bay is popular with fishermen and recreationalists, and was the site of new housing development in the 2000s.

Spearfishing competitions have been held at the quadrennial Micronesian Games since the 1994 Micronesian Games, with modern spearfishing replacing traditional spearfishing at the 2006 Micronesian Games.

References

  1. ↑ Salas, John C. (11 October 2019). "Evolution of the Tourism Industry on Guam". Guampedia. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 van Beukering, Pieter; Haider, Wolfgang; Longland, Margo; Cesar, Herman; Sablan, Joel; Shjegstad, Sonia; Beardmore, Ben; Liu, Yi; Garces, Grace Omega (March 2007), van Beukering, Pieter (ed.), The economic value of Guam's coral reefs (PDF), Technical Report, vol. 116, University of Guam Marine Laboratory, pp. 42–47
  3. ↑ Limtiaco, Steve (7 April 2018). "Rising Korean tourism market more frugal than Japan market". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 "2019 Annual Report" (PDF). Guam Visitors Bureau. p. 42. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Korea Visitor Tracker Exit Profile & Market Segmentation Report: FY2019 Data Aggregation" (PDF). Guam Visitors Bureau. p. 98. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Japan Visitor Tracker Exit Profile & Market Segmentation Report: FY2019 Data Aggregation" (PDF). Guam Visitors Bureau. p. 98. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Guam – The World Factbook". CIA.gov. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "PADI Dive Shops in Guam". PADI Travel. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  9. ↑ "MDA". mdaguam.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "AAFB – Andersen Family Dive Center". www.amtguamdiveshop.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Rendina, Christopher (March 2018). "A historical review of the U.S. Navy's busiest recompression chamber in the Pacific theater with a current perspective on caring for civilian divers within its area of responsibility: short communication". Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine: Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc. pp. 183–189. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  12. ↑ "Naval Base Guam diver locker demonstrate patient care". DVIDS. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  13. 1 2 Olson, Wyatt (21 March 2016). "For treatment of decompression sickness, Naval Base Guam is the place to go". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Naval Base Guam dive locker provides recompression treatment for community". Military News. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  15. ↑ Burdick, David; Brown, Valerie; Asher, Jacob; Gawel, Mike; Goldman, Lee; Hall, Amy; Kenyon, Jean; Leberer, Trina; Lundblad, Emily; McIlwain, Jenny; Miller, Joyce; Minton, Dwayne; Nadon, Marc; Pioppi, Nick; Raymundo, Laurie; Richards, Benjamin; Schroeder, Robert; Schupp, Peter; Smith, Ellen; Zglicynski, Brian (January 2005). "The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of Guam". www.researchgate.net. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  16. ↑ Swartz, Meghan (24 September 2018). "Decades of coastal cleanups make big impact on Guam". The Guam Daily Post. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  17. ↑ "Volunteers needed for annual coastal cleanup". The Guam Daily Post. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  18. ↑ Tolentino, Domenica (4 March 2021). "Ancient CHamoru Fishing Tools". Guampedia. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  19. ↑ "Fishing at tip of spear in Guam". Stripes Guam. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Mariana Archipelago FEP-Guam Advisory Panel Meeting" (PDF). Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  21. ↑ Lucas, Devin L.; Lincoln, Jennifer M. (10 December 2010). "The Impact of Marine Preserve Areas on the Safety of Fishermen on Guam" (PDF). Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  22. ↑ "Spearfisherman's body found at Pago Bay". The Guam Daily Post. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Divers pull spear fisherman from 50 feet underwater". The Guam Daily Post. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. ↑ "Guam completes their dominance – 2018 Micronesian Games – Spear Fishing". GameDay. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  25. ↑ "Results – 2014 Micronesian Games – Spearfishing". GameDay. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "Guam Wins Spearfishing Gold at Micronesian Games". PNC News First. 8 August 2010.
  27. ↑ "Spearfishing Competition – 7th Micronesian Games". sportstg.com. 7 August 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  28. ↑ Engichy, Kasmira (3 April 2017). "Guam hosts Inter-Pacific Spearfishing Championships". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  29. ↑ Babauta, Chloe (16 September 2018). "Spearfisherman shares stories of travels around Pacific, at educational Science Sunday talk". Pacific Daily News. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  30. ↑ "USA 2017 Results". Fresh Water Worlds. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  31. ↑ "Results – New Zealand 2019". Fresh Water Worlds. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  32. ↑ "Guam Fishing Derbies and Festival". NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center Blog. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  33. ↑ "13th annual Marianas Spear Fishing Challenge". Pacific Daily News. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  34. ↑ "Spear Fishers Turn In At Annual Event". Guam Sports Network. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  35. ↑ "Historical Vignette 093 – The Largest Ship Salvage Operation in Corps History Took Place in Guam". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. September 2004. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  36. ↑ Donner, Annette. "RMS Caronia Timeline: Caribia – A Sad Ending – Page 6". www.caronia2.info. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
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