When you hear about Guam you probably think of war and Japan, but war isn’t the only thing that Guam is known for. Guam is one of the best diving destinations in the world, and has been put on the map as being the most visited island in Micronesia today. With whales, mantas and other various marine life, it has so much more to offer including treasure troves that lie beneath its waters. Guam is a great place to dive with average water temperatures of 82 degrees Fahrenheit; it gives those who love history and sea life a peak at some fabulous shipwrecks. There is plenty of machinery, equipment, and everything from tankers to cruisers in Guam’s waters. The wrecks of WWI and WWII have added tremendous value to Guam’s waters with sites like The SMS Cormoran, the Tokai Maru, the Kitsugawa Maru, the Val Bomber, and the American Tanker. Let’s take a trip back in history!
The SMS Cormoran
Apra Harbor is the area where most of the shipwrecks in Guam are located, and they are all within minutes of each other. The waters in this area are protected, so these wrecks have been looked after, preventing divers from going down to strip the wrecks of what they have. In fact, Apra Harbor is coveted for its “twin wrecks” the SMS Cormoran, a German merchant trader from WWI, and the Tokai Maru, a Japanese ship from WWII. The SMS Cormoran was the first to go, being sunk by its captain to avoid being captured. The ship sunk with all of its crew at the beginning of WWI. The Tokai Maru is right above it and next to it. This is the only site in the world, where ships from two world wars touch each other.
This dive is not only interesting because of its layout, but the SMS is penetrable, meaning one can get into it and take a look around. The SMS Cormoran is a cruiser, and was rather light so it was easy to prop open the hatches, but this type of excursion would be better suited for those who have experience in penetration diving. One of the most fascinating details of this ship is the claw foot tub that lies inside!
The Tokai Maru
The Tokai Maru, a passenger freighter, was sunk in a sneak attack by a US submarine called “Flying Fish”, during WWII. This ship was actually used by the Osaka Shosen Company as a luxury freighter that would travel from Tokyo to New York. In 1941, this ship was re-commissioned as a freighter under contract, in order to be used by the Japanese Navy. Because of the angle this ship landed, its stern is touching the stern of the SMS Cormoran and lies approximately 120 feet under water. Surprisingly, much of this boat is intact also giving paths into its engine rooms and walkways.
Around the ships are a variety of corals, and other various marine life that certainly these wrecks worth the trip.
Kitsugawa Maru
Another ship in Apra Harbor is the Kitsugawa Maru, a Japanese freighter. This freighter is a pretty deep dive, sitting in approximately 140 feet of water. This ship is popular with divers simply because it is fascinating with its mast sitting at 60 feet, and a deck gun sitting at 100 feet. Not only is the wreck a treasure trove with a lot to see, but it’s an extremely photogenic site. A majority of the damage to this ship is at 130 feet where you can see the evidence of bombs that hit, and the box of ammo that is still sitting near the gun. The only thing to be careful of with this wreck is the large holes from the bombs. Be on the lookout for marine life too; you never know when you might see an Octopus make themselves known! This wreck is guarded because it sits in a shipping channel, so the only way to get to it is to go out with the marine authority on Guam; so be sure to make your travel plans well in advance.
Val Bomber
The Japanese Val Bomber, is actually a plane that went down in Guam, and you can openly see the cockpit. This plane is located near a wall that starts at about 10 meters and settles in at 28 meters. There is one wing intact, and the other one isn’t very far. This site is really close to the American Tanker, and only takes about ten minutes to reach. Unlike the ships, there isn’t much to this plane, but it remains a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
The American Tanker
The American Tanker is a concrete barge, measuring out to be well over 300 feet long. This barge was more than likely one that was delegated to haul war supplies from Honolulu to Guam, while being pulled by a larger ship. American Tanker was put into the harbor after it finished its journey, and was sunk to create a breakwater in the Apra Harbor. Today, it sits among beautiful corals, which are common for those ships that lie in the Calalan Bank.
There is no doubt that Guam is now known for much more than war and sorrow. Today it is filled with tourists and divers waiting to catch a glimpse of its beaches, clear waters, resorts and dive sites. Start planning for your dive vacation to Guam today, you won’t want to miss it!