Guam

It's always, always, always flat and currentless because it's in a sheltered part of a large natural harbor.  There are nearby phones, other dive-vans, and bathrooms.  Visibility is low-ish for the area.  Sea life (corals, animals, and plants) are at a real minimum for the island.  This is an extremely popular spot for dive shops to conduct Open Water SCUBA dives, perhaps because it's completely predictable, safe and lacks distractions.  On the other hand, you'd be bored silly here once you're certified and looking for an exciting fun dive.  Preferable places for fun-dives are Finger Reef, Piti Bombhole, Gun Beach and nearby Family Beach.

Drive 30 minutes along the island's ring-road from Tumon Bay (the tourist area) past the big city (Hagatnya) to the largest bay on the island, where the US navy base and major shipping warehouses are.  Do NOT speed on this road, because it's a favorite site for speed traps.  Take the road leading to the warehouses and shipping docks, and go PAST them to almost-the-end-of-the-road.  If you go to the end of the road you'll be at a nice sandy white beach (with no dive-vans) called "Family Beach".  This ain't that.  This is a gravelly grey beach on the left, crowded with dive-vans.  You'll know you're in the right place if you're surrounded by dive shops' vans with Open Water SCUBA students and dive-floats.

Out House