Ron Gubbins's Dive Log

Another update for Gun Beach snorkeling. The new beach bar has caused considerable damage to the fragile marine environment here. I previously gave it 5 years until total destruction, I must update that count to 2 years. First of all there are now at least 10 times the people on the beach compared to just 10 months ago. Secondly, runoff, I believe from the new beach bar, has caused an algae bloom, which is degrading all portions of the site. At depths of 15 feet or less I see algae that was not present when I first snorkeled here. Third, the people on the beach leave quite a bit of garbage behind. As a matter of fact, I have never seen beaches as dirty as I have on Guam. Family beach, a popular spot here, is completely junked up. In spots there are piles of refuse 2 feet deep. I have no idea why, but folks here just don't clean up after themselves. I am used to zero impact sites, where you must carry out everything you bring in, Here they just leave their garbage behind. Back to Gun Beach; I suggest you hit it now. Soon there will be commercialization up towards the north even further, and the greatness of this spot will be gone.

I must ad an addendum to my previous review. There is a new beach bar at Gun Beach. The runoff from the construction and operation is already ruining the corals with a bad algae bloom. There are many more people on the beach too. They are staggering around on the corals. I saw great destruction of a very beautiful coral garden that take hundreds of years to grow. You can hear the music from the bar while you are diving or snorkeling. One of the best places on Guam is going to be ruined, all thanks to the greed the people who built this place. I think is stinks. Gone is any thought of solitude. They have ruined an almost pristine site. I give it 5 years to total destruction, maybe less.

Just a quick mention. Both of the previous entries in the More Guam are largely about Gun Beach. Gun Beach is accessed by a road just to the north of the main strip in Tumon. The road has big signs that say 'Do not Enter'. They are a lie put up by a group that was once trying to gain control of the area to put up big condo buildings. Gun Beach is a public site, accessible to all. The road getting to it is quite rough due to erosion, so drive slowly and carefully and bear right near the end into the public parking area. The beach itself is excellent. It is a fairly quiet spot, and I've never seen more than about 20 people at a time there in total, mostly there are 4 or 5. You enter by the phone line pipes which run out from the shore and are easily identifiable. You have to walk about 100 yards out for water deep enough to SCUBA, but you can snorkel from near shore. I stress this, examine the wave action! If there are big waves and you are not experienced, do not go in. I have seen people hammered onto the very rough reef by these waves. Current can also be an issue here. People have been swept out to sea here if they go out too far. Follow the tide charts and only go here during incoming or slack high tides. Once you're in your gonna want to stay for several hours so plan your snorkel or dive accordingly. Following the pipes out, once you pass the near shore rubble, the reef opens up. The colors of the corals are intense, and the fish life is incredible. Morays, sharks and Manta's are occasionally seen here. I saw a squadron of very beautiful squid here once. If you follow the reef to the left you will be rewarded with a small area of spur and groove coral formations. They are incredibly full of life. If you follow the shoreline around the point and off to the right, you will find that things are just as good as to the left. There is a beach on the right that is just incredible, possibly the best beach on the island. I've never gone ashore there, it may be private. You can see hundreds of different fish at Gun Beach, corals, sponges, anemones, urchins, eels and more on this spot, and if the sun is shining, the colors pop!

I've done Gun Beach 7 times so far. Snorkeling only. I am an experienced diver though I don't feel the need in this spot. Gun Beach is super easy and chocked full of life. It's just like what has been said with a few changes. If you follow the pipes out, you can go either way. If you go right you must go out until you are parallel with the private beach. You will find the place swarming with life. From cool corals of almost every color to fish trying to chase you off. If you go left you find a series of nice holes in the reef, leading to all sorts of cool fish action. You do see some crown of thorns, but they have not destroyed the area by any means. I have been to Gun Beach on sunny days and during fairly intense storms. This place takes on a whole new level of cool during the intense tropical downpours you get on Guam. Be careful and mindful of the tides, as you always should be, because there can be a fair amount of current here from my experience. Not being weighed down by SCUBA equipment makes entry and exit a lot easier, but of course limits me at least to about 30 feet depth. I recommend not walking on the coral, but do recommend booties. Follow the pipes until the water is a few feet deep, enough to float yourself out if you are on scuba. You will be a hundred yards from where the water deepens into a very cool small canyon with the depths beyond.