Shore Diving in Umatac, Guam

There is a very enjoyable dive to the South. Umatac, in Southern Guam, is the area where Magellan landed in 1521. This dive location is located in a residential cul-de-sac, just North of Umatac Bay. The entrance to this dive takes divers over sharp coral and fire coral in shallow water. It is recommended that this dive be conducted at high slack tide or, at least, near a high tide, so as to give divers a chance to snorkel over the coral.

Once beyond the reef edge, divers drop down to about 20 feet and can explore many sand channels and reef cuts, heading west to the open ocean. The depth is mostly about 40 to 50 feet until the 70 foot sand bottom is reached at the open ocean.

Many nudibranchs live here. I’ve seen large Spanish Dancers undulating in the water. Also, this is the only place I have seen a Golden Cowrie shell. Normal encounters include, nurse sharks, rays, eels, lionfish, octopus and turtles.

At the end of the dive, if you still have adequate air supply, there are numerous tunnels and caves in the reef wall to explore. Some of the tunnels are tight, so be careful.

Oh, by the way, sometimes the entrance through the trees grows over and you might have to blaze a trail!!!

 

C. Parker Van Hecke, April 19, 2018