International Coastal Cleanup Guam

It’s international cleanup day and there were 17 cleanup sites for the 17th annual event in Guam.

We chose the Agat cemetery an area along the Agat coast.. As the cleaning commenced among the volunteer divers, they shared the same feelings upon seeing what they witnessed... “Shock and disbelief”. 

Three divers located a spot that accumulated with so much trash they were not able to haul all of it out. From previous dives there are many “junk spots” scattered around the Agat coast. Although it was an impossible task for three divers to complete in one dive, they still tried.

As an guesstimate, it would take at least 30 divers to cleanup the entire underwater habitat behind the Agat cemetery. It would be interesting to see if any dive shop on Guam would be willing to take on this philanthropic deed for Guam's natural treasure. Guam’s oceans is one of many natural assets she has… yet it gets trashed.

Diver Alan Ryo picking up trash located next to a rock formation.

Upon entering one of many “junk spots”, @ 50 ft. Alan Ryo proceeds in collecting the trash. Notice how his dive bag is already full.

Most of the debris you see here was dumped here and / or was swept here by heavy storms. No matter the cause, it is mindboggling to see car parts, cans, toilet seats, and a bed mattress located at a beautiful coastal area.

As for the amount of trash collected, the divers collected an estimated 60+ lbs. of trash.

Some debris picked up by volunteers at the beach behind the Agat cemetery.