Micronesia

Diving in Guam, Yap & Palau

Typically visitors think of Guam as a stop-over on flights to Micronesia and Indonesia, but this unincorporated territory of the United States, can offer some interesting dives as well.

Probably the most famous of it's dives are the wrecks of the WWI German ship the Cormoran and WWII Japanese Tokai Maru, a passenger-cargo freighter. You can dive on two ships from two different wars at the same time. The two wrecks are actually touching each other, and if you are a history buff, it's a dive worth doing!

Guam also lies along the Marianas Trench, a deep subduction zone at the edge of the Pacific plate, and the local dive shops can take you diving in the world's deepest ocean.

In addition to its diving, Guam has inviting beaches, elegant hotels, and great shopping bargains. The climate is tropical marine (generally warm and humid) and is moderated by northeast trade winds. The dry season is from January to June. The rainy season is from July to December; however, there is little seasonal temperature variation, and water temps are between 82-84 degrees year round.

Yap's famous manta rays and the diverse marine life that make their home in Yap's coral reefs and tidal channels have made Yap one of the fastest growing diving destinations in the world today.

The clear waters and sheer drop-offs make for a spectacular variety of diving experiences, but the divers all come for one thing: Yap is the world capital of manta ray diving. More than 45 individual mantas have been identified and given individual names, each easily recognized by the distinct markings.

Mantas are by no means all that Yap has to offer divers. Yap is located below the Pacific typhoon belt and for the same reason the mantas are on show year-round, divers can dive all year in consistent conditions. Reef sharks and big oceanic greys regularly patrol Yap's fringing reefs and have made several new sites and walls popular on the east and southeast coast. These sites also offer caverns, large gorgonian and fan corals, numerous varieties of reef fish and schools of tuna and jacks. Eagle rays also school in several areas in shallow water providing yet another exciting photographic and diving experience for divers visiting these legendary waters.

The Republic of Palau is Micronesia's western most island chain. The tightly clustered Palau archipelago, consists of over 200 islands covering a distance of around 125 miles. Palau is the home to one of the world's unique phenomena, the Rock Islands.

The Rock Islands are Palau's crowning glory. More than 200 of these jungle-topped knobs of limestone dot the waters for a 20 mile stretch south of Koror. Their bases, having been worn away by tidal action and grazing sea creatures, are narrower than their tops, causing them to look like emerald-hued mushrooms rising from the turquoise sea.

Palau has three ocean currents converging in its waters to bring in some of the most varied and dazzling marine life in the world. Palau is the last word in underwater wonderlands: it offers an endless variety of sites to dive - from caves to walls and major drop-offs, to tunnels, channels and shallow reefs, where you can enjoy great visibility and an almost limitless variety of marine life. Dive sites like Blue Corner and German Drop-off are known far and wide, as some of the best dive spots in the world.

Palau also features some of Micronesia's richest flora and fauna, both on land and beneath the waves, including the world famous Jellyfish Lake, which has millions of non-stinging jellyfish pulsating through the water.

The weather is hot and humid, with annual rainfall around 150 inches. The flora and fauna are tropical, but Palau is best known for its 70-mile-long barrier reef which encloses spectacular coral reefs and a lagoon of approximately 560 square miles, a divers' paradise. Palau's water temperatures remain above 82°F year-round, much to divers' delight.

Passport and/or Visa Requirements

American citizens do not need a passport to enter Guam, although some itineraries may pass through ports that require them, so it is a good idea to carry yours on your visit to Guam. Citizens of other countries require a passport and a U.S. visa.

A valid passport with 6 months validity remaining is required for Yap & Palau. Other required items include a return ticket, confirmation of hotel reservation, and another form of picture ID required.

EXIT REQUIREMENTS: There is a no departure tax when leaving Guam or Yap but a departure tax of $20.00 pp US payable at the airport upon departure in cash is required for Palau.

Immunizations

Vaccinations are not required Guam, Yap or Palau. Check with the Centers for Disease Control on recommended vaccinations for travel www.cdc.gov.

Culture and Customs

Guam has a vital attraction- its unique culture. The traditions and customs of Guam's proud island heritage thrive, despite invading conquerors, wars and epidemics, and changing governments. Forged from a neolithic foundation and molded by historical events, Guam's living culture has expanded into a vibrant, modern way of life.

Music is an integral aspect of an island lifestyle, and performances using traditional instruments, such as the belembaotuyan, are highlights of cultural presentations. The belembaotuyan, made from a hollow gourd and strung with a taut wire, creates a melodic sound enjoyed by all. The nose flute, once a long forgotten instrument, is also making a hearty return. The Kantan Chamorro style of singing has been a favorite form of entertainment for generations.

Legends and folklore about village taotaomo'na (ancient spirits), doomed lovers leaping to their death off Two Lovers' Point (Puntan Dos Amantes), and Sirena, a beautiful young girl who became a mermaid, are portrayed in many of Guam's enriching cultural dances.

The people of Yap are proud and secure in their culture and traditions, which have been incorporated into daily life in the 21st century.

Village life centers around majestic Men's Houses where the local Chief conducts village meetings. Cooking is done over open fires with meals of reef fish, yams and bananas as the staples.

Dance is a living art form in Yap with each village presenting dances to the High Chiefs on Yap Day (March 1). Dancers in richly appointed costumes of hibiscus and flowers perform exciting and graphic tales of the culture and history of Yap. Stone money and Shell Money are still used in traditional exchanges and a council of High Chiefs still yields great influence and respect among the people.

The name Palau may be derived from the Palauan word for village, beluu (Pelew). Some trace the name to the Spanish word for mast, palao.

Palau comprises several cultures and languages. Ethnic Palauans predominate, inhabiting the main islands of the archipelago. Descendants of the Carolinean atolls, especially Ulithi, settled on Palau's southern atolls.

Most of Palau's important cultural symbols are derived from its chiefly past, in particular the gable of the community meetinghouse, bai. This impressive thatched building was the center of political, social, and artistic life. Today the decorated bai gable is used in most national and state seals and to decorate Palauan buildings.

Respect toward elders and leaders is still pronounced. In particular the head is considered sacred and should not be touched.

Electricity, Telephone and Internet Access

Electricity in Guam, Yap & Palau is 110 Volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. If you travel with a device that does not accept 110 Volts at 60 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter.

Micronesia has a modern, fully and reliable digital telecommunication system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers. International direct dialing is available from your hotel rooms.

Several cybercafés are in and about the main square. Common operating hours are Monday through Saturday from 10am to 8pm.

Water Quality

Guam & Yap's drinking water is safe to drink. The water system is tested continuously to ensure the safety of the drinking water.

In Palua the water is mostly safe to drink in major hotels and resort, however it’s always best to drink bottled water. A jug of drinking water is usually supplied by hotels and bottled water is sold everywhere. In the tropics it is always important to drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids to avoid dehydration.

Language & Currency

Guam:

English and native Chamorro are the languages of the island. Japanese and Tagalog also spoken. There is a 99% literacy rate. The US Dollar (US$) is the currency accepted in Guam. Credit cards are widely accepted.

Yap:

There are four indigenous languages in Yap: Yapese, Ulithian, Woleian and Satawalese. English is the official language of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and is commonly spoken and understood. Many elderly Yapese are fluent in Japanese.

The official currency in Yap is the US Dollar. Yap is famous for its Stone Money which is still in use for traditional exchanges such as the purchase of land or in village ceremonies.

There are two commercial banks in Yap, the Bank of the FSM and the Bank of Hawaii. US currency is used. Credit cards are accepted by most hotels, travelers checks are recommended for purchases at restaurants and for shopping.

Palau:

The official language of Palau is English and Palauan.

Currency is the US Dollar (USD). There are banks in all the major tourist areas, where credit cards are widely accepted.

Micronesia follows the American custom and tipping is an accepted practice in restaurants, hotels, baggage handling.

Time

Guam & Yap Standard Time is 10 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+10). Guam, Yap & Palau do not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Palau is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

History, Art, and Culture

The island of Guam, "Guahan" in native Chamorro, is a cosmopolitan community that reflects the cultures of its original Chamorro inhabitants as early as 2,000 B.C. It has been influenced by countless European, American, Asian, Micronesian, and other people who have occupied, visited and immigrated to Guam since the 16th Century.

Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan, sailing for the King of Spain, reached the island of Guam in 1521 during his circumnavigation of the globe. General Miguel López de Legazpi claimed Guam for Spain in 1565.

Spanish colonization started in 1668 with the arrival of Padre San Vitores, who established the first Catholic mission. The islands were then governed as part of the Spanish East Indies from the Philippines. Guam was treated by Spain as part of their colony in the Philippines.

While Guam's Chamorro culture is unique, the cultures of both Guam and the Northern Marianas were heavily influenced by Spanish culture and traditions.

Guam was ceded to the U.S. by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the U.S. three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important U.S. bases in the Pacific.

The Yap people share their culture, dances and history of their stone money. Underwater, the Manta Rays draw divers from around the world.

Dance and handicraft skills are an artform on Yap. It is through dance that the legends are passed down, history recorded and entertainment traditionally created. The costumes and dances of Yap are lively, colorful and complex, and children begin to learn these important Yap traditions from an early age.

Respect of local traditions and manners are expected and politely observed. Womens' thighs should be covered.

Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants from what today is Indonesia. British traders became prominent visitors in the 18th century, followed by expanding Spanish influence in the 19th century. Following its defeat in the Spanish-American War, Spain sold Palau and most of the rest of the Caroline Islands to Germany in 1899. Control passed to Japan in 1914 and then to the United States under UN auspices in 1947 as part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

Four of the Trust Territory districts formed a single federated Micronesian state in 1979, but this eventually dissolved as the individual districts--long culturally distinct--opted for more locally popular status. Palau approved a new constitution in 1981, subsequently signing a Compact of Free Association with the United States in 1982. After eight referenda and an amendment to the Palauan constitution, the Compact went into effect on October 1, 1994, marking Palau's emergence from trusteeship to independence.

Location and Size

Guam is located in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines. It is the largest and southernmost island in the Marianas Archipelago. The capital city is Hagåtña (or Agana). Their motto is: "Where America's Day Begins". The land area of Guam is 212 sq. mi.

Yap is located in the Western Pacific stretching from 6 to 10 degrees North Latitude and 137 to 148 degrees West Longitude in the Western Caroline Islands. Yap is one of four States that make up the Federated States of Micronesia and is 450 miles southwest of Guam and 360 miles northeast of Palau.

Located in the western Pacific, the Palauan archipelago is the westernmost portion of the Caroline Islands, which are in turn part of the Micronesian geographical subdivision of Oceania. Palau is 722 nautical miles southwest of Guam. Palau's three hundred volcanic and raised coral islands and atolls rise up from the Philippine Plate, with the highest stone outcrops reaching about 720 feet on the largest island, Babel thuap. The islands have a total land area of 191 square miles.

The capital and major population center is Koror, the small set of islands to the south of the main island of Babelthuap. In 2004 the capital will be relocated to Melekeok on Babelthuap.

Population

Guam = approx. 173,456. Yap = approx. 11,200. Palau = approx. 20,842.