AlvinZ's Photo blog: May 2018

Guam is around the same size as Singapore; Singapore is approximately 697 sq km, while Guam is approximately 544 sq km.

My main reason to visit Guam is for the SMS Cormoran and Tokai Maru wrecks after visiting the ADEX 2018. The SMS Cormoran rests 110 ft (34 m) below the surface on her starboard side. She was scuttled at Apra Harbor on 7 April 1917. The Tokai Maru was a Japanese passenger-cargo ship sunk by the USS Snapper on August 27, 1943 during World War I. The dive site is one of the few places where divers can explore a World War I shipwreck next to a ship from World War II.

Guam was also known to have other wrecks such as the Kisugawa Maru and American Tanker, but I did not managed to visit them.

Since my main goal was to visit wreck dives and the Micronesian Divers Association (MDA) did not allocate wreck sites to me, I decided to cancel the 28 May dive. Also, when giving me the quotation, MDA did not inform me of the "5-Star Club". But luckily the staff informed me about this and refunded me USD$48.00.

The total spending for diving was USD$462 (SGD$621)

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Air Itinerary Details

Outbound

Singapore (SIN), SG Wed, 23 May 2018, 14:30 Terminal: TERMINAL 1	Manila (MNL), PH Wed, 23 May 2018, 18:30 Terminal: TERMINAL 2	Philippine Airlines PR 508	Flying Time: 4hr	*Free upgrade to Premium Economy due to flight overbooking
Airbus A330-300 (333)


Manila (MNL), PH Wed, 23 May 2018, 22:55 Terminal: TERMINAL 2	Guam (GUM), GU Thu, 24 May 2018, 04:45	Philippine Airlines PR 110	Flying Time: 3hr and 50min	*Upgraded to Business Class for USD$200
Airbus A321

Inbound

Guam (GUM), GU Wed, 30 May 2018, 06:45	Manila (MNL), PH Wed, 30 May 2018, 08:30 Terminal: TERMINAL 2	Philippine Airlines PR 111	Flying Time: 3hr and 45min
Airbus A321


Manila (MNL), PH Wed, 30 May 2018, 09:55 Terminal: TERMINAL 2	Singapore (SIN), SG Wed, 30 May 2018, 13:40 Terminal: TERMINAL 1	Philippine Airlines PR 507	Flying Time: 3hr and 45min	*Upgraded to Business Class for USD$155
Airbus A330-300 (333)

	USD	SGD
Return flight	$525.00	$688.20
Upgrade to Business Class (MNL to GUM)	$200.00	$275.86
Upgrade to Business Class (MNL to SIN)	$155.00	$214.28
Total	$880.00	$1,178.34

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Day 1, 23 May 2018 (Wed)

Lucky that I was early at the airport because I did not know I need to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for entry to U.S (USD$80). Also, the check-in counter had issue with their system to process my flight tickets due to the upgrade to Business Class.

First time using the SATS Premier lounge at Terminal 2 using the Priority Pass membership that I've got from the DBS Altitude Credit Card

*Free upgrade to Premium Economy due to flight overbooking - From Singapore to Manila

Hot meals

Arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2, Manila

The Mabuhay Lounge

Shower included

Business Class seat - From Manila to Guam.

iPad for entertainment. Watched a Filipino romantic comedy film, "Finally Found Someone".

Night view

Food on Business Class

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Day 2, 24 May 2018 (Thur)

Arrived at about 4-plus morning...

Long queue at Nissan Rent-a-car.
Car rental was USD$253.72 (SGD$341.51)
Car insurance was USD$121.71 (SGD$163.82)

Sunrise at about 6am

Guam JAJA Guesthouse USD$462.31 (SGD$642.20)

Living room

Kitchen

Bedroom all to myself

Two Lovers Point, Tamuning, Guam - Admission ticket USD$3

Love locks

360

Underwater World - Heard that OWSI gets 50% discount for entry

Latte Of Freedom (Latte here refers to the latte stone)

Fish Eye Marine Park, Piti, Guam - Admission ticket: $12

The observatory at bottom deck is which is 30 feet underwater

Cetti Bay Overlook

Para I Lalahi Ta Park

Umatac Bay

Merizo Pier

Inarajan Natural Pool

Talofofo Bay

Pago Bay Overlook

Micronesia Mall

Cai fan that cost USD$7.00

CCTV in the toilet?

Crabs!

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Day 3, 25 May 2018 (Fri)

Dive #1
Location: Blue & White
Max depth: 26.2m
Average Depth: 13.5m
Bottom time: 56min (0939 - 1035)

Dive #2
Location: Gab Gab II
Max depth: 17.8m
Average Depth: 13.1m
Bottom time: 53min (1127 - 1220)

MDA's Dive boat

Wreck

Port

First Dive

Tender for Atlantis Submarines Guam at Gab Gab II

Feeding station

Atlantis Submarine

Dinner - canned tuna

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Day 4, 26 May 2018 (Sat)

Dive #3
Location: Coco West
Max depth: 27.0m
Average Depth: 11.6m
Bottom time: 56min (0927 - 1023)

Dive #4
Location: Pete's Reef
Max depth: 25.0m
Average Depth: 12.5m
Bottom time: 53min (1119 - 1212)

Dive #5
Location: Tarzan Cave
Max depth: 20.5m
Average Depth: 13.1m
Bottom time: 49min (1431 - 1520)

Dive #6
Location: Haps Reef
Max depth: 16.0m
Average Depth: 10.8m
Bottom time: 60min (1615 - 1715)

Departing the Agat Harbour

Bubbles

Pete's Reef

Self-reliant diver with a pony bottle

Newspaper article on Guam beaches polluted

Tarzan's cave

Rocks and boulders

Sea cucumber

Dolphins

Sunset

Shopping at Pay-less supermarket

cooking

Dinner - Crab and chicken thigh

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Day 5, 27 May 2018 (Sun)

Dive #7
Location: Nathan's Den
Max depth: 22.2m
Average Depth: 15.1m
Bottom time: 38min (0848 - 0926)

Dive #8
Location: Pete's Reef
Max depth: 21.1m
Average Depth: 13.3m
Bottom time: 37min (1028 - 1105)

*The above dives were from Agat Marina and while the follow dives were at Apra harbour which departs from Cabras Marina

Dive #9
Location: SMS Cormoran & Tokai Maru
Max depth: 28.2m
Average Depth: 18.6m
Bottom time: 46min (1414 - 1500)
*Nitrox 32%

Dive #10
Location: SMS Cormoran & Tokai Maru
Max depth: 30.3m
Average Depth: 19.6m
Bottom time: 40min (1549 - 1629)
*Nitrox 32%

Dolphins

Dolphin watching boats

Nemo

Nitrox recommended for the SMS Cormoran and Tokai Maru wreck dive. Went back to MDA shop to pick up the Nitrox tanks

Off to the SMS Cormoran and Tokai Maru wreck

Source: U.S National Park Service, Submerged Cultural Resources Unit

Anchor

Touching the wrecks from two different World War

Bubbles

The cargo hold is large enough to enter

The funnel

MDA

Agat Mango Festival

Coconut crab

Piglet

Food stalls

Biggest Mango

Mango testing

Mango donuts

Fun fair - Ferris wheel

Performance

Local dance

Cooked dinner

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Day 6, 28 May 2018 (Mon)

The place the Japanese soldier, Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi, hid for 28 years

360 of Talofofo Falls, Inarajan, Guam - Admission ticket: $12

Hiking

Tarzan Falls

Jeff's Pirate Cove

Lunch at Jeff's Pirate Cove - USD$23.10 (SGD$31.09)

The trek to Sigua Falls is quite tough. I couldn't even make it to the American tank

Trek through "One Thousand Steps" to Fadi'an Point, Mangilao, Guam

Strong waves

360 at Fadi'an Point

Abandoned car

Arcade game machine

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Day 7, 29 May 2018 (Tue)

Route to the Marbo cave, Mangilao - Bumpy road.

Inside the Marbo cave

Fresh water cave

Marbo Cave, Mangilao, Guam

Marbo cliff

Marbo Cliffside, Mangilao, Guam

Ritidian Point, Yigo, Guam

360

Shallow patch that I can walk so far out

Guam Beach Bar

Hotel Nikko Guam

Crystal Chapel (within Hotel Nikko)

Tamuning, Guam

Guam-zilla

School buses

The Rainbow Chapel at Pacific Islands Club Guam

Sunset at Hotel Nikko Guam

Dinner at Poki-Fry House, Hagåtña, Guam - S20.40

Crab

Tagada Amusement Park

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Day 8, 30 May 2018 (Wed)

Mural - Underwater World, at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport

Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport. Had much issue again with the check-in due to the Business Class upgrade. The counter was unable to print the boarding pass from Manila back to Singapore. I was also at the risk of having to re-check-in my luggage at Manila airport which would not be possible. But luckily, the luggage was able to be sent directly to Singapore.