Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee. Resort nearby
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Last updated on December 14, 2022
If you visit Guam, it is quite likely that Tumon Bay will be the place you stay. This large sandy beach, about 1,5 miles long, is filled with resorts, restaurants and bars. Fringed by a large and stunning lagoon, ideal for beginners, and offering a stunning reef drop-off to experienced snorkelers, it is the most accessible (and the busiest) snorkeling spot in the island.
Located on the West side of the island, a 10-minute drive from the airport ($25-30 by taxi), Tumon Bay is the main seaside resort in Guam, where most of the luxury hotels are found.
You can enter the water anywhere along the beach, but if you plan to explore the reef drop-off, you should enter the water approximately in front of the channel.
This spot can be divided into two areas: the vast shallow lagoon, starting from the beach and some 400 meters wide, ideal for beginners, and the reef drop-off area, which should be only explored by the most experienced snorkelers.
1. The lagoon
Tumon Bay lagoon is a great location for first-time snorkeling. The water is warm, clear and shallow (↕2-4ft/0.5-1m), with absolutely no currents and no waves. The seabed is mostly sandy with scattered coral areas, which grow denser as you get close to the reef.
Although the lagoon is shallow and there is little coral, you can still spot several species of fish, including butterflyfish, triggerfish, Moorish idols and damselfish. The lagoon can be snorkeled at almost any time, since it is well-sheltered.
2. The drop-off
The barrier reef and its drop-off are located about 400 meters from the shore. You can identify this area from the beach because this is where the waves break. Some 50 meters before the reef edge, the coral becomes so dense that it’s difficult to go further, but some channels allow you to reach the outer reef.
On the high parts of the drop-off (↕3-12ft/1-4m), the seabed is beautiful and supports a diversity of marine life. Swimming along the reef, you will probably spot shoals of surgeonfish, emperor angelfish and regal angelfish, several species of triggerfish, as well as fire clownfish in their anemone.
Please keep in mind that only the more experienced snorkelers can venture in this area, and only when the sea conditions are perfect. Postpone your snorkeling or stay in the inner lagoon if the sea is rough. Always keep at a safe distance from the channel, as boats and jet skis use it to reach the open sea.
There are a dozen hotels on the beach, facing the lagoon. In this area, along Pale San Vitores Road, you will find a large number of places to eat and shop.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
