Most locals in Guam know little more about the sleepy village of Piti than what they have seen driving along the highway. Delve a little deeper (underwater that is) and you’ll be able to discover a whole other side to this tiny Pacific island at the Piti Bomb Holes.
Piti’s coastline is lined by two beach parks, Tepungan Beach Park and the Pedro Santos Memorial Park, both of which make great access points to the Piti Bomb Holes marine preserve. Popular with sea sport lovers, those going into the water needn’t worry about the threat of recurrent warfare. Fair enough with the name “Piti Bomb Holes” most people expect at least some signs of World War II but in fact the bomb hole looking craters under the water are natural limestone reef formations with a far different history from what you’ll learn about at the museums up the road.
Home to large varieties of fish, the shallow water depth makes the Piti Bomb Holes perfect for novice divers while the manmade Fisheye Marine Observatory built in the middle of the largest crater makes it super easy to spot some of the thousands of fish and corals that call the preserve home.
An interesting fact for visitors amazed by the sheer volume of marine life is knowledge that the area could have been very different if it wasn’t for 1997 legislation. The government at the time banned fishing in 5 areas throughout Guam and created permanent preserves in Piti Bomb Holes and also Pati Point, Tumon Bay, Sasa Bay and Achang Reef Flat. The plan thankfully worked and the recent decade has seen marine life thrive in the area and the waters along Piti are these days as popular with divers and snorkelers as they are with fish.
