“The ocean, the edge of a cliff, and the holding of one’s breath can be sources of both fear and wonder to those who do not venture into those realms. We take those fears and turn them into love for the natural world for all to see.”
Part of every population has a contrarian or rebellious nature against any number of issues. One of these issues is having a basic regard for the environment. On Guam, from parking lots to sandy beaches we still see people flicking their cigarette butts anywhere but a receptacle — or chucking an empty beverage can into some trees without a second thought or, worse, with pride. Guam has almost no public trash cans and home trash pickup is a paid service not everyone can afford. Fortunately, there is a positive end of this spectrum: people who go outside the norm in spectacular fashion. GECC began in July 2021 with five freedivers turned rock climbers. Since then we have continuously expanded to include dozens of freedivers, rock climbers, scuba divers, hikers, military service members, students, drone pilots, arborists, scientists, body builders, and more.
(Pictured right: Cleaning up an illegal dump site at a cemetery.)
In the indigenous language of Guam, Chamoru, the western pacific island is called “Guåhan” meaning: we have. Indeed, we have volcanic hills, soils, ravines, and rivers in the southern half of the island. We have a limestone plateau, forests, and virtually limitless fresh groundwater. Around the island are stunning reefs containing as many as 500 species of coral and 1,000 species of fish. In each of these places, you can find anything from plastic bottles to washing machines to vehicles. To date, we have removed an estimated 20 laundry and kitchen appliances, four boats, 1.5 cars, dozens of trees destroyed by typhoon activity, and thousands of plastic, glass, and metal drink containers. The good news is that much of this trash is decades old, and so after we clean a site, it stays clean.
Freediving, rock-climbing, trekking, and even scuba diving have reputations for exploration and adventure. Enthusiasts of these sports are respected for their skill and daring even by those who would never participate themselves. So, when members of GECC combine these sports with cleanups underwater, in caves, on cliffs, and along trails then the effort takes on new, synergistic meaning.
By combining cleanup events with adventure sports, GECC strives to increase the care and empathy of average people towards the environment. The ocean, the edge of a cliff, and the holding of one’s breath can be sources of both fear and wonder to those who do not venture into those realms. We take those fears and turn them into love for the natural world for all to see.
(Pictured left: chainsaw hiking trail and cave pool cleanup in scuba gear)
We are the Guam Extreme Cleanup Crew and here is a sampling of our recent work.
Piti Bombholes II
This site is a popular place for diving called “Piti Bombholes.” Guam was bombed by Japanese Imperial Forces a mere four hours after Pearl Harbor and then again, the next day. Guam was again bombed by American forces in the retaking of the island nearly three years later. Though it is in fact a natural limestone sinkhole made possible by eons of sea level change, the prevailing misnomer of “bombhole” speaks to the significance of World War II on the island.
When Typhoon Mawar hit Guam in 2023, a local helmet diving company fell victim as their assets sank to the seafloor inside the “bombhole.” This included two compressors, weighing 800lbs and 1,000lbs, used to pump air to helmet divers below. In December 2023 and June 2024, GECC along with dozens of volunteer divers removed these hunks of metal, a couple hundred feet of rope, and various marine debris from the area. The effort took two days of work on site, even more days of planning, the support of scientific divers from the University of Guam to remove debris stuck in live corals, and the help of local business Fish Eye Marine Park. We made a goal to remove 100% of the debris caused from the typhoon and succeeded.
Two Lovers Point
Puntan Dos Amantes is the site of the legend of two lovers who could not be together. The tragic story ends with the couple tying their hair together, embracing one another, and leaping from the cliff. This sacred place has become a gem for visitors and locals alike.
Between the parking area and cliff’s edge is a natural vertical cave that drops 150ft straight down to a sloping interior chamber. Inside we found decades of trash including a couple crashed drones we promptly bagged up and sent to the topside team. On our way out, the afternoon sun revealed the terrible sight of dozens of 55-gallon drums in a deeper part of the chamber. We did not have the time or tools to begin removal of the drums that day and will have to go back. We believe we can completely clean the cave provided we get enough funding for the necessary HAZMAT personal protection equipment and mechanized equipment to haul everything back up.
30ft beached boat removal
Derelict vessels are an age old problem. What makes this one different is this boat, a panga, evidently originated some 9,000 miles away in Ecuador. According to its specifications, its hull weight is just under a ton at 1,984lbs. This was to be the single heaviest object GECC would try to remove. It also presented an interesting opportunity to involve new members of the community.
So, we put a call out to the gym and fitness communities to flex their muscles for a good cause and help us flip, move, and lift the boat for disposal. While there were other ways to go about this project, we have a long-standing belief that portions of the broader community would like to get involved if only they knew how they could help. So, when we needed help to lift the boat, we tapped into the community that by definition lifts heavy weights regularly.
The Guam Extreme Cleanup Crew is an ad hoc community group of skilled and unskilled volunteers. GECC is not a business or an official non-profit. GECC has no regular funding (yet). In spite of these facts, the crew is regarded well enough to receive local government permits for special activities, be recognized for our efforts in Guam Legislative Resolution NO. 94-37, and be listed as a partner in NOAA’s Guam Marine Debris Emergency Response Guide. GECC is on a mission to not only make the island cleaner as no one else can but also to change the culture that makes pollution a problem in the first place by showing that it is cool to care about our environment.
There are many ways to help and support our mission. You can donate on Paypal or Patreon (linktr.ee/theguamguy). We gladly accept donations of new or used equipment and supplies. If you would like to volunteer in person or discuss any of our projects, you may contact me at diveonguam@gmail.com or via Instagram at @theguamguy.