Agat World War II Amtrac | |
 Photo c. 2007 | |
| Location | Address restricted[2] off Ga'an Point, nearAgat, Guam |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000880[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 2011 |
TheAgat World War II Amtrac is an underwater relic ofWorld War II, located off Ga'an Point inAgat Bay on the west side of the island ofGuam. It is the remains of anLVT 4, an amphibious tracked landing vehicle. It is located about 500 yards (460 m) offAgat Invasion Beach in 45 feet (14 m) of water, and was described as being in good condition when it was discovered and surveyed in 1985. These vehicles were used during the 1944Battle of Guam, in which American forces recaptured the island fromoccupying Japanese forces. This particular vehicle does not appear to exhibit significant war damage. This is the most intact of the three Amtracks remaining on Guam from the 850 that participated in the battle. It was re-surveyed bymaritime archaeological field schools conducted from 2009 to 2012.[3]
It is administratively part of the Agat Unit ofWar in the Pacific National Historical Park.[4] The Amtrac is the occasional topic ofNational Park Service ranger presentations.[5] The submerged wreck was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2011.[1]
| Amtrak / Agat Cemetery | |
|---|---|
| Location | Guam,USA |
| Waterbody | Agat Bay |
| Nearest land | Agat, Guam |
| Dive type | Open-water |
| Depth range | 40 to 65 ft (12 to 20 m) |
| Average visibility | 16 to 66 ft (4.9 to 20.1 m) |
| Entry type | Boat/shore |
| Bottom composition | Sand, coral |
| Water | Salt |
The site is well known to localrecreational divers, who referred to the location asAmtrak. Located in a sandy bottom at about 50 feet (15 m), it surrounded by large corals heads amid surge channels. The reef supports many types ofcoral reef fish, such astangs andclownfish, as well as many smaller creatures. There are also free swimmingpelagic fish. A nearby sewage outfall may be problematic depending on the direction of the current.[6]
Dive boats will typically anchor directly at the Amtrak, allowing divers to explore the large sand pits surrounded by coral formations. Shore divers typically enter at the empty northern corner of the newAgat Cemetery, giving the dive a second name ofAgat Cemetery. Divers are cautioned to be respectful of the fact that they are in an actively usedcemetery. After walking out along the pipeline and swimming out to a drop down spot, divers follow the sandy channel on a due west compass heading to the Amtrak. The return route can vary to viewsea anemone beds along the coral pillars or ascend to the top of the reef flat at about 30 feet (9.1 m) to spotcleaning stations.[7] This location is the focus of periodicInternational Coastal Cleanup dives, as trash from the nearbySalinas River is swept into the channels.[8][9]
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