UnderWater World Guam is one of the longest tunnel-aquariums in the world and the only oceanarium

Oceanarium

An oceanarium can be either a marine mammal park, such as Marineland of Florida, or a large-scale aquarium, such as the Lisbon Oceanarium, presenting an ocean habitat with marine animals, especially large ocean dwellers such as sharks.- Marine mammal parks :...

 in Guam

Guam

Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...

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The aquarium opened in 1999 and has more than 2,000 animals representing more than 80 different species. Many of the animals included in the aquarium are native to Guam and the surrounding Marianas Islands.

UnderWater World Guam is managed and partly owned by U.S. Aquarium Team (USAT) and is located in Tumon

Tumon

Tumon is an area located on the west coast of the island of Guam, United States territory. Located in the municipality of Tamuning, it is the center of Guam's tourist industry.-History of Tumon:...

. The main exhibit is a 319 feet (97.2 m) tunnel under an 800000 gallons (3,028,329.6 l) salt-water aquarium. The tank has more than 24 sharks, a shovelnose guitarfish

Guitarfish

The guitarfish are a family, Rhinobatidae, of rays. The guitarfish are known for an elongated body with a flattened head and trunk and small ray like wings. The combined range of the various species is tropical, subtropical and temperate waters worldwide. They often travel in large...

, two giant grouper

Giant grouper

The giant grouper , also known as the brindle bass, brown spotted cod, or bumblebee grouper and as the Queensland groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland, Australia. It is found throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception...

s and four stingrays.

The aquarium is involved with many conservation efforts on Guam. UnderWater World Guam is a major sponsor of the International Coastal Cleanup on Guam every year. The company also started a group known as the Blue Crew. The group consists of employees and other individuals from the community focused on environmental education and restoration efforts.

Animals

Many of the animals at UnderWater World Guam are found in the waters surrounding the 200 square miles (518 km²) island.
The main tank features many large animals, including Grey reef shark, Blacktip Reef Shark

Blacktip reef shark

The blacktip reef shark is a species of requiem shark, family Carcharhinidae, easily identified by the prominent black tips on its fins...

, Zebra Shark

Zebra shark

The zebra shark is a species of carpet shark and the sole member of the family Stegostomatidae. It is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, frequenting coral reefs and sandy flats to a depth of 62 m...

, Spotted eagle ray

Spotted eagle ray

The spotted eagle ray is a cartilaginous fish of the eagle ray family, Myliobatidae. It can be found globally in tropical regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, off the coast of West Africa, the Indian Ocean, Oceania, and on both coasts of the Americas at depths down to about . The rays...

, and Whiptail stingray

Whiptail stingray

The whiptail stingrays are a family, Dasyatidae, of rays in the order Myliobatiformes. They are found worldwide in tropical to temperate marine waters, and a number of species have also penetrated into fresh water in North America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Members of this family have flattened...

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There is also an exhibit featuring five giant Moray eel

Moray eel

Moray eels are cosmopolitan eels of the family Muraenidae. The approximately 200 species in 15 genera are almost exclusively marine, but several species are regularly seen in brackish water and a few, for example the freshwater moray can sometimes be found in freshwater...

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The gallery exhibits at UnderWater World Guam are home to animals from around the world, including Chambered Nautilus

Chambered Nautilus

The Chambered Nautilus, Nautilus pompilius, is the best-known species of nautilus. The shell, when cut away reveals a lining of lustrous nacre and displays a nearly perfect equiangular spiral, although it is not a golden spiral. The shell exhibits countershading, being light on the bottom and dark...

, Japanese spider crab

Japanese spider crab

The , Macrocheira kaempferi, is a species of marine crab that lives in the waters around Japan. It has the largest leg span of any arthropod, reaching up to and weighing up to . It is the subject of small-scale fishery.-Description:...

, Corals, and a unique exhibit featuring fish that change gender.

The final portion of the exhibit is a touch pool area where guests can feel live sea stars, fish and sharks.

Live shark feedings

Since it opened, UnderWater World Guam has featured live shark feeds throughout the week. Scuba divers feed sharks by hand inside the main tank of the aquarium.

The divers wear three sets of gloves including one cotton pair, a chainmail glove and one layer of Kevlar.

Conservation efforts

UnderWater World Guam has supported conservation efforts on Guam since the facility opened.

In addition to being one of the major sponsors of the International Coastal Cleanup the company also provides free presentations for schools regarding marine life and environmental issues on Guam.

UnderWater World Guam also offers special rates for groups to attend field trips through the aquarium with a guided tour.

The company also supports the efforts of the Blue Crew, a volunteer organization that focuses on conservation education, outreach and activities.