Blue Hole One of the Seven Wonders?

GVB not convinced of legitimacy of New7Wonders
By John Davis
Published May 22, 2009

Contrary to a release issued by New7Wonders of Nature global campaign blasting the Guam Visitors Bureau for not submitting documents that would put a popular dive spot on Guam in the running to be voted one of the planet's amazing natural feats, the Guam Visitors Bureau says the reason they let the issue die was they were concerned about the organization's legitimacy

Guam's Blue Hole has is a vertical limestone shaft that was formed millions of years ago, extending down 300 feet into the reef. This very popular dive site has now been suspended from being nominated as part of the New7Wonders of Nature Global Campaign. The release indicates the reason the dive spot has been suspended from the list is the Blue Hole does not have an Official Supporting Committee representing it and so has now been suspended as a result of this situation.

New7Wonders requested GVB general manager Gerry Perez on March 4 to complete paperwork, but never received the documentation. GVB deputy general manager Ernie Galito says at first, GVB was excited about the idea and possibility of nominating the Blue Hole as one of the wonders on this side of the world, but after some background checks the determined the New7Wonders were misrepresenting themselves.

"We thought that they were endorsed by the United Nations (the Heritage Committee) and we've come to find out that they really weren't...we were kind of suspect on the validity of the organization so that's why we just dropped out of it," Galito said. He also added that other countries like Egypt were upset at the organization as well for not including the Great Pyramids into the campaign.

On top of some of the world's real wonders being left out of the selection, Galito says GVB was even more suspicious of New7Wonders when the agency found out that governments could sway the outcome of the campaign by making contributions to the organization. "We didn't really like where governments could influence the voting by contributing cash in order to make sure that their site got placed further up on the Top 7 list," he shared.

Whether or not Guam's Blue Hole ever makes it to the top of any world wonders list, Micronesian Divers Association general manager Jim Miller says the Blue Hole off of the Orote Point is a SCUBA hotspot. He says anywhere from 50-150 tourists visit the dive spot everyday and Top 7 wonder or not, if you haven't seen it, you're missing out. "It gives spectacular views, you get down there to about 120' and look back up, the shape of the opening looking towards the surface looks like the map of Guam," he said.

"It's lined with sea fans towards the bottom you've got a ton of fish there," Miller continued, "everything from lobster to eels to swimming fish, butterfly fish, angel fish, etc."

Related links

* VIDEO: interview with GVB's Ernie Galito
* VIDEO: interview with MDA's Jim Miller
* AquaQuest Video Productions: The Blue Hole
* Guam Visitors Bureau
* New7Wonders of Nature
* Popular Guam dive site suspended from global campaign

http://www.kuam.com/bm/news/gvb-not-convinced-of-new-7-wonders-of-natures-legi.shtml?14189