Diving in Vanuatu
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Vanuatu's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Vanuatu, ecoregion. This region features 8 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Vanuatu has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Vanuatu (4)
Popular Spots in Vanuatu (8)
Million Dollar Point
Million Dollar Point is a dive site located in Vanuatu, in front of Million Dollar Beach. The site features various war equipment from World War II, which has been sunk and is now decaying underwater. Divers can explore the wreckage at depths ranging from 10 to 30 meters, observing marine life that has adapted to this artificial reef.
Semele
Semele is a dive site featuring a wreck that lies at depths starting from over 30 meters, with the wreck's bottom reaching around 50 meters. This site is suitable for advanced divers and technical diving due to its depth and conditions. The wreck is in poor condition, and penetration is not advised. Divers typically begin their dive on the wreck and ascend to finish on the adjacent reef. Marine life sightings include various fish species and nudibranchs, although the overall reef condition has been noted as not great as of 2022.
Ss President Coolidge
The SS President Coolidge is a wreck dive site located near the beach at a depth range of 20 to 65 meters (66 to 213 feet). The prow is accessible at 20 meters, while the stern lies at 65 meters. Divers can explore various openings throughout the wreck, making it suitable for divers of different experience levels.
SS President Coolidge (Wreck)
The SS President Coolidge is a notable wreck dive site located at coordinates -15.523700, 167.233000. Originally a luxury passenger liner, it was repurposed as a troop carrier during World War II. The vessel met its fate after striking a mine while navigating the Segond Channel, leading the captain to run it aground in an attempt to salvage it, though it sank rapidly. The wreck now serves as a habitat for diverse marine life, including occasional sightings of dugongs, turtles, and moray eels, contributing to its ecological significance.
The Abyss
The Abyss features a generally healthy reef ecosystem with depths ranging from approximately 12 meters to over 30 meters. The area around 15 to 25 meters is noted for having the highest density of coral, including extensive plate and branching corals. This site is also suitable for night dives, providing opportunities to observe nocturnal marine life.
The Cathedral
The Cathedral is a cavern dive that features a narrow passage leading into a spacious chamber. On calm days, divers can surface at the end of the passage. The maximum depth at this site reaches approximately 25 meters. Marine life includes various shrimp, nudibranchs, and a variety of fish typical to the Vanuatu region.
West Side Story (Mele 2)
West Side Story (Mele 2) features one of the healthier reefs in Port Vila, characterized by extensive patches of staghorn corals. The reef slopes to depths exceeding 30 meters, with optimal diving conditions found between 15 and 25 meters. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of small reef fish throughout the site.
Yankee Juillet
Yankee Juillet is primarily known for the remnants of a small plane crash, with only a few scattered pieces of wreckage present. The underwater environment is characterized by nearly dead corals and a lack of significant marine life, with few fish observed. Divers may encounter some sea pens in the sandy areas and have a rare chance of spotting a ray. The site is accessed from the shore.