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VANUATU TOP TEN DIVE SITES
Vanuatu is sometimes called “The Land novice and experienced divers as well as caves
Time Forgot”; this nation encompasses 83 and swim-throughs. And Vanuatu is, of course,
splendid little islands where natural beauty is home to one of the world’s most sought after
the main attraction. Surrounded by splendid dives, The President Coolidge.
reefs and washed by clear, warm water, these
lovely little islands offer dive sites that include SS PRESIDENT COOLIDGE: The majestic SS
wrecks, caves, and more. There are dive sites President Coolidge, one of the world’s best wreck
for every level, and Vanuatu’s dive operators do dives, was a 1930s luxury passenger liner turned
offer dive instruction, so even non-divers can see troop carrier, now lying mostly intact in Esperito
the splendor that awaits beneath the surface. Santo, Vanuatu. This 22,200 ton luxury passenger
With so many dive sites to choose from, it can liner was commandeered as a WW2 troop ship
be difficult to decide where to begin. Scuba that was a carrier vessel only; never meant to see
diving in Vanuatu is excellent, for the dive sites combat. She hit a friendly mine in 1942 and the
themselves, accessibility, water temperature and Captain steered her onto the reef. The troops left
visibility. There are a number of professional and everything in place as they evacuated the ship,
friendly dive operators for diving from Port Vila thinking they would be able to salvage it in the
and on Espiritu Santo. Vanuatu is a great place for coming days, but the ship gracefully slid off the
an introductory dive – just have a free go in the reef and landed on its port side stern. The result
pool to see if you are comfortable with the basic is a diver’s playground where artifacts can still be
skills and then it’s a short boat ride to one of the found today.
dive sites. There are reef and wreck dives for the
