Vanuatu is a paradise for divers of all skill levels.

Efate

On Efate, you have plenty of options, particularly around Hideaway Island and Tranquility Island.

Espiritu Santo

Espiritu Santo is perhaps the most renowned location, as it hosts one of the most popular wreck diving sites for technical divers: the SS President Coolidge. The Coolidge wreck lies at depths ranging from 21 to 70 meters, measuring 200 meters in length, 30 meters in width, and 30 meters in height, with many hidden treasures at depths requiring technical diving.

This massive wreck is almost completely intact, allowing divers to swim through numerous holds and decks displaying memories of the ship’s glorious days as both a cruise liner and a troop carrier. Here, you’ll see guns, cannons, jeeps, helmets, trucks, and personal belongings left by soldiers, along with the beautiful porcelain statue "The Lady," chandeliers, and a mosaic fountain. The wreck is covered in coral and is home to a plethora of marine life, including barracuda, lionfish, nudibranchs, and a resident giant moray eel named “Nessie.”

Other dive options on Santo include the SS Tucker, Aore Channel, and Tutuba Reef, each offering unique underwater experiences.

Tanna

It’s also possible to dive on Tanna, where you can explore some fantastic underwater caves.

Finally, for those who enjoy unexpected encounters, Vanuatu’s waters are rich in dugongs, which can be spotted around Espiritu Santo, Tranquility Island and Paradise Cove on Efate, the Maskelyne Islands as well as Lamen Bay on Epi Island.

Planning a diving experience

4 days in Efate guide

4 days in Santo guide

Learn to dive in Vanuatu

Vanuatu's top dive spots

Guide to diving in Vanuatu

Technical diving in Vanuatu

Top Diving Experiences

Twenty Must Do Experiences in Vanuatu

Prepare for an unforgettable Vanuatu adventure. With such a diverse offering, you're in for a 'relaxing adventure' like no other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vanuatu pairs warm-water reefs with unusually accessible wrecks, especially the SS President Coolidge off Santo. You can also dive caves on Tanna and look for dugong around several islands. Sites sit close to shore on Efate and Santo, so boat times are often short. It is a destination where wartime history and marine life share the same dive.
Vanuatu suits beginners as well as experienced divers. Efate has sheltered training sites around islands such as Hideaway and Tranquility, with operators who teach introductory courses. Santo offers easier reef dives as well as deep wrecks that belong to advanced and technical divers. Choose the island and the site to match your certification, not the famous wreck by default.
Efate is generally convenient, with a mix of reefs, wrecks and calm training water. Santo is the wreck-diving capital, with the Coolidge ranging from recreational depths into technical territory, plus reefs and channels. Tanna adds caves and a more remote feel. Visibility, swell and current change with season and site, so local briefings matter more than a single rule for the whole country.