Diving in Vanuatu

During World War II, the sleepy island of Santo was transformed by the United States Armed Forces into the largest Allied military base in the South Pacific behind Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. Codenamed Base Button, Santo hosted over 500,000 servicepeople throughout the war years – nearly 10 times more people than the entire population of Vanuatu at the time. The legacy of this era can be explored at many places above and below the water in Santo today.

Dive or snorkel WWII wrecks 

Santo’s clear tropical waters are home to a rich collection of ships and aircraft sunk during WWII. Over time, these wrecks have evolved into artificial reefs, providing a sanctuary for marine life. The most famous dive site is the SS President Coolidge, a luxury liner–turned troop transport vessel that struck a mine and sank 6km east of Luganville in 1942. The 200m-long ship, resting at a depth of 20-60m, is easily accessible to advanced divers from the shore. 

Less than 1km further east, Million Dollar Point was a dumping ground for surplus US military equipment. This huge jumble of metal, tyres and assorted goods is now an excellent sloping shore dive suitable for open water divers, with some areas shallow enough for snorkelling in calm conditions. 

Other popular World War II wreck dives include the USS Tucker (DD-374), a 115m-long Mahan-class destroyer sunk by a friendly mine in 1942 in the Bruat Channel, a narrow strait between Aore and Malo islands, and numerous aircraft wrecks. 

Visit the South Pacific WWII Museum 

Vanuatu’s remarkable World War II legacy is preserved at the small but interesting South Pacific WWII Museum near the Luganville Market, with plans underway to create a larger world-class museum. Exhibits include military uniforms, weapons and ammunition, salvaged relics from SS President Coolidge including the ship’s bell, a restored Willys Jeep, profiles on distinguished servicepeople and more. Entry is by donation.

Take a WWII relics and history tour 

Take a trip back in time on a half-day WWII Relics & History Tour hosted by Paradise Tours. Visit fighter and bomber strips being reclaimed by nature, the remains of an American hospital and patrol torpedo (PT) boat base, a World War II plane wreck and Million Dollar Point, where rusting US military equipment and countless Coca-Cola bottles litter the shoreline. Guides will keep you entertained with interesting stories along the way. 

Uncover wartime bunkers and gun emplacements on Aore Island

Just a 10-minute water taxi ride across the Segond Channel from Luganville, Aore island is home to numerous Allied World War II bunkers hidden in the jungle. These rusting structures originally served as ammunition stores, sea mine assembly areas and fuel dumps. Today, the bunkers are a popular nesting area for swiftlets. They have also been used by locals as a refuge during cyclones. 

Several Aore island resorts, including Aore Island Resort and Aoredise, have bikes available for exploring the island. Ask locals for directions to the bunker locations.

Written by Sarah Reid