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The most extraordinary feature of Vanuatu's underwater world is not just the superb visibility, warm water or easily accessible dive sites, but the incredible diversity of diving and dive sites it offers. You can experience the isolation and peace of remote places and see something of the culture of Vanuatu while diving the world famous Tongoa wall or the beautiful Maskelyne Islands. |
The landscape beneath the waters is a combination of mountainous terrain with plunging cliffs, grottoes and overhangs, huge caves and intricate interconnecting underwater tunnels formed by frozen lava and abundant marine life like sea fans, soft corals and acropora gardens, plate corals and sponges and thousands of curious fish.
Internationally recognized diving certification courses are also available in Vanuatu and the dive stores sell a wide range of equipment in addition to providing hire services. Only 9 km from Port Vila is Hideaway Island Resort, where diving is even closer to shore. The price of the dive includes tank, weightbelt and Divemaster. There are several dive businesses operating from Vila, each offering something a little different. Beginners can try introductory dives on one of the reefs close to Vila. These dives could be either be off beach, pool or shore. All the gear is provided although it's best to have your own fins, mask and snorkel for comfort. Dive vessels depart from within easy walking distance of town, with many dive sites close by.
Dive spots in Vanuatu
The President Coolidge, Million Dollar Point, several wrecks, and pristine dive sites on the east coast of Vanuatu make way to a wonderful diving atmosphere.
Blacksands Reef and caves
This reef has a depth of around 8 - 14 metres with a variety of fish and rays on the sandy bottom. There is a series of interlocking caves and swim-through tunnels honeycombing this reef.
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Fila Island Reef Twin Bombies There are two 'bombora' formations and a sheer wall on this dive. The grottos and coral are alive with a variety of welcoming fish. |
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Mele Reef
This is an extensive reef that rises up in the middle of Mele Bay to around 6 metres from the surface. There are lots of dives around here and a good one is along a vertical wall to a shallow reef to finish.
Cathedral
This is a delightful dive in a vast cavern off the Pango peninsula at a depth of around 26 metres. You can swim through to the back and up a 'chimney' to a large pool on the surface inside the reef and then back to the outside and along the wall to explore and look out into the deep open ocean.
Ollies Lolly
This is a large bommie starting at 9 metres near Hideaway Island, which has a range of hard and soft corals and heaps of fish.
Konanda
This is a lovely wreck dive that sits on a flat, sandy bottom at 26 metres with her derricks and rigging reaching up to within ten metres of the surface. It is an Island Trader, 45 metres long, which was damaged in a cyclone in 1987 and deliberately sunk for the delight of scuba divers.
Star of Russia
This grand old lady of sailing ship, 80 metres long and 13 metres wide and down 33 metres rests in Port Vila Harbour. Divers can swim through the body of the ship, swim up the three massive masts, around the romantic, shapely bow and check out the wheel, rudder and anchor machinery. The Star of Russia was built by Harlan and Wolff of Belfast who also built the Titanic.
Tasman
This wreck is a Qantas S26 Sandringham Flying Boat, a bulky plane with a wingspan of over 30 metres. This plane was the first to cross the Tasman Sea from Auckland to Sydney in under eight hours. The dive begins at the tail, down over the body to the nose where you can climb through the cockpit window and out the other side.
Semle Federsen
This is a cargo-carrying trading vessel which was sunk along the Pango Coast in Mele Bay in 1985. Now it is home to lots of plants and animals, the stern area, cabins and wheelhouse and can be dived within 40 metres. It has excellent visibility and the whole ship can be seen at a glance while descending the mooring line.
