A Guide To Vanuatu Diving
The diving in Vanuatu is some of the best in the world, so it's no surprise that scuba diving is one of the most popular attractions in Vanuatu. Whether you're an experienced diver of have never dived before, there are some superb reef and wreck dives for all skill levels. Home to some of the most sought after dive sites in the world, Vanuatu diving is a must-do on any holiday to the island paradise. With plenty of dive sites located within half an hour of the capital Port Vila, and plenty of quality local dive operators to get you there, you can work your way up in the world of diving.
Popular Vanuatu Dive Sites
Twin Bombies: This dive features a sheer wall and two 'bombora' formations as well as coral grottos teeming with friendly fish.
Fila Island Reef: Just 15 minutes from the dive base, this reef is known for its colourful coral and equally colourful varieties of small fish.
Cathedral : Situated off the Pango peninsula, this delightful dive offers a vast cavern where shafts of life create unusual effects in the water. Swim to the back then up a 'chimney' where you'll reach a large pool inside the reef's surface. Head back outside and along the wall for a look out into deep open ocean.
Ollies Lolly: One of the most popular dive sites for photo opportunities, this large bommie site near Hideaway Island offers a range of soft and hard corals as well as heaps of large and small fish.
Konanda : Sitting on the sandy bottom 26m below the surface, Konanda is a lovely wreck dive that offers safe and easy access to the cabins and holds. The ideal introduction to wreck diving, the former island trader was sunk in 1987 for the purpose of diving.
Star of Russia: Another popular wreck dive, this one sits 33m below Port Vila Harbour and is considered the grand old lady of sailing ships. Built by the same shipwrights who built the Titanic, this wreck allows divers to swim through the body of the shop, up the massive masts and around the shapely bow to check out the anchor machinery, rudder and ship's wheel.
Tasman: Also a wreck dive of sorts, the main difference is that this one is a plane! A Qantas S26 Sandringham with a wingspan of over 30 metres to be precise. Plan to go as deep as 40m here are you start at the tail and dive your way down over the body to the nose where you can climb right through the window into the cockpit and out the other side.
Tukutuku Caverns: One of the bigger dives in Vanuatu, these caverns are a 25 minute ride from Vaughani Shores and sit across the bay from Pangona. In fact there are so many caverns that if you're planning to see them all you'll need to allow for 2 to 3 dives. Well-lit with wide entrances, the caverns feature steep walls, table corals, circular caverns, swim-throughs and lace coral. Experienced divers love night diving here as there are often white-tipped sharks spotted in the deep.
(6th February 2020)