The diving in Vanuatu is rather easy to access, regardless of your level. Beginners can even take lessons and start in excellent conditions. You can dive on sheltered or shallow reefs, drop-offs, and of course world-famous wrecks. Visibility is excellent and reef fauna abundant. The seabed is like the terrestrial landscapes, wild and rugged, composed of dry land gushing from the depths, drop-offs, caves, tunnels, overhangs, and crevices. Do not forget that Vanuatu is in a very volcanic area!
Vanuatu served as a rear base for the allies during World War II, so in Santo and Efate there are still traces of that past. Many visitors come to Vanuatu to dive to explore these underwater wrecks.
They come looking for warm waters, super visibility, calm, and colorful reefs, not to mention the wrecks that are among the most famous in the world, including that of President Coolidge in Espiritu Santo.
Vanuatu is a country full of surprises. Take advantage of your diving trip to Vanuatu to discover the land riches that the country offers. Vanuatu is a vacation destination that promises a variety of experiences, including diving, exploring volcanoes, and approaching an authentic Melanesian culture.
Diving in Efate
In the minds of divers, diving in Vanuatu often comes down to a visit to Santo. Efate Island has some great dive sites to offer visitors, and diving in Efate is not just limited to the surroundings of Port Vila, either. Port Vila is located on the island of Efate. It is the capital of… Read more.
Diving in Santo
The island of Espiritu Santo attracts more divers each year than all the other islands of Vanuatu combined. Diving in Espiritu Santo is one essential for several reasons. Fans of underwater wrecks are obsessed with President Coolidge’s and often make the trip to… Read more.
Diving in Tanna
The other diving destination that is currently rising is Tanna. A center has just opened in 2015 within the White Grass Resort. It is the first diving center ever to open on the island. The funds are therefore still intact; the center has listed a dozen sites, others will follow according to the explorations. What characterizes Tanna, besides the clarity of the water, are the magnificent underwater volcanic formations: caves, tunnels, skylights, and blue holes. The fauna is a classic of tropical waters: moray eels, turtles, jacks, spotted rays. Some sites are also accessible from the edge. Only 20 minutes by boat from the hotel is the wreck of the MV Jean Percy, sunk to a maximum depth of 14m after hitting a reef in 2010. The boat is still loaded with cargo.
The best season to dive in Vanuatu
Vanuatu enjoys a humid tropical climate. The southern winter is the driest season, with temperatures between 21 and 26 degrees. Even in the dry season, the showers are regular. In summer, average temperatures rise to 30 degrees, with more frequent showers. Vanuatu is in a hurricane zone, and these, although irregular, can occur between January to March. Diving is possible all year round, the water temperature varies from 24 to 29 degrees depending on the season; they are cooler from May to October.
The underwater fauna of Vanuatu
The underwater fauna of Vanuatu is quite like that which can be found in tropical waters. The underwater relief is varied and tormented, the reefs are home to a large small fauna which finds shelter there. Thus, you will observe schools of snappers, anemones, and clownfish, lionfish, etc. Although the destination is not known for the “big”, it is not uncommon to come across manta rays, stingrays, barracudas, and dogtooth tuna. Turtles are a common sight in Vanuatu’s waters, and if you are lucky, you may be able to come across a dugong.