Dive sites in Vanuatu
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Million Dollar Point
Luganville · Espiritu Santo · Vanuatu
A bizarre underwater junkyard where the US military dumped millions of dollars worth of WWII equipment into the sea in 1945, creating an artificial reef of jeeps, bulldozers, and trucks now encrusted with coral.
SS President Coolidge
Luganville · Espiritu Santo · Vanuatu
The world's largest accessible wreck dive, a 200-metre luxury liner turned WWII troopship resting on a tropical reef slope.
The Cathedral
Luganville · Sanma Province · Vanuatu
A magnificent underwater cavern near Luganville where shafts of sunlight penetrate through ceiling openings into a cathedral-like chamber, illuminating crystal-clear fresh and salt water mixing zones.
Hideaway Island
Port Vila · Shefa Province · Vanuatu
A tiny marine sanctuary island minutes from Port Vila featuring Vanuatu's only underwater post office, healthy coral walls, and abundant reef life in crystal-clear Melanesian water.
Tutum Bay
Port Vila · Shefa Province · Vanuatu
A sheltered bay near Port Vila where volcanic hot springs bubble from the sandy seabed through healthy coral reef, creating a unique geothermal diving experience with warm water vents and mineral-stained rocks.
Rah Island
Sola · Torba Province · Vanuatu
A remote volcanic island in Vanuatu's far north where unexplored coral walls drop into blue water, dugongs graze seagrass meadows, and traditional Melanesian culture remains undisturbed by mass tourism.
Dive centers in Vanuatu
Gone Diving Vanuatu
Port Vila · Efate · Vanuatu
Performance Marine Commercial Diving and Marine Surveying
3 Bellevue Heights Rd · Efate · Vanuatu
Tranquility Island Eco And Dive resort
Tranquillity Island Resort Moso Island · Efate · Vanuatu
Diving in Vanuatu
Dive sites in Vanuatu include wreck, cavern, reef locations across Espiritu Santo, Sanma Province, Shefa Province, Torba Province. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
Why was all this military equipment dumped at Million Dollar Point?
At the end of World War II, the United States had a massive military base on Espiritu Santo with vast quantities of equipment, vehicles, and supplies. Rather than shipping everything home at great expense, the US military offered to sell the surplus to the joint British-French colonial administration of the New Hebrides at a steep discount. When negotiations failed, the military decided to dump everything into the sea rather than leave it for free. Over several days in 1945, trucks, jeeps, bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, clothing, and Coca-Cola bottles were driven off the shoreline into the water. The estimated value at the time was several million dollars.
Can beginners dive at Million Dollar Point?
Yes, Million Dollar Point is excellent for all levels. The equipment starts in very shallow water, with some items visible while snorkelling at the surface. The shallowest vehicles and equipment are at 3 to 5 metres depth, perfect for beginner divers. The debris field extends down a gradual slope to around 30 metres, so intermediate and advanced divers can explore deeper sections where larger equipment like bulldozers and cranes sit. The shore entry is easy over a coral rubble beach, and there is no current at the site.
How does Million Dollar Point compare to the SS President Coolidge?
Both sites are located on Espiritu Santo and are often dived as a pair. The SS President Coolidge is a single large luxury liner converted to a troopship, offering classic wreck penetration diving at greater depth for advanced divers. Million Dollar Point is a shallower, more accessible site with a completely different character: instead of one large wreck, it is a sprawling debris field of individual vehicles and equipment. Most visiting divers do both sites. The Coolidge is the headline act for experienced wreck divers, while Million Dollar Point offers easier diving with an equally fascinating historical story.
What certification do I need to dive the SS President Coolidge?
Open Water divers can explore the upper deck sections at around 21-25 metres. The most popular areas including the promenade deck, cargo holds, and much of the exterior are accessible at 25-40 metres with Advanced Open Water certification. The famous Lady statue and deeper penetrations require Advanced certification and wreck diving experience. The deepest sections at the stern reach 73 metres and are technical diving territory.
Why is the SS President Coolidge a shore dive?
The Coolidge struck two American anti-shipping mines while entering the Segond Channel near Luganville on 26 October 1942. The captain ran the ship aground to allow the 5,000 troops aboard to evacuate, and the vessel subsequently slid down the reef slope to its current resting position. Because the bow lies on the reef just offshore, divers can wade in from the beach at Million Dollar Point and swim directly to the wreck.