SS President Coolidge

Boat or Shore dive  |  Depth: 20–60 metres (60–200 feet)

Considered by many divers to be the best wreck dive in the world, the SS President Coolidge was a luxury passenger liner converted to a troop carrier during WWII. While entering the Santo harbor she was hit by friendly mines, providing divers with a remarkable underwater playground. (Read about Coolidge history here and here).

Almost completely intact, you can swim through the numerous holds and decks viewing the reminders of her glorious days as a cruise liner and the remnants of her days as a troop ship. There are guns, cannons, jeeps, helmets, trucks and personal supplies left by some of the soldiers, as well as the beautiful porcelain statue of “The Lady,” chandeliers and a mosaic tile fountain. The wreck is covered in coral and is the home to a plethora of sea life such including turtles, barracuda, lion fish, and a host of reef fish.

If you want to see the whole wreck, you’ll need at least 10 to 15 dives — she’s 200 metres in length and rests in 20 to 72 metres of water! — but you can certainly get a feel for her magnitude and majesty on even a few dives. See the most popular Coolidge dives here.

Million Dollar Point

Boat or Shore dive  |  Depth: 5–30 metres (15–100 feet)

At the end of WWII, thousands of tons of US military equipment was dumped into the sea. Named for its worth, there are a multitude of bulldozers, cranes, fork lifts, and trucks piled upon one another in this unique dive site.

Cindy’s Reef

Boat dive  |  Depth: 5–30 metres (15–100 feet)

© Dr. R. “Harry” Harris

A beautiful and relaxing drift dive over a bed of bright, colorful coral and an abundance of fish life. Divers see a tremendous variety of staghorn corals, large plate corals and our very own “potato head” coral which is unlike anything you’ve seen before. There is also an abundance of fish life and turtles and sharks are often spotted.

SS Tucker

Boat dive  |  Depth: 15–25 metres (45–85 feet)

© Mike Gerken

Struck by friendly mines, the SS Tucker is a US Destroyer resting in about 20 metres of water. The wreck is spread along the sea bed making it possible to swim from stern to bow stopping at "wreck bombies" along the way.

Tui Tawate

Boat dive  |  Depth: 40–45 metres (120–135 feet)

© Dr. R. “Harry” Harris

Famous New Zealand tug that served in the rescue efforts of the 1968 sinking of the Wahine Ferry in Wellington before being used for oil salvage on the SS President Coolidge. She now rests fully upright in a beautiful sand flat with fantastic fish life and gorgeous coral growth including sea pens!

Fantastic

Boat dive  |  Depth: 26–42 metres (85–140 feet)

A photographer’s paradise!! Fields of gorgonian fan corals stand upright on an isolated reef where large schools of small bait fish including fusiliers make their home. Large spanish dancers as well as schools of dog tooth tuna are often spotted.

Chails Reef

Boat dive  |  Depth: 5–20 metres (15–60 feet)

A dive not to be missed, this is one of the most stunning reef dives in all of Vanuatu. This highly protected dive site ensures calm waters, little to no current and crystal clear visibility. You’ll see an amazing variety of coral and this is a great dive for spotting crayfish, turtles and sharks.

Tutuba Point

Boat dive  |  Depth: 5–30 metres (15–100 feet)

© Brian Knott<

This dive has it all — caves, swim throughs, chasms, crayfish, and an abundance of spectacular hard and soft corals that seem to go on forever. Incredible visibility makes this a favorite reef dive among our divers.

Aore Plane

Boat dive  |  Depth: 5–25 metres (15–85 feet)

© Brian Knott

A pretty reef dive where the wreckage of a small 2-seater spy plane rests. Among the reef, you’ll also find ammunition, Coke bottles and other signs of America’s military presence here during WWII.

Sub Nets

Boat dive  |  Depth: 5–25 metres (15–85 feet)

Large chain nets ran the length of the channel from Santo Island to Aore Island to block submarines during the war. The nets were collapsed after the war, and a reef has been growing on them ever since. There are beautiful hard corals and gorgonian fans at this site.

Aquamarine Reef

Shore dive  |  Depth: 5–12 metres (15–35 feet)

With its waterfront location, you can do an easy, relaxing dive right from the back of our shop. Remnants of a WWII wharf can be found strewn among some soft and hard corals. Divers, in buddy pairs, can do their own dives at their leisure, day or night, right from the dive shop.

Blue Holes

Freshwater dive  |  Depth: varies

Santo has several spring-fed crystal clear blue holes perfect for a relaxing and unique dive experience. Aquamarine will provide tanks and arrange transport for divers wanting a full or half day trip for a new dive experience and some fantastic scenery. Guides are not necessary but may be hired if preferred.