Scuba Diving in Vanuatu

HONEYBONE REEF:
Only 15 minutes from the dive base with a depth of 9 metres to 26 metres, this site features a variety of soft and hard coral representing all colors of the rainbow and brightly colored fish, with turtles and Moray Eels to be sighted. Honeybone reef is a great dive for both the inexperience and the experienced divers.

MELE REEF:
This extensive reef rises up in the middle of Mele Bay to around 6 metres from the surface. We have more than one buoy here
and generally like to dive where there is a vertical wall with a shallow reef top to finish off the dive under the boat. Masses of
interesting life at this spot – you will want to visit Mele Reef more than once.

OLLIES LOLLY:
Beyond Blacksands Caves and near Hideaway Island this large reef starts at 9 metres from the surface and is a dive worth doing.
It is home to a huge variety of fish along with a range of hard and soft corals. A feature of this site is a rare red anemone
filled with clown fish. This dive suits all levels of divers and is a photographers dream come true.

CATHEDRAL:
At the tip of the Pango peninsular a vast cavern has formed which makes a delightful dive – maximum depth 26 metres inside
with shafts of light creating an unusual effect. It is possible to swim right through to the back and up through a chimney to a
large pool on the surface inside the reef – then back to the outside and along the wall to explore and look out into the deep
open ocean.

KONANDA REEF:
Konanda Reef is only a 15 minute boat trip on MV Cowrie from Nautilus base. With depths starting at 3 meters this is a great dive for all levels of divers from the newly certified to the very experienced. Konanda Reef has a large variety of hard coral and fish life, some of the fish and coral life that you will come across on this dive are Clown Fish, Bat Fish, Lion Fish, Moorish Idols, large Brain Corals, Stag Horn Corals, not to mention Moray Eels, Octopus and the much loved Nudibranch.

PANGO WALL/DRIFT:
One of the most Diverse Reef plains here in Port Vila. On the Out skirts of Pango Point lies a reef, gently sloping down into
the unexplored blue, being host with Anemones to Hawksbills, Nudibranches to Yellowfin’s and Mushroom corals to Gorgonian
fans—all of which residing in her fantastic hard and soft Coral Gardens which accompany you throughout your dive. This dive occasionally allows you to have a quick glimpse at the astonishing ‘cathedral’ on the peninsula—as this is where the dive
commonly concludes!

BLACK SANDS CAVES:
This is a series of lave vents/tubes with a max depth of 20 meters. The caves have a running crack 90% along the roof so light
is never really a problem. Two exit points during the trip through guarantees those who feel ‘closed in’ a chance of an early
exit, meeting up with the group further along the way. Some great Bommies once out o the tube makes an excellent dive. You
will come across soft and hard Anemones, Clown Fish, Lion Fish, Stone Fish, Clown Fish, Blue Spotted Sting Ray’s, Fans,
Plate Corals, Stag Horn Corals, Nudibranchs, Morish Idols and lots more.

STAR OF RUSSIA:
80 metres in length and 13 metres in breadth, this grand old lady of the sailing ship days rests in Port Vila Harbor holding court for the divers attending by countless varieties of tropical fish fussing around on the tour around the shipwreck. Following the buoyed line to a depth of 33 metres take a leisurely swim through the body of the ship which again, due to the rotting away of the teak decking, is perfectly safe for a penetration. Built of bolted iron plates (shiplap style), the hull is intact with a romantic shapely bow. Divers can inspect the old anchor weighting equipment and huge main bollard in the forward section, dead eyes and rigging along the railings, three massive masts and remains of a crow’s nest, to the wheel machinery at the stern which manipulated the rudder. A great shipwreck to enjoy and quite definitely of historical interest, the “Star of Russia” was built by Harlan and Wolff of Belfast (also famous for construction of the Titanic). A challenging race was set up in the early 1900’s between this fast sailing ship and the first of the exciting new steamships – both crafts left Liverpool together, the steam ship setting off direct for Australia and the “Star of Russia” heading south to catch the wind – imagine the reaction when the steam ship puffed into Port Phillip Bay to find the “Star of Russia” had arrived three days earlier!!

TASMAN:
Less than ten minutes from Nautilus lies the Qantas S26 Sandringham Flying Boar – now here is something different. With a wingspan of over 30 metres this bulky giant, abandoned and dumped in the Harbor after a mishap which rendered it unfit for further service, was discovered in 1978, after quite a search, as a fascinating dive site. To successfully explore the “Tasman”, the diver needs to plan for 40 metres maximum depth. The mooring line leads onto the tail plane and from there it is easy to swim above the wreck gaining an overall view of the plane and drop onto the nose, climb through the cockpit window and out the other side, and peer through the many windows. The spaciousness of the interior is surprising and the vastness of the wings which kept this old bird airborne is astonishing – just a reminder of the days when air travel was a long slow process. This particular craft was also a record breaker – she was the first plane to fly the Tasman Sea from Auckland to Sydney in less than eight hours!!

SEMLE FEDERSEN:
A cargo carrying trading vessel well known around these islands over many years, this strong old ship was about to be relegated to the scrap heap as useless in 1985, when the Ports and Marine Department were persuaded that she would indeed be very useful as a new dive site and a home for the plants and animals of the sea along the Pango Coast in Mele Bay and this is where she reclines now. The “Semle” moved down the reef during Cyclone Uma in 1987 and the stern area cabins and wheelhouse can be dived within 40 metres. The clarity of the water at this site is a feature, i.e. if you can see the whole ship at a glance while descending the mooring line; you have over 60 metres viz. As a build up towards the “President Coolidge” in Santo, the “Semle” is a valuable experience.

NIGHT DIVES:
Come and join us on our (Night Dive) on Wednesday night. At night the dive sites take on a new dimension as all the night dwellers come out from their hiding places. Get in early and to be able to choose which dive site you will dive at night will it be a wreck or a reef!