Pacific Islands
Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge
Vanuatu
A 200-meter troopship wreck is entered straight from the beach.
24–29°C · 75–84°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftadvanced
Country
Diving in Vanuatu
3 dive destinations in Vanuatu, up to 490 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 24–30 °C. All 3 are in season in May–Oct. 12 named dive sites have their own pages.
Tanna & Lenakel · photo Dominik Maximilián Ramík
- Destinations
- 3
- Dive sites
- 12
- Water
- 24–30°C
- Most in season
- May–Oct
RegionPacific Islands
Where are the dive destinations in Vanuatu?
- 1Espiritu SantoApr–Nov
- 2Port Vila & EfateJul–Sep
- 3Tanna & LenakelApr–Nov
Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).
How do they compare?
| # | Destination | Best months | Water | Visibility | Depth | Level | Access | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Espiritu Santo — SS Coolidge | Apr–Nov | 24–29°C | 15–30 m | 15–65 m | Advancedsites from intermediate to advanced | Shore, Day boat | 3 |
| 2 | Port Vila & Efate | Jul–Sep | 24–30°C | 20–40 m | 5–25 m | Intermediate | Day boat, Shore | 4 |
| 3 | Tanna & Lenakel | Apr–Nov | 24–28°C | — | to 20 m | Beginnersites from beginner to intermediate | Shore, Day boat | 5 |
When is the best time to dive Vanuatu?
The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in May–Oct: 3 of 3. Each row is one destination's own season rating.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Espiritu Santo | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| 2Port Vila & Efate | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
| 3Tanna & Lenakel | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| Good or prime | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Which destinations combine into one trip?
No destinations in Vanuatu sit within 200 km of each other and share a month rated good or prime, so each one is best planned as a trip of its own.
All 3 destinations in Vanuatu
Pacific Islands
Port Vila & Efate
Vanuatu
A tall, narrow cavern and several wrecks a short boat ride from the capital
24–30°C · 75–86°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediate
Blue holes and swim-throughs a short walk from the island's only dive centre
24–28°C · 75–82°Fbeginner