Vanuatu is sometimes called “The Land Time Forgot”; this nation encompasses 83 splendid little islands where natural beauty is the main attraction. Surrounded by splendid reefs and washed by clear, warm water, these lovely little islands offer dive sites that include wrecks, caves, and more. There are dive sites for every level, and Vanuatu’s dive operators do offer dive instruction, so even non-divers can see the splendor that awaits beneath the surface. With so many dive sites to choose from, it can be difficult to decide where to begin; here are seven amazing sites to help you begin planning for your trip to Vanuatu.
Blacksands Caves
An incredible site that lets you get up close and personal with what was once an active geothermal area, Blacksands Caves is a series of wide lava tubes located at a depth of 20 meters. Beautifully lit from above, thanks to a massive crack in the ceiling, the caves have two entry and exit points, and outside, enormous bommies covered with hard and soft coral, and wreathed in lush anemones where clownfish and transparent shrimp make their homes await exploration. In the sand near the base of the bommies, you can find blue spotted stingrays and the occasional little shark, and the water around them is brimming with tropical fish in a swirling and never ending array of color.
Big Dipper
While maximum depth at Big Dipper is 22 meters, the reef top is located at a depth of only ten meters. All along the plateau’s top and its walls, you’ll find a vast forest of hard corals, including huge plate corals and magnificent brain corals, along with some gigantic barrel sponges that host smaller creatures inside. Along with swathes of colorful reef fish and an endless parade of crustaceans, the reef is teeming with nudibranchs and is also home to some larger marine life, including the occasional white tip reef shark. An excellent multi-level site, Big Dipper is suitable for all divers.
Kathleen
A deep sea mound located in Mele Harbor, Kathleen’s top is situated 18 meters beneath the surface. Named for the wreck of the Kathleen, which can be seen at a depth of 30 meters and beyond, the site is an excellent place to encounter schooling barracuda, brilliant blue and yellow fusiliers, and shoaling longfin bannerfish, among others. Macro life is abundant here as well, with nudibranchs, mantis shrimp, and scorpion fish in abundance. Due to depth, the site is suitable for experienced divers only.
Pango Wall
Situated above the abyss, and featuring a gently sloping profile, Pango Wall is an extension of one of the most beautiful reefs ever discovered in Vanuatu. Located off Port Vila, just off Paanto Point, the site features a garden of commonly encountered hard and soft coral, lush swathes of anemones, and huge gorgonians, along with some magnificent mushroom corals. Along the way, you’ll encounter colorful butterfly fish and angel fish, Moorish idols and tangs, boxfish and porcupine fish, along with crustaceans and nudibranchs galore. Watch for larger animals, too – hawksbill sea turtles, sharks, and yellowfin tuna are often seen here.
Neville’s Surprise
Featuring a sheer wall that drops away to meet the ocean floor at a depth of 26 meters, Neville’s Surprise is beautifully covered in a mantle of hard and soft coral in every color imaginable. Huge sponges are here too, rising up in dramatic bouquets among sea whips and sea fans. You’ll find tropical reef species here in abundance, plus some larger fish, like barracuda, sharks, and the occasional tuna. As this site is subject to some current and as depths are nearly fathomless, Neville’s Surprise is suitable only for divers with plenty of experience.
Cathedral
A vast cavern that penetrates the tip of the Pango peninsula, Cathedral features maximum depth at just 26 meters. The entrance to the cavern is shaped like an upside down V, and is about 15 meters wide at the bottom. As you head into the cave, which is beautifully lit, thanks to a huge fissure in its ceiling, you’ll find your path narrowing to about 5 meters, and to the left, a dog-leg leads to a darker tunnel. The darkness, though, is short-lived. After a short distance, you’ll find yourself inside the main chamber, which has a rounded profile and which is peppered with huge boulders all along its bottom. While a shaft of sunlight does illuminate the center of the cavern, darkness reigns along its edges, allowing you to see firefish and electric clams, which are phosphorescent.
After exiting the cave, you can explore the reef wall, which is fantastic in its own right, with numerous cracks and gullies that are bursting with colorful life. Maximum depth along the bottom is 40 meters. As you ascend, check out the reef top, where anemones host clownfish and shrimp.
Twin Bommies
A pair of bommies pocked with little grottoes where you can find everything from nudibranchs to shrimp to little squat lobsters, the Twin Bommies are perched atop a dropoff. Their tops are located at a depth of 10 meters, while the beginning of the dropoff is at a depth of 24 meters. Covered in gorgonians, sea whips, sponges, and anemones, the bommies attract swathes of colorful reef fish, including titan triggerfish, butterfly fish, bannerfish, angelfish, and more. In the anemones, you’ll find “Clarkies” or Clark’s anemonefish, which are oddly curious and friendly. At the bottom, look for the well hidden crocodile fish, which can be hard to spot at first as they blend in so well with their surroundings.
Vanuatu offers a variety of different accommodations at different price levels, and not surprisingly, the dive operators are knowledgeable and well-equipped. Don’t forget to enjoy some of the many topside attractions available when you visit, depending on the season, you may even be able to attend a local festival, where you’ll be welcomed as a friend. Most of all, be sure to do your homework before your trip – you could spend months in Vanuatu and never see everything the islands have to offer!