The Republic of Vanuatu is a country in the Eastern Pacific ocean, which is part of Melanesia. It consists of 83 Islands of the New Hebrides archipelago.
Vanuatu is called a paradise for divers. Corals, as well as various fish and sunken ships, are guaranteed to prompt unforgettable emotions. The ratings are increasing thanks to rock discharges, large caves, rich underwater life, unique coral gardens, sea fans, and wrecks which are known worldwide. If you want to see the dugongs, you should go to Vanuatu to meet these lovely creatures. Due to the comfortable temperature and excellent visibility (up to 40 meters), the diving season is open all year round making Vanuatu even more attractive. It should be noted that both beginners and advanced divers would find diving in these parts interesting.
The unique wrecks. During World War II, the archipelago was used as an American military base, so traces of military activity remain at the bottom of the ocean forever. During the years of war, many ships and vessels sank here; for example, the USS Tucker liner near the island of Espirito Santo. We would also like to mention the Million Dollar Point wreck. This National Park is located a few kilometres from Luganville. It is an underwater "garden" made of cranes, military trucks and weapons that have sunk to the seabed and become home to fish and coral.
SS President Coolidge is a luxury American military ship that crashed near the island of Espirito Santo. Today it is one of the largest sunken ships in the world, lying at a depth of the seabed, but still being accessible to scuba divers. Upon arriving at the location, you will plunge into the atmosphere of that time, inspect the cabins of the ship and the remaining passenger belongings. The ship lies on the reef slope, while its stern is at a depth of 70 meters, and the bow is at a depth of 20 meters.
Many reefs have become a cosy home for multicoloured corals and such rare coral reef fish, such as zebrasoma, colourful mandarinfish as well as the legendary crocodile fish. The diving depth here may range from 8 to 35 m. Besides the legendary inhabitants of this place, there are some other attractions, for example, the Cathedral cave. Large bizarre light rings in the roof of the cave leave an unearthly impression.
Have you ever been to the underwater post office? No? In this case, you should definitely visit Vanuatu, because here is the only underwater post office on the planet. It is located on the territory of the marine reserve of Hideaway island near the country's capital, Port Vila. Here, you can go scuba diving for several hours and, of course, send a postcard, which should be purchased in advance on the island.
Cindys Reef on the island of Espirito Santo (Spanish: Espíritu Santo) is a dive site and a shelter for multicolour corals and colourful coral reef fish. The depth here may range from 8 to 30 m. Here you will find turtles, stingrays, tuna, clownfish as well as have a look at table corals and Gorgonians. If you are fond of underwater photography, do not forget your camera, because you will find many good shots there.
On the island of Espirito Santo, dive shops are concentrated in the area of Luganville and Port Vila. There also are dive shops on other islands. Here you can undergo training to obtain a certificate from OWD to Dive Instructor as well as rent the necessary equipment. Several different dive packages are available in the list of services.
In March, air temperature is the same on all islands of Vanuatu, +28 ˚С. The water in the ocean warms up to +29 ˚С. There is little rain, and the wind is weak. In may, the temperature drops to +25 ˚С, and nature is preparing for the dry season. The water temperature is +28 ˚С.
Average daily air temperature in June is +25 °C, and water temperature is +26-28 °C. However, July is a bit colder as the air temperature drops to +24 °C and the amount of precipitation decreases. The weather in August is similar to July.
The temperature in September is + 26-31 °C. Water warms up to +26 °C. There is very little precipitation, but in November rains cover most of the country. The air temperature stays at +26 °C at daytime, and the water temperature is +28 °C.
In December, the air temperature is +25-31 °C, and the water warms up to +28 °C. The wind is low as its speed is no more than 7 m/s. It rains only a few times a month. February brings another wave of cold air, and the temperature drops to +24 °C. Rains become less frequent.
Port Vila is a wreck from the 19th century which lies at a depth of 33 m. Its main body remains intact, so the photos of the wreck should be quite powerful. While diving, you can come across a crocodile fish.
The dive site of the Moso island is available open for divers only from the boat as its depth reaches 25 m. Here you will come across sharks, whales, and stingrays.
When entering the country, a tourist may be required to present medical insurance issued in accordance with established standards. If there is no insurance policy, the individual may not cross the border of the state. The level of local medical institutions is rather low due to lack of both appropriate medical equipment and qualified personnel. Tourists are highly recommended to consider private medical assistance over general state hospitals. Vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, measles, and rubella are highly advised. Staying in Vanuatu is safe for tourists. Thefts are uncommon, and if they happen, the situation is quickly resolved.
Many poisonous creatures and sharks inhabit the depths around the islands of the archipelago. While diving, you must wear a wetsuit, and go into the water only in tight shoes to avoid injury caused by fragments of coral or needles of aquatic inhabitants such as sea urchins.
National cuisine of Vanuatu is a mix of Melanesian cuisine with the culinary traditions of the aborigines. The most popular national dish is Laplap which consists of cassava, bananas, and grated coconuts. Soups and other seafood dishes are widespread here. Kava usually follows almost any food in Vanuatu. The locals have been brewing this herbal drink on the Melanesia islands for thousands of years. Different kinds of herbal tea are also popular here. Only bottled water should be consumed.