What is the best time to dive Vanuatu?

The best months to dive Vanuatu in Vanuatu are April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Water temperatures range from 25°C to 29°C during peak season.

Vanuatu reaches a maximum depth of 40 m, with visibility ranging from 9–30 m. The full depth range requires Advanced certification at minimum; some zones are technical diver territory.

What marine life can you see at Vanuatu?

Vanuatu is known for encounters with dugong. The site features wreck, cave, pelagic diving across 20 named sites, with a marine life score of 26/100 in OkToDive's ranking.

Is Vanuatu good for beginners?

Vanuatu is better suited to experienced divers. Currents can be moderate and depths reach 40 m. A minimum Open Water certification is required, and OkToDive recommends at least 100 logged dives before visiting.

How much does it cost to dive Vanuatu?

A 2-tank dive at Vanuatu averages around $80 USD, placing it in the mid range tier. Both boat and shore access are available, giving divers flexibility on budget.

Vanuatu Diving — SS President Coolidge & Blue Holes

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World Class

Intermediate

Vanuatu

VanuatuPacific

54.5

SCORE

-17.7333°N

168.3167°E

Vanuatu offers volcanic reef diving, WWII wrecks, and vibrant Melanesian culture. Port Vila's reefs are accessible and healthy, while Espiritu Santo hosts the SS President Coolidge — one of the world's largest accessible wreck dives. Active volcanoes add a dramatic topside element that few dive destinations can match.

Melanesia's Volcanic Dive Frontier

Visibility9–30 m

Temperature25–29°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$80

Best MonthsApril, May, June, July

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

26.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine life diversity

26.0

Coral & reef health

31.0

Visibility & conditions

70.0

Dive site variety

57.0

Water temperature

71.0

Depth & access

62.0

Operator quality

73.0

Topside experience

64.0

Getting there

68.0

Value & cost

58.0

Crowding

57.0

Social proof

57.0

Key species

dugong

Dive types

wreckcavepelagic

Traveling with non-divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for non-divers

Mount Yasur active volcano trek (Tanna)blue holes swimmingzip-lining in jungleland diving (Nagol) viewing (Apr-Jun)snorkeling

Nearby cultural sites

Chief Roi Mata's Domain (UNESCO)
Port Vila Cultural Centre
Ekasup Village

Non-diver score

7/10

Good topside options for non-diving companions.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

DAN recommends dive insurance for all divers.

Learn more at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber10 km — ProMedical Hyperbaric Chamber, Port Vila

Nearest Hospital5 km

Chamber in Port Vila; outer islands require domestic flight; reasonable hospital in Vila

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top operators

Big Blue Vanuatu

PADI

4.7

140 reviewsNITROX

Compare this dive site

Vanuatu in Vanuatu scores 54.5/100in OkToDive's 12-category data-driven rating. Best for wreck diving with 9–30m visibility and 25–29°C water temps. A 2-tank dive costs ~$80 USD. Peak season: April, May, June.

Last updated: 2026-05-24

Who should dive here

Best for

+ Wreck diving enthusiasts
+ Anyone visiting Pacific for the first time
+ Groups seeking 20+ named dive sites in one area

Skip if

− You don't have Advanced certification
− You need shore access — this is boat-only

Verdict

Choose Vanuatu over similar Pacific destinations when operator quality matters more than marine life

How Vanuatu compares

Site	Score	Visibility	Cost/dive	Best for
Vanuatu	54.5	9–30m	$80	wreck, cave
Hawaii (Kona)	65.0	15–30m	$120	reef
Solomon Islands	63.7	9–30m	$150	reef, drift
Maui	62.4	12–30m	$110	reef
Bora Bora	59.5	12–30m	$110	reef, drift

Current conditions

9/10Excellent

Waves1.7 m

Swell1.46 m

Wind5.4 km/h

Air26.1°C

Clear sky

43d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

90+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Cavern Diver minimum. Full Cave certification for anything past the daylight zone.

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Overhead environment. Standard recreational training does not cover you past the entrance. People die here doing what they'd do on an open reef.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 4°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
May	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Jun	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Jul	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Aug	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Sep	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good, manta season
Oct	9–20	28	Mod	Mod	Wet	70%	wreck visibility good
Nov	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Dec	20–30	27	Mod	Calm	Light	70%	wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects23

Wide angle61

Viz stability51

Hover friendliness70

Natural light7

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone
→Two independent light sources minimum; video lights beat strobes in caverns

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$2,450–$3,450

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $1,350–$1,650
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $70–$80
Food / day: $30–$55
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$3,750–$5,550

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $1,900–$2,300
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $80–$100
Food / day: $60–$120
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$6,200–$9,700

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $2,700–$3,300
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $100–$140
Food / day: $130–$250
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Budget decision guide

Choose Budget if you prioritize dive count over comfort — hostels and shore diving maximize bottom time per dollar. Choose Mid-range for the best balance of comfort and value — most divers land here. Choose Splurge for premium operators, private guides, and top-tier accommodation — worth it for special trips or non-diving partners.

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Vanuatu Diving — Vanuatu

Score breakdown

Marine Life

Key species

Dive types

Traveling with non-divers?

Activities for non-divers

Nearby cultural sites

Non-diver score

Safety & emergency

Dive insurance

Top operators

Big Blue Vanuatu

Who should dive here

Best for

Skip if

Verdict

How Vanuatu compares

What your dive shop won't tell you

When to dive it

Dive forecast

Photography brief

What this site will teach you

Deep diving comfort

7-day trip, per person

Budget decision guide

Build a trip around it