HIP CHOW
Protected Area
Naomebaravu-Malo
Why dive here
With 280+ marine species recorded in the area - including blacktip reef sharks, dugongs, dwarf minke whales, octopuses and pygmy seahorses - HIP CHOW offers some of Espiritu Santo's richest wreck diving. Water sits around 29°C.
Okay, let's talk about Hip Chow. This isn't your usual deep wreck dive; in fact, it barely qualifies as a dive. We're talking about a rusty old motor vessel, high and dry on the reef flats at Pinalum. It ran aground back in 1970, and the sea has been slowly reclaiming it ever since. What you get here is a fantastic snorkelling and photography spot. The wreck itself is a skeleton, stripped bare by decades of sun and salt. But that's its charm. We love watching the waves surge through the exposed ribs of the hull, creating a rhythmic, almost metallic clanging sound. It's a great spot for beginners or anyone who just wants to potter around with a mask and snorkel. Look closely in the shallow pools that form inside the wreck at low tide; we've seen everything from tiny crabs scuttling amongst the barnacles to juvenile parrotfish darting through the rusted metal. It’s an interesting contrast to the deeper wrecks Espiritu Santo is famous for, a quiet testament to the ocean’s power.
Typical HIP CHOW Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Reviews for HIP CHOW
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for HIP CHOW
HIP CHOW Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for HIP CHOW, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (-15.51, 167.17) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
29.21°C
85°F
Air Temperature
23.74°C
75°F
Wind Speed
5 m/s
9.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1014.2 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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