PRESIDENT COOLIDGE - Espiritu Santo

The SS President Coolidge isn't just a wreck dive, it's a journey into a specific moment in history. We love that feeling of descending through the thermocline and seeing the sheer scale of the ship emerge from the blue. It sits on its port side, a colossal steel behemoth that once carried passengers and later, troops. You can spend multiple dives here and still feel like you've only scratched the surface. Our favourite parts are definitely the cargo holds, where you’ll find jeeps and artillery still stacked as they were on that fateful day in 1942. The "Lady" statue in the first class lounge, draped in soft corals and patrolled by flashlight fish, is a genuinely eerie and beautiful sight. The bow, draped in growth, offers the best chance to spot large pelagics cruising by, while the stern, shallower at 25m, has resident reef sharks. This dive suits confident wreck divers who appreciate exploration and history. Just remember your penetration training, and good buoyancy is a must to avoid stirring up the decades of silt. We’d also suggest going in the morning; the light filtering through the upper decks is just magical.

Location
Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, Central & South Pacific
Coordinates
-15.523883, 167.235030
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
25m

Marine Protected Area: Loru Protected Area

Best Time to Dive in Espiritu Santo

The warmest water temperatures in Espiritu Santo occur in January, averaging 29.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 29.2°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • February: 29.2°C (air: 26.0°C)
  • March: 29.2°C (air: 25.6°C)
  • April: 29.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
  • May: 29.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
  • June: 29.2°C (air: 24.3°C)
  • July: 29.2°C (air: 24.0°C)
  • August: 29.2°C (air: 23.7°C)
  • September: 29.2°C (air: 24.2°C)
  • October: 29.2°C (air: 24.8°C)
  • November: 29.2°C (air: 25.2°C)
  • December: 29.2°C (air: 25.7°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Espiritu Santo

Nearest Dive Centres to PRESIDENT COOLIDGE

Marine Life in Espiritu Santo

Home to 296 recorded species including 247 reef fish, 15 sea snails & nudibranchs, 14 sea cucumbers, 4 clams & mussels, 4 crabs & lobsters, 3 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for PRESIDENT COOLIDGE

Based on average water temperature of 29.2°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories