Semele
Protected Area
Erakor and Empten Lagoon
Why dive here
With 306+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, dugongs, dwarf minke whales, eagle rays and giant moray eels - Semele offers some of Port Vila & Efate's richest reef diving. Water sits around 29°C.
The Pond isn't just a dive site; it’s a living, breathing aquarium that constantly surprises us. We love the way the reef slopes gently, revealing new residents with every meter. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff – the flash of an Angel abu polos darting into a crevice, or the subtle patterns of a Chestnut Blenny peeking from its burrow. We've often spent an entire dive in a small area, mesmerized by the pipefish, both Bluestripe and Pacific short-bodied, weaving through the coral. What makes The Pond a standout, for us, is its sheer unpretentiousness. There are no dramatic drop-offs or famous wrecks here. Instead, you get a solid, reliable dive that consistently delivers interesting encounters. We've seen reef sharks cruise by, curious but uninterested, and once spotted a lone eagle ray gliding through the deeper sections. For macro enthusiasts, it's a dream; the array of gobies, from the Nocturn to the Redlined Pygmygoby, is fantastic. We find the best time to visit is mid-morning, when the light plays beautifully on the coral and brings out the colours of the Barcheek Amoya and Horned Bannerfish. Visibility averages 15m, which is plenty for appreciating the details. It’s a great spot for any diver who appreciates a relaxed pace and a keen eye for the little wonders.
Nearest Dive Centres to Semele
Dive shops near Semele
Gone Diving Vanuatu
Tranquility Island Resort
Big Blue Dive Shop
Hideaway Dive Shop
Reviews for Semele
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Semele
Semele Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Semele, sourced from NOAA buoy data - nearest station: Open-Meteo grid (-17.72, 168.31) (0km away)
August Averages
Sea Temperature
29.02°C
84°F
Air Temperature
22.93°C
73°F
Wind Speed
6.18 m/s
12.0 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1015.4 hPa
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC
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