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Star of Russia Wreck

The Star of Russia is one of our favourite dives in Port Vila, hands down. We just love how accessible this wreck is, sitting upright in a calm harbour at 10 to 20 metres. You descend into a cool, green light, and suddenly the bow looms into view, massive and barnacled. We always spend a good chunk of time exploring the deck, which is surprisingly intact, even after a century underwater. You can swim through parts of the superstructure, poking around for nudibranchs or the shy little black blennies that dart between the corroded metal plates. The mast, now toppled, creates an interesting swim-through, draped in soft corals. Coral growth here isn’t as dramatic as on a healthy reef, but it’s fascinating to see how life has reclaimed this old sailing ship. Look closely and you’ll spot clown tangs grazing on the hull, or a curious Oriental maori wrasse peeking out from a shadowy corner. Visibility can be a bit variable, especially after rain, but usually, it's a solid 10-15 metres – enough to appreciate the sheer scale of the ship. It’s an intermediate dive, perfect for anyone comfortable in open water and ready for a proper wreck exploration without strong currents or extreme depths.