Tasmin Flying Plane - Port Vila & Efate
The Tasmin Flying Plane wreck sits just outside Port Vila Harbour, a solid pick for an easy afternoon dive. We found the plane reasonably intact, mostly the fuselage and wings, providing plenty of nooks for exploring. Lionfish often shelter in the cockpit, and we’ve spotted moray eels peeking from beneath the wings. It’s not a deep dive, making it ideal for newer wreck divers or anyone looking for a relaxed second tank with good visibility. While not huge, the site offers a nice glimpse into Vanuatu’s underwater history, a good warm-up before hitting some of the bigger wrecks.
- Location
- Port Vila & Efate, Vanuatu, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -17.753284, 168.301530
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10-30m
Marine Protected Area: Erakor and Empten Lagoon
Best Time to Dive in Port Vila & Efate
The warmest water temperatures in Port Vila & Efate occur in January, averaging 29.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 29.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 29.0°C (air: 26.0°C)
- February: 29.0°C (air: 26.3°C)
- March: 29.0°C (air: 25.8°C)
- April: 29.0°C (air: 25.7°C)
- May: 29.0°C (air: 24.3°C)
- June: 29.0°C (air: 23.8°C)
- July: 29.0°C (air: 23.3°C)
- August: 29.0°C (air: 22.9°C)
- September: 29.0°C (air: 23.5°C)
- October: 29.0°C (air: 24.2°C)
- November: 29.0°C (air: 25.0°C)
- December: 29.0°C (air: 26.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Port Vila & Efate
- Anchor Reef (reef)
- Cathedral Cave - 5-15m (cave)
- Gotham City - 15-30m (wall)
- Hideaway Island
- KATHLEEN - 20m (wreck)
- Konanda
- KONANDA - 19m (wreck)
- Mele Reef (reef)
- Moso Drift Dive - 10-25m (drift)
- Owens Reef (reef)
- Pango Wall (wall)
- Semele (reef)
- Semle Federsen
- Star Of Russia (wreck)
- STAR OF RUSSIA/OERU(POSSIBLY) - 34m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Tasmin Flying Plane
- Big Blue Dive Shop
- Gone Diving Vanuatu - ["PADI"]
- Hideaway Dive Shop
- Tranquility Island Resort - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Port Vila & Efate
Home to 329 recorded species including 272 reef fish, 16 sea cucumbers, 12 sea snails & nudibranchs, 6 seagrass & algae, 6 hard corals, 4 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Dugong (Dugong dugon) - Whales & Dolphins
- Black sea cucumber (Holothuria atra) - Sea Cucumbers
- Boring Clam (Tridacna crocea) - Clams & Mussels
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Banded sea krait (Laticauda colubrina)
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Banded Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Redfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus) - Reef Fish
- Citron Butterfly (Chaetodon citrinellus) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly fish (Chaetodon vagabundus) - Reef Fish
- Blackedge thicklip wrasse (Hemigymnus melapterus) - Reef Fish
- Kihikihi (Zanclus cornutus) - Reef Fish
- Latticed Butterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii) - Reef Fish
- Saddleback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium) - Reef Fish
- Batavian Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Tang (Zebrasoma scopas) - Reef Fish
- Bleeker's Parrotfish (Chlorurus bleekeri) - Reef Fish
- Threadfin (Chaetodon auriga) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Tasmin Flying Plane
Based on average water temperature of 29.0°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