The Abyss - Port Vila & Efate
Willy's Rock, a seamount just a short boat ride from Beau Vallon, is one of those sites we always enjoy for a relaxed second dive. It maxes out at about 13 metres, perfect for extending bottom time, and usually has decent visibility around 15 metres. We love dropping onto the sandy patch next to the rock, then just following the contours. The real joy here is getting up close with the smaller residents. We've seen dwarf morays peering out of crevices and honeycomb filefish blending in almost perfectly. Look closely for those striped ponyfish flitting over the sand, and the occasional fire dartfish darting back into their holes. If there's a gentle current, it often brings in schooling fusiliers, which always makes for a pretty sight. It’s a great spot for newer divers, or anyone who just wants an easy, colourful dive without too much depth. We've certainly spent many happy minutes just observing the little dramas playing out on the rock.
- Location
- Port Vila & Efate, Vanuatu, Central & South Pacific
- Coordinates
- -17.706100, 168.263500
- Type
- drift
Marine Protected Area: Hideaway Island
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 The Abyss
- 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 The Abyss
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