9 Best Dive Shops & Operators in Vanuatu

Big Blue stands as Port Vila LINK#D017's premier dive shop, welcoming everyone from complete beginners to seasoned divers with thousands of dives under their belts.

Operating Tuesday through Sunday with morning double dives, afternoon single dives, and Thursday night dives, this professional PADI dive operator offers comprehensive underwater experiences around Port Vila's spectacular reefs and wrecks.

Their experienced local dive masters, who have been with the company for many years logging thousands of dives under their belt, guide divers to sites including the dramatic Cathedral Cave descending from 17 to 23 m (56 to 75 ft), the coral-rich West Side Story reef with its impressive drop-off, and various wrecks ranging from the beginner-friendly Bonzer to the deeper Semele at 40-55 m (131-180 ft). The diverse marine environment features predominantly hard corals with some soft coral sections, supporting abundant fish life and creating varied underwater landscapes from shallow reefs to deep canyon systems.

Big Blue maintains professional standards with detailed dive briefings that cover safety procedures, descent and ascent protocols, and site-specific information before each dive. Their banana boats (fibre boats) provide easy water access with convenient ladder systems, while the company's safety standards and comprehensive PADI course offerings from Open Water through to Instructor Development ensure divers of all levels can explore Vanuatu's underwater world with confidence.

Triton Explorers brings professional diving standards to Santo with a safety-first approach.

This dive shop specialises in guided recreational diving to iconic sites like the SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point, plus local reefs around the island.

What makes them unique is their commitment to proper training and certification requirements, ensuring divers are qualified for the depths they're exploring - it may sound silly but it's not the case everywhere.

They offer everything from try dives for beginners at Million Dollar Point (perfect for its shallow depths and abundant marine life) to professional-level courses through their SDI/TDI certification. Their technical diving instructor can also provide advanced training for experienced divers looking to explore the deeper SS President Coolidge wreck safely.

All dives include complimentary transfers from greater Luganville, and they partner with local boat captains and drivers to reach dive sites further afield and support the community in the process.

Operating since 1981, Allan Power Dive Tours offers unparalleled access to the world-famous SS President Coolidge shipwreck and Million Dollar Point on Santo.

The dive shop sits directly on the doorstep of the world's most accessible shipwreck, making it the legendary home of this incredible WW2 relic. This shore-based diving operation allows guests to literally walk from the beach into one of diving's most famous underwater heritage sites.

The unique location provides effortless entry to the Coolidge, with divers following a rope through a small coral garden at 5 m (16 ft) depth before descending to the ship's bow at around 20 m (65 ft).

As the custodian of this wreck for over 50 years until his passing in 2019, Allan Power earned the nickname "Mr President" for his dedicated protection of this 200 m (656 ft) luxury liner turned troop transport. The team continue Allan's legacy and, no matter your certification level, ensures you get the best possible experience of the Coolidge utilising their extensive knowledge and experience.

Beyond world-class wreck diving, the operation offers comprehensive dive training from Open Water through to technical diving certifications, plus extraordinary night dives where schools of flashlight fish create a magical underwater light show inside the Coolidge's cargo holds.

The facility features hot showers, toilets and a welcoming bar serving drinks and weekend barbecues, while glamping accommodation at Camp Coolidge provides beachfront lodging for the ultimate diving experience.

Pacific Dive on Espiritu Santo offers incredibly easy access to the world's largest and most accessible shipwreck, the legendary SS President Coolidge.

This premier dive centre, established in 2017, stands as Vanuatu's most specialised technical diving operation, combining recreational shore dives with advanced technical diving expertise. Their team includes some of the world's most experienced guides, including Dave with 33 years and over 20,000 dives, many specifically on the famous President Coolidge wreck.

Most divers focus on the legendary wreck itself, where you can literally do thousands of different dives exploring this massive vessel. On the other hand, the unique Million Dollar Point offers a fascinating glimpse into WW2 history, where military equipment was deliberately dumped underwater, though it's a smaller site best experienced for its incredible story.

For reef enthusiasts, boat dives (with advanced notice) explore gorgeous tropical sites around nearby islands, including Bakissa Island's Henry Bonnard Wreck, Tutuba Island's coral gardens, and Cindy's Reef off Aore Island. The dramatic topography means visibility often exceeds 50 m (165 ft), with some sites dropping from 15 m (50 ft) to over 120 m (390 ft) on the wall.

The centre provides comprehensive equipment rental, professional guides and complete technical diving support, including custom nitrox mixes up to 100% oxygen, helium for tri-mix diving, and full rebreather facilities. They offer everything from Discover Scuba diving through to extended range tri-mix courses, with double-dive packages departing from their convenient shore-based location.

If you're serious about diving in Vanuatu, you'll want to head straight to Aore Adventure Sports & Lodge on Espiritu Santo.

We're talking about the only PADI 5-Star dive centre in the area, and they've been perfecting their craft for over 20 years.

Their purpose-built 8-metre vessel "FullBoar" will take you to legendary WW2 dive sites. You'll explore the famous SS President Coolidge, Million Dollar Point and USS Tucker, all guided by dive masters who've logged thousands of wreck dives.

Morning departures kick off at 8 am and you'll be back by 1 pm, which gives you plenty of time to relax after your double dive adventure. The homemade morning tea and lunch are included, so you won't go hungry.

Beyond the iconic wrecks, you'll discover pristine reef sites around Bokissa Island, Tutuba Point and various South Santo locations. If that wasn't enough, you'll also have the opportunity to check out submerged WW2 aircraft, including F4U Corsair and F4F Wildcat fighters.

Safety is taken seriously here, with comprehensive emergency equipment including remote first aid kits, DAN oxygen and AED, all supervised daily by the expat owner-operator.

The smorgasbord of experiences in Santo, it's no surprise Turtle Bay Lodge proudly stands as the only dive resort on the island's east coast.

Nestled between world-famous blue holes, coconut plantations and, of course, the South Pacific Ocean, this diving centre provides everything from beginner-friendly pool sessions to advanced PADI courses, including Open Water, Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster certifications.

Two highly experienced PADI staff instructors, each with over 20 years of global teaching experience, lead small groups to ensure personalised attention and safety. The convenient on-site location means no rushing between accommodation and diving activities, while diverse dive sites accessible from their two dive vessels cater to all skill levels.

Furthermore, Turtle Bay Lodge offers alternative East Coast dive sites compared to the usual Coolidge wreck dives that the other Santo dive operators focus on. So, if you prefer natural seascapes, these guys are your go-to.

After your diving adventures, unwind at the Salty Dog Bar and Restaurant to share tales of your underwater discoveries.

Gone Diving Vanuatu is a PADI dive resort situated at the beach in a Marine Protected Area in Mele Bay, perfectly positioned for an array of shore dives.

This intimate dive centre offers PADI courses from Discover Scuba Diving and Open Water certification through to professional Dive Master level training. As diving instructors operating a small beach-based operation, they provide personalised attention with typically just four to five divers per group, ensuring a quality underwater experience.

The resort's house reef stretches from Marina Point down to the Wharf (some 3-4 km of coastline) and benefits from being a marine protected area with a four-year fish ban, creating exceptional biodiversity that many visitors say surpasses other dive sites in Vanuatu. The reef edge sits at 3-5 m (9-16 ft) depth, though some dives venture further out for deeper scuba experiences.

Marine life ranges from the smallest reef fish to white and black-tip sharks, with the operators' intimate knowledge of their regular dive site allowing them to locate specific reef inhabitants and their preferred hiding spots.

The dive centre operates daily fun dives and night dives, with all equipment and guiding included in the price.

All in all, Gone Diving's PADI standards ensure proper insurance coverage for all activities, while the beach-entry diving eliminates boat transfers and allows for flexible scheduling based on conditions and your preference.

A well-established player in the dive game, Tranquility Island Resort on Moso Island is your entry point to north Efate's array of dive sites, whether you decide to stay or join a day trip.

Their full-day trip includes bus pickup from Port Vila (30-45 minutes), followed by boat transfer to either the resort itself for snorkelling around the pristine house reef, or to the spectacular Hapi Tok Beach on the back of the island when weather permits. You'll enjoy two guided snorkelling sessions of 20-25 minutes each, with a delicious barbecue lunch served on the beach between sessions.

All snorkelling gear is provided, including masks, snorkels and fins, plus refreshments are served on board during your return journey.

Scuba divers can add dive packages to explore 15 dive sites around Moso Island, Lelepa Island and Hat Island, including the turtle-rich house reef, colourful Owens Reef, where you might spot sharks, and the impressive cave at Hat Island that can accommodate 20 people.

New to diving? Try their "Discover Scuba" session, with different pricing depending on whether you bring your own gear or use theirs. Better yet, stay at the resort to facilitate easy-going PADI courses.

Although you only have one dive operator on Tanna LINK#D071, at least it's a good one! Volcano Ocean Divers opens up a whole new world of terrain that showcases there's more to this island than its spewing volcano.

The great thing about Tanna is that it's volcanic, which means no fresh water runoff clouding up the ocean. What you get is visibility so crystal clear it's almost unreal.

What's more, you'll find yourself swimming through dramatic caves, along towering reef walls and through spectacular swim-throughs that feel like nature's own underwater cathedral.

There's a dizzying array of marine life to admire, like green sea turtles, and if you're lucky, you'll spot the resident dugongs. For those who love getting up close with the smaller stuff, macro photography enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of tiny critters scattered across multiple dive sites.

What we love about this operation, based at White Grass Ocean Resort & Spa, is that it's fully PADI accredited, so whether you're a complete beginner trying the "Discover Scuba Dive" experience or an advanced diver looking to add Night Diver, Underwater Navigation Diver or Search and Recovery Diver to your qualifications, they've got you covered.