Santo - Tanna Trip October 2010
Departing Brisbane Tuesday 5th of October 2010 at 11:00am
Returning to Sydney Wednesday 13th of October 2010 at 3:15pm
Includes:
Return International Airfares ex Brisbane to Santo and Tanna flying with Air Vanuatu.
Deco Stop Lodge - Return Airport Transfers
Deco Stop Lodge - Dorm Accommodation
Includes: Continental Breakfast Daily
6 Nights In 05-Oct-10 Out 11-Oct-10
Aquamarine (Santo) Ltd - 10 Shore Dive Package
Diving Days: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th October 2010
Includes: tank, weights/belt, dive guide services, hotel transfers
White Grass Tanna - Bungalow - Adults - Twin / Double
2 Nights In 11-Oct-10 Out 13-Oct-10 Bungalow - Adults - Twin / Double
Includes: Return airport transfers, tropical continental breakfast daily, welcome drink, use of snorkelling equipment, mountain bikes, sea kayaks, guided snorkelling safaris to Turtle reef.
$2895.00
Espirito Santo - Vanuatu
Vanuatu, a chain of 83 tropical islands in the South West Pacific, is only a few flying hours from Australia.
Vanuatu is an idyllic holiday destination for scuba divers, as well as travellers seeking a little adventure in paradise.
The semi-tropical climate has a temperature range from between 23°C and 28°C. The Melanesian people, known as Ni Vanuatu, have populated the islands for centuries.
They are a gentle, peace-loving people, intent on enjoying life's simple pleasures. The native language spoken is Bislama with English and French also widely spoken.
The capital, Port Vila, is a delightful, waterfront town situated on the main island of Efate. Vila has a cosmopolitan image offering great duty free shopping, sidewalk cafes as well as an excellent selection of fine cuisine restaurants. Accommodation ranges from lodges and self-contained studio apartments to tourist class hotels and deluxe resorts - all within easy reach of the town centre.
The island of Espiritu Santo, approximately one-hour flight north of Vila is a lush tropical get away with the white beaches. Santo attracts divers like a magnet, and this main attraction is to explore the wreck of the "S.S.President Coolidge".
One island in Vanuatu, more than any other attracts divers like a magnet - Espiritu Santo. The island that inspired James A. Michener to write his classic "South Pacific."
Approximately 50 minutes flying time from Port Vila to Santo, Air Vanuatu operates daily services between the 2 islands.
Santo is from a time past. People still come from within the jungle to trade for a few basic necessities, then blend quietly back into the shadows, amongst the WWII Dakotas and old hangers that are scattered in the thick tropical jungle and serve as silent reminders of the American occupation of the island. One of the major diving drawcards of Santo is the S.S. President Coolidge, a World War 2 troop transport wreck.
Santo boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Powdery white sand with invitingly warm, crystal-clear water fringed by magnificent shady palm trees.
Diving in Santo
Luganville is the main town on Espiritu Santo, and although there is excellent diving in the vicinity of Luganville, diving is mainly centred on two specific, and unique sites.
The main attraction is the "S.S. President Coolidge", a luxury liner that was used as a troop ship during WWII. The impressive wreck (198 metres long) is one of the largest accessible wrecks to sport divers anywhere in the world.
The dive can be done from boat or shore with an easy walk to a line that leads to the ship's bow. Visibility can range from 15 to 35 metres, and the sea is usually calm.
Complete with military supplies and personal belongings scattered across the ocean floor, and of course the famous "Lady and the Unicorn" this dive is not to be missed.
Not far away, is another amazing dive site "Million Dollar Point" where the US navy dumped tonnes of valuable machinery and supplies after the war.
Some of the more popular dive sites in Santo:
SS President Coolidge: Sunk by a friendly mine in 1942, the ship lies in clear, calm water and offers divers the chance to explore the remnants of a World War II troop ship, which was formally a luxury liner.
The ship is so big that even if you dived it ten times in different locations, you would still only view a part of it. As most of the dives are over 30 meters, decompression stops are necessary. These stops are made on the coral garden where you can see a colourful array of hard corals and fish life.
Max Depth: 20-70m
Million Dollar Point: This fascinating dive shows you coral encrusted war equipment as well as a small island trader and the salvage vessel the El Retiro. There is easy access from both shore and boat and the excellent marine life and coral growth warrants a visit. After WWII, hundreds of tonnes of US equipment were dumped here - from bulldozers and aero engines to trucks and jeeps. After the war, American efforts to sell the equipment were unsuccessful - so rather than give it to the then Condominium government, the Americans dumped the lot. Max depth: 40m.
USS Tucker: Once a US destroyer, the USS Tucker sank in 1942 after, she was split in two by the American mine she hit in the Segond Channel. After the hit, the boilers, condensers and gearboxes bridging the two sections broke apart, stretching out for over 100m.
This dive has a number of interesting swim-throughs, an abundance of portholes and open bulkheads provide plenty of light. There are some spectacular finds in colourful corals and sponges growing on gun turrets and mounts. Coral trout, cod, sweet lip, angle fish and batfish are regularly seen in the area and visibility is normally about 40 - 50 meters.
Max depth: 20m.
MV Henry Bonneaud: This local trader was scuttled in 1989 and is awash with marine life and colourful coral. This is an easy penetration wreck dive where the visibility is 30 - 40 meters. There are plenty of soft corals and sharks to be seen and the artificial reef provides a haven for flashlight fish, which are abundant during night dives. Max depth: 45m
Tutuba Point: A spectacular reef with both hard and soft corals, caves, swim-throughs and the most beautiful marine life. This is a drift with amazing visibility of 40 - 50 meters. Turtles, reef sharks and Napolean wrasse are often visible. The site is located on the northern tip of Tutuba Island and is a short boat ride away from Luganville. Max Depth: 25m
Due to tides and currents the visibility varies between 12m to 40 m. The water temperature varies between 20C to 28C. We recommend that 3mm to 5mm wetsuit be used.
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