If you’re searching for an unforgettable underwater adventure, few dive sites compare to the legendary SS President Coolidge in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. This massive World War II shipwreck is more than just a dive site—it’s a journey through history, where every descent reveals incredible artifacts, marine life, and stories frozen in time.
A Ship with a Remarkable Story
Originally built as a luxury ocean liner in the late 1930s, the SS President Coolidge was converted into a troopship during World War II. In October 1942, while entering the harbour into Santo, the ship struck friendly mines that were laid to protect the island from ship and submarine attack. The captain beached the ship on the shoreline where thousands of troops were safely evacuated before the ship sunk on the shoreline making it “the best shore dive in the world”.
The wreck rests on the steep shoreline slope between 20m to 65m deep.
A Dive Like No Other
What makes the President Coolidge so special is its size. The ship is over 200 metres long, offering countless dive routes for both recreational and technical divers. Every dive reveals something new.
We have explored
* Cargo holds 1 & 2
* Military vehicles and artillery
* Corridors and cabins
* Medical supplies
* The “Lady”, everyone who passes by must kiss the lady
Over the next 3 days we will also see much more, while not going deeper than 40m.
Marine Life Meets History
Naturally over time the wreck has transformed the into a thriving artificial reef. Soft corals, sponges, and colourful reef fish now cover the steel hull. We have seen Giant trevally, barracuda, lionfish, snapper and Nessie the moray eel. The resident Turtles are also cool; we have managed to see them most days on the top of the wreck as se swim backwards and forwards to the wreck.
The President Coolidge offers dives for a range of experience levels. Shallower sections are suitable for advanced recreational divers, while deeper penetrations and technical routes provide exciting challenges for experienced wreck divers.
Our guides Rex and Dave have been great with 50 years of diving on the wreck between them. They have their secret stashes all over the wreck of artifacts they have moved and hide to show you along your wreck journey.
They both work for Pacific Dive and would recommend them as your dive operator while in Santo.
Whether you’re passionate about shipwrecks, underwater photography, or simply seeking one of the world’s greatest diving experiences, the SS President Coolidge deserves a place at the very top of your diving bucket list.
