In November 2020, we will be visiting Santo Island, Vanuatu, home to one of the best-known wreck dive sites in the world: USS President Coolidge & Million Dollar Point.

SS President Coolidge (20-72m depth)

Considered by many divers to be the best wreck dive in the world, the SS President Coolidge was a luxury passenger liner converted to a troop carrier during WWII. While entering the Santo harbour she hit two friendly mines, providing divers with a remarkable underwater playground.

Almost completely intact, you can swim through the numerous holds and decks viewing the reminders of her glorious days as a cruise liner and the remnants of her days as a troop ship. There are guns, cannons, jeeps, helmets, trucks and personal supplies left by some of the soldiers, as well as the beautiful porcelain statue of “The Lady,” chandeliers and a mosaic tile fountain. The wreck is covered in coral and is the home to a plethora of marine life.

Million Dollar Point (max depth 40m)

At the end of WWII, thousands of tons of US construction equipment was dumped into the sea. Named for its worth, there are a multitude of bulldozers, cranes, fork lifts, and trucks piled upon one another in this unique dive site.

Those who do not wish to dive the wrecks multiple times or prefer to do reef dives can do so by paying top-up boat dive fees locally.

Package

Package Deal Total price Approx. AUD 3000

NB: prices fluctuate slightly based on currency exchange rates and flight costs)

• Pacific Dive 16 Dive Package
• 8 Shore dives & 8 Boat dives
• Espiritu Hotel 8 night stay
• Fri 13 to Sun 22 November 2020
• Optional Port Vila Add on to 27 Nov

Diving

• Pacific Dive 16 Dive Package
• 8 shore & 8 boat dives
• Offer both Tec and Recreational diving
• Dive Centre is within the hotel & provide a secure dive gear wash and storage room
• Shore diving on SS President Coolidge and Million Dollar Point
• Dives on the Coolidge build up from first reconnoitre to +30m.
• Expect to do planned deco stops in warm, relatively clear water
• Boat dives on nearby Reefs and other wrecks like USS Tucker (max 30m)
•  

Port Vila Extension

For those of you who are interested in diving and/or exploring Port Vila, there is an option of extending your stay at the Hideaway Island & Marine Sanctuary Resort  for 3 – 5 nights an additional cost.

Booking

For further pricing and booking details check the email sent to the club members list. The approximate price above for financial members only! If you have any further questions please see contact details below.

 Jim Murdoch Guest Overseas Trip Coordinator, Nautilus Scuba Club – Cairns overseastrips@nautilus-scuba.net

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE!! BOOK YOUR SPOT NOW!!

Diversion Dive Travel has put together exclusively for our club a fabulous combination trip of 5 nights in Manado + 5 nights in Lembeh in North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Manado is among the highlights of diving in Indonesia.  When you’re scuba diving in Bunaken National Marine Park, you’ll witness some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, with outstanding fish variety and world-class steep walls that descend down to as deep as 1600m.  The clear, warm waters contain astonishingly high numbers of species, whether corals, sponges or fish.   There is also an opportunity to dive further north in Bangka Archiapelago (beautiful coral meadows, variety of marine life) and south in Popooh (muck diving).

Lembeh probably requires no introduction at all, being regarded as the top muck dive site in the world with a huge variety of weird and wonderful marine creatures such as the flamboyant cuttlefish, wonderpus and mimic octopus, to name a few.   It is a must for keen photographers, but also for anyone simply interested in seeing rare critters.

The trip dates are  Thurs 14 – Tues 26 November 2019:  10 nights/18 boat dives + unlimited shore dive package, flying with Virgin/Singapore Airlines/Silk Air.  As this will require overnights on both legs of the journey, the whole trip will be 12 nights/13 days departing Cairns. 

We have reserved 5 nights each in Manado and Lembeh with a maximum capacity for 18 pax:

Thalassa Manado Resort   
9 x Seaview Hilltop Rooms (twin/double)

Thalassa Lembeh Resort
8 x Seaview Bungalows with private terrace (5 x doubles + 3 x twins)
3 x Split bungalows  (single rooms)

All with air-conditioning and private bathroom. Single supplements apply for sole occupancy with the exception of the single Split bungalows.

For more info on the resorts, have a look at their website:
https://thalassamanado.com/
Inclusions:

• 10 nights accommodation
• Full board meal plan (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• 18 boat dives
• Unlimited house reef dives
• All airport and resort transfers
• Free wifi

 Additional extras:

• Return flights from Cairns to Manado (see below)
• National marine park fees
• Nitrox and gear hire
• Drinks
• Other land-based excursions

To book please check your emails from Overseas Trip Co-ordinator, Akiko for more information regarding Flights and Deposit/Payment. Approximate price above for financial members only!  If you have any further questions please see contact details below

 Akiko Murakami Overseas Trip Coordinator, Nautilus Scuba Club – Cairns overseastrips@nautilus-scuba.net