Vanuatu · Indo-Pacific
Best time to dive Vanuatu (Espiritu Santo)
Dry season (roughly May–October) brings the best visibility, often 30 m+; December–March is wet. The SS President Coolidge, a 200 m WWII troopship, is diveable year-round from shore.
Peak season: May–November
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct low · Nov low · Dec low
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Macro life | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Coral & reef health | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Visibility | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
| Water temperature | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Weather & sea state | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| Operations & access | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Wreck diving | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Climate outlook
How this year's forecast differs from a typical year
- Coral & reef health -0.8 · Reefs recovering from El Niño bleaching (Nov 2026 – December 2027)
- Coral & reef health -1.6 · Southern-summer bleaching risk during a strong El Niño (Jan 2027 – May 2027)
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 25–35 m |
| December 2026 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 20–30 m |
| January 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| February 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–30 m |
| March 2027 | 29.0 °C (84 °F) | 20–30 m |
| April 2027 | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 20–30 m |
| May 2027 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 25–35 m |
| June 2027 | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 30–40 m |
| July 2027 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 30–40 m |
| August 2027 | 25.5 °C (78 °F) | 30–40 m |
| September 2027 | 26.0 °C (79 °F) | 30–40 m |
| October 2027 | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 25–35 m |
| November 2027 | 27.5 °C (82 °F) | 25–35 m |
| December 2027 | 28.0 °C (82 °F) | 20–30 m |
Marine life calendar
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Current strength
- 1 / 5
- Luxury level
- 4 / 5
- Typical depth
- 10–40 m
- Max depth of interest
- 60 m
- Dive styles
- Shore, Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water (Coolidge deep sections: technical)
- Nearest airport
- SON
- Snorkelling
- Good
Famous sites: SS President Coolidge · Million Dollar Point · Tutuba Point · Cindy's Reef
Season notes & sources
- Dry season (roughly May–October) brings the best visibility, often 30 m+; December–March is wet. The SS President Coolidge, a 200 m WWII troopship, is diveable year-round from shore.