Allan Power Dive Tours, one of the main dive operators on Santo |
Painting of the S.S. President Coolidge, now Vanuatu's leading dive site |
S.S. President Coolidge wrecked in Santo Harbor in 1942 |
The S.S. President Coolidge was launched in 1931 for the Dollar Steamship Lines and American President Lines |
At 615ft (187m), the President Coolidge is a very large ship, just 82m shorter than Titanic |
After striking a friendly mine, the captain ran the Coolidge aground saving the 5340 soldiers and crew on board |
Earthquakes shifted the wreck back into the channel where it now rests on its side in 18-70m of water |
Points of interest for divers on the wreck of the SS President Coolidge |
Cross section of the SS President Coolidge - bow |
Cross section of the SS President Coolidge - stern |
Location of the wreck of the Coolidge on a map of World War II-era Luganville |
Map with the location of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides |
The Lady and the President - the Life and Loss of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Allan Power runs two dives daily from his shore base near the wreck site |
The Lady of the S.S. President Coolidge - it's a deep dive to go see her |
Tropical foliage at Alan Power's dive site |
The site of the wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge, Santo |
Shore dive to the wreck of the President Coolidge |
In the shallows near shore |
Shoreline at the site of the Coolidge |
Swimming out to the Coolidge |
From here, the bottom quickly drops off into deeper water |
Coral formations near the Coolidge |
The visibility on this day in October was average |
Reef near the Coolidge wreck |
Reef near the Coolidge wreck |
Rope leading down to the wreck of the President Coolidge |
Bow of the S.S. President Coolidge now resting in about 20m of water |
There are many different dive routes on the Coolidge - I'm on the "Promenade Deck" route to a maximum depth of 33m |
On top of the wreck |
Chain Locker of the S.S. President Coolidge |
The forward deck of the Coolidge, now at a 90 degree angle |
Equipment on the foward deck |
Winch with the anchor chain of the Coolidge |
Left forward 3" gun added to the S.S. Coolidge during its military retrofit as a troop transporter |
Right forward 3" gun of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Shells for the Coolidge's 3" guns |
Shells for the Coolidge's 3" guns |
Shells for the Coolidge's 3" guns |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Anchor of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Fallen masts, S.S. President Coolidge |
Artefacts scattered around the forward hold |
Inside the forward hold of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Treaded vehicle among the remains of trucks and jeeps in the forward hold |
Tire emerging from 70 years of sediment and growth |
Fan corals on the side of the wreck |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Section of deck rotted away leaving only the support beams |
Peering into the wreck of the Coolidge |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Bubbles emerging from divers inside the wreck of the Coolidge |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Promenade Deck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
A small opening leading into the ship |
The dive guide modelling with a World War II American helmet and coral-encrusted rifle |
A can with World War II artefacts like gas masks |
Promenade Deck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Promenade Deck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Exploring the Promenade Deck |
Swimming through the remains of the Promenade Deck now on the top of the wreck |
Coral on the wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Coral on the wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
Coral on the wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
The top of the wreck |
Soft corals growing on the wreck of the Coolidge |
Fish are not terribly abundant although there were some giant batfish in one of the holds |
Wreck of the S.S. President Coolidge |
A 70 year old bottle set upright on the wreck |
The Coolidge is one of the most accessible large wrecks in the world |
Wreck of the President Coolidge |
Wreck of the President Coolidge |
Wreck of the President Coolidge |
Wreck of the President Coolidge |
Coral on the Coolidge |
Back at the bow of the President Coolidge for the return to the shore |
The bow of the S.S. President Coolidge |
The guide feeds waiting fish during the safety stop on ascent |
Feeding fish in Vanuatu |
Feeding fish in Vanuatu |
A mix of tropical fish, Santo |
They keep us entertained for a few minutes then we continue along up the slope |
Coral garden in the shallow water near the wreck of the Coolidge |
Titan Triggerfish - Santo, Vanuatu |
Titan Triggerfish - Santo, Vanuatu |
Coral - Santo, Vanuatu |
Coral - Santo, Vanuatu |
Sea Star - Santo, Vanuatu |
Sea Star - Santo, Vanuatu |
Coral near the wreck of the Coolidge - Santo, Vanuatu |
Coral in the shallows near the President Coolidge |
Coral in the shallows near the President Coolidge |
Coral in the shallows near the President Coolidge |
Clownfish - Santo, Vanuatu |
Clownfish - Santo, Vanuatu |