Nautilus Scuba has established itself as one of the most professionel scuba diving centers in the South Pacific. Nautilus Dive Base is perfectly located with 50 metres of waterfront. Three dive boats are moored at the Base where you also find a large freshwater training pool, gear wash up and storage, equipment hire, servicing facilities, workshop and a large duty free retail store.

Nautilus Scuba has easy, uncrowded access to a wide range of idyllic dive sites with visibility up to 30 metres and caters for all levels of certified divers. There are a variety of dive sites including coral reefs, drop offs, a huge cavern, swim through caves, shipwrecks and a seaplane. We do night diving on shipwreck and reef sites. Accessibility of these sites is a huge bonus - only a few minutes by dive boat from the Nautilus Base.

Every day several departures are scheduled at staggered times offering a choice of sites to cover trips for certified divers. We offer free pick ups and returns from the major hotels located in Port Vila.

Free introductory pool sessions are available and can be followed with a shallow reef dive accompanied by an instructor (Sanctioned Resort Course).

PADI or Open Water Certification and further education courses through to Instructor level are available all year.

Coral Reefs, Caves, Caverns and Drop Off's

• Twin Bommies
  Two "bombora" formations with most species of tropical fish. Depth from 10 metres on the top of the reef to 18 metres over the edge of the drop off.

• Mele Reef
  This extensive reef rises up to 6 metres. With the colours of the rainbow represented on the vertical wall and the masses of interesting life at this spot - you will want to visit Mele Reef more than once.

• The Cathedral
  At the tip of the Pango peninsular a vast cavern is formed. Maximum depth is 24 metreswith shafts of light creating an unusual effect. It is possible to swim through to the back of the cavern and up through a "chimney" to a large pool on the surface inside the reef. After the Cathedral we swim along the reef wall and look out into the deep, blue open ocean.

Wreck Sites

• Konanda
  Konanda is an island trader, 45 metres in length and deliberately sunk in 1987 after being damaged by a cyclone. She was carefully prepared so that penetration of the wreck is safe. She sits flat on a sandy bottom at 26 metres. Some of the inhabitants on Konanda are lionfish, boxfish, crocodilefish etc.

• Star of Russia
  This historical interesting wreck is the largest in Efate and was built in 1874 in Belfast by Harlan and Wolff (also famous for construction of Titanic). She is 80 metres in length and 13 metres in breadth. The marine life consists of countless varieties of tropical fish. At 33 metres you can inspect the old anchor weighing equipment and a huge main bollard in the forward section, dead eyes and rigging along the railings, three massive masts and remains of a crows nest, the hull with a romantic shapely bow, the wheel machinery etc.

• Semele Federsen
  A cargo carrying trading vessel sunk in 1985 to a depth of 26 metres and later in 1987 moved further down by cyclone Uma. The stern area with the cabins and the wheel house can be dived within 40 metres. The clarity of the water at this site is a feature and you get up to a 60 metres viz. As a build up towards the President Coolidge in Santo the Semele is a valuable experience.

• Tasman
  In 40 metres of water lies the Quantas S26 Sandringham Flying Boat. The wreck was discovered in 1978 after quite a search and makes a fascinating dive site. With a wingspan of 30 metres this bulky giant is waiting to be explored. We drop onto the tail and climb through the cockpit window and out the other side, and peer through the many windows.

Education Courses

• Nautilus Scuba has full certification courses running at all times. We run PADI courses starting from Open Water through to Instructor. In our Open Water courses we provide you with a full set of equipment included in the price. For the Advanced course, Rescue course and Speciality courses equipment is available for hire.

• For further education you will require to have your own equipment. The PADI Open Water course consists of 4 or 5 Open Water dives. The PADI Advanced course and Rescue course each consist of 5 Open Water dives. The Divemaster and the Instructor courses are on application only.

Contact Us:
Peter Phillipps
P O Box 1231,
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Ph: (678) 223 98
Fax (678) 252 55
Email: nautilus@vanuatu.com.vu
Website: www.nautilus.com.vu