Week 52 - Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu

Our accommodation in Turtle Bay was simply dreamlike. The small bungalow with terrace and sea view had everything we wished for in Vanuatu. We felt comfortable right away and were able to enjoy our time 100%.

Since the accommodation was "self-contained", we brought our groceries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This saved us a lot of money, as shopping at the market and the supermarket is considerably cheaper than eating in a restaurant every time. This way, we could also cook simple and vegetarian dishes and were not dependent on the menus.

Besides relaxing on our terrace, we also took a trip to the Matevulu Blue Hole. We set off in our kayak directly from our accommodation. First, we paddled in the sea to the river mouth and then up the river to its source. With a light rain, it created a wonderful atmosphere like in the rainforest. Upon arriving at the Blue Hole, we admired the deep blue water. It reminded us a bit of the local Blautopf. Of course, we couldn’t resist taking a dip in the clear water.

Additionally, we had two dives scheduled with the diving school around the corner. We made two boat dives at a beautiful coral reef filled with fish. We really enjoyed both dives and also got to see a turtle and a little reef shark.

Unfortunately, on the departure day, we both didn't feel entirely fit and were slightly cold. If we hadn’t already booked the next accommodation, we would have definitely stayed a few more nights. But instead, it was time to pack and head to the next place.

There, we first had to rest since the cold was affecting us both.

The accommodation was closer to the city and very basic. However, it was super inexpensive, and cleanliness was absolutely not an issue.

Since Franzi unfortunately wasn't feeling well enough the next day, Julian set off in the morning alone to the adjacent dive shop.

There, an absolute highlight awaited him: a dive at one of the largest and best-preserved wrecks in the world. The SS President Coolidge has been lying here since 1942 at a depth of up to 80m off the coast.

The former luxury liner was converted into a warship by the Americans during World War II and served as a troop transport.

In Santo, it encountered its own minefield and ultimately sank. In the disaster, almost all soldiers were rescued. Only two people lost their lives, including one of the captains who, according to stories, swam from land back to the ship to rescue those left behind. In the process, he ultimately lost his own life. The body was discovered during a dive in 2015 and subsequently recovered by the Americans.

Many of the relics from that time are still preserved today, and one can discover remnants of cannons, jeeps, and interior furnishings. Particularly iconic is a porcelain relief of a woman with a unicorn, known as “The Lady,” which is located inside the wreck.

The dive itself was simply super cool. The wreck is enormous (about 200m long), and we first dived over the wreck and looked at some of the relics there. Then we went through a hole in the outer hull into the wreck and swam through the interior. It was really exciting and offered much to discover.

After diving, Julian stayed longer at the dive base and played a round of cards with other divers. This way, Franzi could rest in peace and use the whole morning for herself.

We relaxed together for the rest of the day, played cards, and watched a series.

The next morning, the next dive was on the agenda. Unfortunately, Franzi still didn’t feel fit enough for it. However, this time, we went to the dive base together so that Franzi could see something other than our room. And the dive base was definitely a nice place to be.

For Julian, it was time to grab the equipment and head for the second dive at the SS President Coolidge. Dave (the owner of the dive base) decided to make a real highlight dive with Julian. The goal: The iconic Lady inside the wreck at approximately 40m depth.

The dive was gigantic. Right at the start of the wreck, we were greeted by a huge grouper, about 2-3m long. Right next to it, a turtle lingered on the wreck.

Then we went inside through a smaller hatch. Down through darker corridors into the belly, until the relief suddenly “surfaced.”

We returned through various corridors and levels inside, until we reached the bow and got outside through the chain room.

On the beach, you can always find glass shards. The soldiers received one bottle of Coca-Cola each. The place of origin of the soldier is engraved on the bottom of the bottle.

Back on land, we played a few more rounds of cards before heading to a Thai restaurant for lunch.

By the way, we always have about 28 degrees and over 80% humidity. You take a step, and all the sweat pores open up :D This week, we actually didn't have any rain, or only at night.

Today, we are already leaving the island again. We will go to the next island for a special highlight. But more about that in the next blog post.