Anja and I first arrived at Luganville to dive the S.S. President Coolidge. We then sailed to Port Villa where Anja departed and Kay arrived. Watch the fireworks at Mt. Yasur, one of the worlds most active volcanos on Tanna Island
Anja and I had to do the usual “Official-dom Tango”…
We immediately set about organizing our first dive on the wreck of the famous S.S. President Coolidge
Alan Powers pioneered recreational diving on the Coolidge in the 1970’s
Our guide gave us the briefing at the waters edge
You simply walk in to the Coolidge site. The structure at the top left is just before the decent
Here we’re hanging out ready to decend
Anja is a natural diver and here she’s ready to descend on our orientation dive
Part of the cargo being carried by Coolidge
This is a very well known shot. The luxury liner was fitted with extensive extra facilities as it’s main function was troop transportation
Anchors were both deployed by Coolidge
Anja enjoyed feeding the fish
Eric chills out at the deco stop
Guide with 3″ shells.
3″ shells stacked and ready for use….for all time
Anja and our guide get ready to penetrate the wreck
Famous signature dinner ware from the days of her service as a passenger liner
Many vehicles were being transported for the war effort as well
Here we’re shown one of the hundreds of carbine rifles destined for the Solomon’s campaign
You get the picture of the vast stores of war material when diving through holds 1 & 2
For long distance travel, these “drop tanks” were fitted under US Aircraft on missions to the Solomon Islands, 700 miles tot the North
A beautiful Worm?
Lovely clown fish and their anemone’s are all over at the safety staging area
At the end of the second dive, it was pouring when we exited the water
We got here three days after our dives on the Coolidge
Bislam is the official language of Vanuatu
Here we were required to check in at all major ports
Kay arrives from Brisbane and Anja flies out to Brisbane
Anja takes off
Kay and I go to market
Mt. Yasur in the distance. One of the world’s most active volcanos!
At only about 400 feet high, it doesn’t look to imposing from here
Landing Strip
You can see the tire tracks in the ash…
Here we get instruction on safe areas
On the way up the 100 meter hike to the viewing area is the famous “post box”
Explosions like this happened every minute or two
Viewing after dark is dramatic
Of the three active caldrons, this was the easiest to view
