Vanuatu: Best time of year?

[Scuba Susie]

Hey gang,
I am thinking of organizing a dive trip to Vanuatu. I like the more remote, white sands beach, all inclusive resort kinda trip. Not needing terribly fancy but not into camping either. Any recommendations? Is there more than just wreck diving???? Where do most people fly into? And finally, is there a "season" to avoid?
Thanks so much,
Susie

 

[almitywife]

hi,
vanuatu is a fav of ours - every 2 years we go back there. you fly into Port Vila and connect from there, depending on where you're going - depends what you want to dive and see.

if its the Coolidge, then you need to fly to Santo - when there we prefer staying at the Deco Stop - http://www.decostop.com.vu/ -and diving with Aquamarine - http://www.aquamarinesanto.com/ - or for a bit extra, check out Bokissa Island - http://www.bokissa.vu/

we always visit Hideaway Island - http://www.hideaway.com.vu/ - , about 15 mins by bus and a small lagoon boat ride from port villa. heaps of dive sites from 1 min to 15 mins by boat, good prices, accomodation is from dorm to good clean bungalows (no tv, radios, air conditioning) excellent dive staff and great restaurant on the beach. easy diving, good dive boats, various reefs, they have 2 smallish wrecks also.

also check out Tranquility Island, about an hour by bus and boat from port vila - http://www.southpacdivecruise.com.vu/dive.html - very very basic (eco) but worth it. its a turtle santuary also so you can adopt a turtle if you want. you can do this as a day trip inc lunch and transport. we thinking of staying here for a few days next time we visit. Thier prices by the way inc meals - quite remote so you cant head out to the shops.

when we go, we always go between may and july but be aware we have school holidays approx early july and Hideaway has a photography festival late may. may to july is our winter here in the southern hemisphere and i personally wouldnt want to go in jan because of the humidity, but thats a personal thing.

i hope you enjoy your time in vanuatu!

 

[Scuba Susie]

hi,
vanuatu is a fav of ours - every 2 years we go back there. you fly into Port Vila and connect from there, depending on where you're going - depends what you want to dive and see.

if its the Coolidge, then you need to fly to Santo - when there we prefer staying at the Deco Stop - http://www.decostop.com.vu/ -and diving with Aquamarine - http://www.aquamarinesanto.com/ - or for a bit extra, check out Bokissa Island - http://www.bokissa.vu/

we always visit Hideaway Island - http://www.hideaway.com.vu/ - , about 15 mins by bus and a small lagoon boat ride from port villa. heaps of dive sites from 1 min to 15 mins by boat, good prices, accomodation is from dorm to good clean bungalows (no tv, radios, air conditioning) excellent dive staff and great restaurant on the beach. easy diving, good dive boats, various reefs, they have 2 smallish wrecks also.

also check out Tranquility Island, about an hour by bus and boat from port vila - http://www.southpacdivecruise.com.vu/dive.html - very very basic (eco) but worth it. its a turtle santuary also so you can adopt a turtle if you want. you can do this as a day trip inc lunch and transport. we thinking of staying here for a few days next time we visit. Thier prices by the way inc meals - quite remote so you cant head out to the shops.

when we go, we always go between may and july but be aware we have school holidays approx early july and Hideaway has a photography festival late may. may to july is our winter here in the southern hemisphere and i personally wouldnt want to go in jan because of the humidity, but thats a personal thing.

i hope you enjoy your time in vanuatu!

Almitywife,
Thanks so much for your links. You say that Jan is too humid for ya huh? Heck, we here in California would probably love it! How are the seas? Any rough action during the Jan-May period? Is there a "rainly season" where the viz drops?
We did Sipadan last year and absolutely thought it was the greatest diving. But I am always looking to do something different and new. Have you per chance done Sipadan? Guess I am looking for a comparison of sorts.
Thanks again,
Susie

 

[almitywife]

sorry - havent been to Sipadan so cant compare.

Acording to http://www.vanuatutourism.com/vanuatu/cms/en/resources/travel_info.html
"The best time of year is April/May to October when temperatures range from 18 to 28 degrees Celsius. Light weight casual clothing plus a sweater is usually sufficient. November & December are warm but not generally unpleasantly so. January to March is hot (26-34 degrees Celsius), often wet and prone to cyclones, but being low season it's also a good time of year to take advantage of travel deals"

ok, cyclones happen but not every year - just have to take a chance and 34degs isnt really hot - but like i said, its extra humid that gets ya. our last trip was from 20th May to 18 June this year. had no rain, 30 to 60mtrs of viz and only 4 days of choppy seas during the trip.

maybe someone thats been during other months can add more info.

if you like away from it all places, have you thought about Niue??? Its an island that is tech part of New Zealand (gotta love that exchange rate) that is in between Tonga and the Cook Islands. They did have a cyclone 2 or 3 years ago - but if you contact the dive shop they can tell you how the reef is going. Hubby loved this place and was planning a return trip when the cyclone hit a few years ago.
http://www.dive.nu/
http://www.niueisland.com/


or how about Uepi Island in the Solomons. http://www.uepi.com/

too many islands so little vacation time!