A mystifying world lies beneath the waters around Vanuatu. It is here that the sunken SS President Coolidge, which was once a luxury liner and is now a diving site, rests. The colossal shipwreck, measuring nearly 200 meters in length, harbors countless tales and treasures. Join us for a dive as we unveil the history and secrets of Vanuatu’s most iconic wreckage.
SS President Coolidge History
Pre-War Service
Prior to World War II, the SS President Coolidge served as a luxury liner running between San Francisco and Manila. During the war it was converted into a troop carrier used for ferrying soldiers, supplies, and equipment required during military operations.
The conversion of this passenger steamer into a troopship represented an important historical development because it signified its significant role in times of war.
For its power needs, turbo-electric transmission systems provided propulsion motors and turbo generators. These were among some of the technical advancements realized by companies such as Westinghouse and Newport News Shipbuilding which enhanced operational efficiency on board the vessel.
In Melbourne, Wellington Auckland Bora Bora were among other ports visited by President Coolidge reflecting its strategic importance within Pacific theatre during ww2 .
Even though sunk by mines off Espiritu Santo in October 1942 still ranks among popular wrecks dive sites, largely due to features like underwater swimming pool; cargo holds filled with trucks and jeeps; as well as porcelain relief panel called “The Lady” which has become one of her icons under water according to divers who have visited wreck site over years.
World War II
World War II was a global event with significant happenings and battles taking place across various regions such as Europe, Pacific North Africa. Amongst these events sinking of SS President Coolidge off Vanuatu in October 1942 by mines stands out because it resulted into loss her valuable cargo along side ship itself .
Diving the wreck allows for penetration into the ship’s interior; marine life including lionfish; unique artifacts like “The Lady” porcelain relief panel among others.
This recreational dive site offers depths down to 200 meters and mix of technical diving for those interested in exploring cargo holds, swimming pool among other parts of the ship.
Over time recovery efforts have elevated historical significance attached to this famous wreck dive situated off Espiritu Santo – Vanuatu’s largest island which was also affected heavily during ww2 especially when Japanese forces occupied area before Americans re – captured it later on.
Situated close to the Coral Quays, the wreck is a famous diving spot for both recreational and technical divers. For years, rules in Vanuatu have been keeping the place intact.
Exploring the Vanuatu SS President Coolidge Wreck
Dive Sites
Some of the notable dive sites of the Vanuatu SS President Coolidge wreck are as follows:
- Bow & Reef
- Promenade Deck
- The Lady
- Swimming Pool
- Doctor’s Office
Different parts of the shipwreck can be explored by scuba divers with technical diving. Since it is beyond recreational limits, careful planning should be done when considering this wreck. Ranging from 25 to 57 meters deeps allows seeing such marine life as trigger fish, lion fish, nudibranchs, moray eels and others.
The “The Lady” relief panel made of porcelain is among other elements like a swimming pool or collapsed toilets that can be found at different depths on this site. Besides rifles there are also helmets and military equipment among artifacts at various points in this area which can easily be reached from Espiritu Santo for shore dives by boat where all decompression stops need to be done ensuring safe deep penetration dives on each dive site.
Bow & Reef
Bow & Reef part of Vanuatu SS President Coolidge wreck is important for exploring this site because it has unique features and marine life.
This section is 25 meters deep without any penetration; here one can see trigger fish, lion fish, nudibranchs, moray eels etcetera.
Preserved artifacts together with hanging reefs give insight into history behind sunken vessels like these ones which have been saved due to salvage attempts.
This dive site tells about SS President Coolidge’s past and gives special experience to wreck divers.
Promenade Deck
Promenade Deck of the SS President Coolidge wreck is home to many artifacts and features including a 3-inch gun with ammunition, rifles among others. Here divers can find such marine life as trigger fish, lion fish or nudibranchs.
The Promenade Deck offers a different diving experience at 33 meters deep, no need for penetration so it is safe. The presence of this gun together with different kinds of marine lives makes diving here more interesting and also provides chance for underwater researching and appreciating old things.
The Lady
“The Lady” is a porcelain relief panel that can be found at 39 meters deep on the SS President Coolidge wreck site in Vanuatu. It is situated in first-class dining salon which attracts divers who are exploring this shipwreck. Diving to see “The Lady” requires moderate levels of penetrations thus it adds adventure into diving history of Luxuriousness symbolized by this panel before being converted into troopship during wartime operations. This place acts as an attraction for technical as well as wreck divers while highlighting artistic aspect together with historical part represented by various art works around these areas.
Marine life like lionfish or triggerfish around the wreck is abundant near where “The Lady” resides thereby contributing towards preservation such sites through increased numbers artifacts at them.
Swimming Pool
There are collapsed row of toilets along side skylights within swimming pool area which lies at 57meters deep when one talks about SS President Coolidge wreck . Penetrating into this region should not be done because access here is limited.
The bow of the ship was around 68 feet deep whilst the other end was just shy of 240 feet. Despite this, it is still a great recreational and technical dive. Marine life, artifacts and features such as ‘The Lady’ porcelain relief panel can all be explored.
Shore dive access to the wreck makes for an exciting experience for divers of all levels at this renowned dive site in Vanuatu.
Scuba Diving SS President Coolidge Wreck in Vanuatu
Aggressor Fleet Dives
There are many different sites that can be dived on the SS President Coolidge wreck Vanuatu with Aggressor Fleet:
- Bow & Reef
- Promenade Deck
- Cargo Holds 1 & 2
- Medical Supplies
- And more
Every site has its own unique features including:
- Trigger fish
- Lion fish
- Nudibranchs
- Marine artefacts such as rifles and military equipment
Technical diving options offered by Aggressor Fleet include venturing down onto lower decks, into the engine room or galley, even exploring The iconic swimming pool.
Safety and accessibility are their key focus points – easy shore dive access provided; every dive site requires deco-stops due to depth of wreck.
Preserving SS President Coolidge is important and so Aggressor Fleet adheres to Vanuatu government regulations which prohibit salvage or recovery of any artefacts ensuring they remain protected as well as being historically significant dive sites.
Sinking of the SS President Coolidge
War Time Damage
The SS President Coolidge was originally built as a luxurious liner but converted into a troopship during World War II. It struck two US mines off Espiritu Santo Island in October 1942 causing extensive damage which eventually sank her. The engine room received critical hits near stern area thus leading her to list heavily then slide down a slope before capsizing across channel where significant recovery/salvage ops took place with propeller blades, bunker oil amongst other things being gathered from wreck.
In 1983, Vanuatu government declared President Coolidge wreck as protected site thus preventing any further salvage of artifacts. This shore dive off Espiritu Santo’s coast has since become popular among recreational and technical divers who can explore various dive sites, cargo holds as well as marine life like lionfish around this 200m long ocean liner that is 25m wide.
The wreck boasts several unique features including the iconic porcelain relief panel ‘The Lady’ and remains of ship’s swimming pool making it an interesting place to dive historically significant too.
Official Inquiries
Official inquiries into sinking of SS President Coolidge revealed some key findings:
- Merchant Marine vessels, including President Coolidge did not receive all the tactical information
- These missing pieces about mine placement were inadvertently left out from sailing orders which could have prevented tragic sinking off Espiritu Santo’s Coast in October 1942
Several inquiries/investigations took place at Nouméa (New Caledonia) and United States among others – Captain Henry Nelson was cleared during these investigations because they highlighted lack of vital data given to crew coupled with how this influenced events leading up-to loss.
Attempts to recover the President Coolidge wreck have been continuous since World War II ended.
They have performed salvage operations in order to bring back items such as propellers, shells’ brass casings and electric motors, copper tubing among others.
Although some parts of the ship collapsed due to earthquakes, in 1983 Vanuatu authorities banned further salvaging declaring it a protected area for recreational diving purposes.
The vessel remains an intact luxury liner as well as military transport where divers can see guns, cannons jeeps helmet trucks personal supplies etcetera.
One famous item known as “The Lady” – a porcelain relief panel showing a lady riding on a unicorn – adds charm to any dive through this wreck located off Espiritu Santo island in Vanuatu’s SS President Coolidge site.
The size depth penetration into different cargo holds require technical dives but still considered one of the best places for such kind of adventures because of its intactness and historical value combined with marine life biodiversity around it.
These measures should be taken so that future generations may still regard this sunken vessel both historically significant and ecologically important.
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