Dive-site story
Resting on a sloping sandy seabed off Espiritu Santo, this World War II Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber crashed during naval operations in the South Pacific. The airframe remains remarkably intact, featuring its distinctive perforated split dive flaps, radial engine block, and cockpit frame encrusted in marine growth. Sponges and hard corals colonize the aluminum surfaces, providing structure for marine organisms across an open sandy bottom.
Well-preserved WWII airframe with visible cockpit controls and engine components
Perforated dive brakes and wing sections colonised by encrusting corals
Schools of glassfish sheltering beneath the wings and fuselage
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
The dry season brings calmer winds, reduced rainfall runoff, and the most consistent water clarity.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red LionfishPterois volitans | Common | ||||||||||||
| GlassfishAmbassidae | Common | ||||||||||||
| Coral Banded ShrimpStenopus hispidus | Common | ||||||||||||
| Broadclub CuttlefishSepia latimanus | Seasonal | ||||||||||||
| Whitetip Reef SharkTriaenodon obesus | Rare |
Marine forecast
