Million Dollar Point
Dive the largest most accessible ship wreck in the world.
At 205m long and 27m beam, the SS President Coolidge – she offers something for all levels of diver experience from newly trained open water divers to Tech qualified.
Location
Near Luganville on Espiritu Santo
Depth
15-30 meters
Type
Wreckage turning to reef
Location
Near Luganville on Espiritu Santo
Depth
15-30 meters
Type
Wreckage turning to reef
History of Million Dollar Point, Vanuatu
Million Dollar Point is one of the most unique dive sites in the world, not because of a natural reef or a traditional shipwreck, but because it is an underwater graveyard of U.S. military equipment.
How it Happened
After World War II ended in 1945, the United States military had a massive surplus of equipment stationed on Espiritu Santo, the largest island in Vanuatu. The U.S. had built a major military base there during the war, complete with airstrips, hospitals, and warehouses.
When the war ended, the U.S. no longer needed the base and decided to leave. They offered to sell their surplus equipment—worth millions of dollars—to the British and French colonial governments at what was considered a very low price. However, the colonial powers believed the Americans would abandon the equipment and refused to buy it.
Rather than give the equipment away for free, the U.S. military made a drastic decision: they drove, pushed, and bulldozed an enormous amount of machinery off a jetty and into the sea. This included:
- Trucks, jeeps, and bulldozers
- Cranes and tractors
- Forklifts and generators
- Steel girders, fuel drums, and ammunition crates
Inside, remnants of World War II remain remarkably intact. Discover military vehicles such as Willys Jeeps and GMC trucks, stacks of ammunition, medical supplies, and even personal belongings of soldiers and crew.
An Unforgettable Dive Experience
Unlike most wreck sites, which are usually a single ship, Million Dollar Point is an entire underwater scrapyard of wartime equipment. The mix of vehicles, steel structures, and sunken artifacts makes for an incredible exploration experience. Million Dollar Point is a shore-accessible dive. The wreckage starts at just 15 meters (49 feet) and extends to about 30 meters (98 feet), making it suitable for recreational divers.
Explore More Sites
WWII Ship Wrecks
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WWII Plane Wrecks
We are lucky to have a variety of WWII plane wrecks
- Consolidated PBY Catalina Flying Boat
- Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber
- Grumman F4F WildCat
- Vought F4U Corsair
- Grumman J2F Duck
Coastal Trading Ship Wrecks
We have 3 local Coastal Trading ships to dive
- MV Tui Tawaite
- MV Henry Bonneaud
- MV Dedele