In the last 18 months, I have dived the SS President Coolidge three times. In just that time, I have noticed significant deterioration in the condition of the wreck. On this latest occasion, I swam through an area of the wreck that I was familiar with, only to discover big cracks in the structure and things not quite where they used to be!
The Coolidge, once a luxury ocean liner before being commissioned into the United States' war time efforts in the Pacific during World War II, sank in 1942 just offshore from Luganville, the capital of Vanuatu's second biggest island Esperitu Santo (or just Santo). The wreck is a mecca for wreck and deep divers from around the world; it is so popular that it is not unusual for all available accommodation in Luganville to be booked out during peak periods.
The moments around the sinking of the Coolidge are awe-inspiring. Carrying 5,340 troops and crew, only 2 people were unaccounted for at the end of the rescue effort . The others simply walked off the ship to safety. Photos taken of those moments show the heroism of both the skipper, Captain Henry Nelson, and an army captain, James Euart, one of the deceased, as well as the incredible rescue effort.
Resting in 20m of water at its shallowest point and 70m at its deepest, the wreck is an awe-inspiring site. Even after this many years, it is still largely unexplored, with new things being found regularly. However, the most popularly visited parts of the wreck are the Lady, the swimming pool (which surprisingly enough has water in it still!) and the promenade deck and easily within the reach of even the most inexperienced diver under the watchful eyes of the local dive guides from Allan Power's dive shop.
The deterioration of the wreck and its inevitable demise at the hands of the ocean, combined with its very impressive history and its list of wonders, mean every diver should visit the President Coolidge - all before it is too late. Contact the team at Dive 2000 who can organise trips to the President Coolidge for you.
