Tranquility Dive Resort a sustainable dive center
The bungalows are built in an artisanal way with a dead coral rock base. The framework and roofing, as well as the furniture, are made of wood growing on the island and pandanus. A metal mosquito screen represents a rough protection and should not spare you from using another mosquito net above your bed. Such a conception of the habitat, however, provides you with a well-ventilated interior space, which is the most practical solution in the tropics when air-conditioning is not an option.
Each farƩ has a small annex building that houses individual sanitary blocks including a shower and toilets.
Energy is produced both by a thermoelectric generator and a small solar panel system which supply the common central with electricity. Each bungalow is also equipped with a solar panel that supplies an independent electric circuit using LED lights.
Rainwater stored in a tank that supplies water to the kitchen. You can use a water purification tablet for additional safety. An underground catchment system supplies the sanitary blocks and provides water for everyday usage.
The beautiful restaurant room has been designed in traditional style by the inhabitants of Efate. It is open for the three daily meals and for the evening aperitif.
The cook will serve you simple but energetic and balanced meals. The food is served to your table and you will get a good dose of vitamins at breakfast with the baskets of tropical fruit available. All meals are taken in common around a large table where everyone will be able to share their underwater experiences. Tea and coffee are available all day long in Thermos flasks.
The dive centre operates in an autonomous manner. It has its own air fill station and the equipment is in good condition. Training is also available on the spot, as well as video and IT equipment. A dive boat will take you to nearby spots but you also can have quality diving experiences by entering the water on foot from the shore. Dive spots are available all around the island with calm stretches of water.
The two people in charge of the centre, Sarah and Steve, who are Canadian, have a strong experience of diving in different parts of the world. They will welcome and accompany you in the best possible conditions. They will share with you their passion as well as their encounters and experiences on the island. Boats rarely visit the surroundings of this uninhabited island, which are totally deserted at night. The island and resort fully deserve their name. Spending a week here is akin to a total change of scenery. Close to the bungalows a tsunami’s retreat spot is available.
An exceptional biodiversity both on land and in the sea
As soon as you are handed over your bungalow, you will understand what life in a tropical forest means. The wildlife is ever present and you can even see hundreds of hermit crabs roaming around on the sand path. The surrounding forest is filled with animals and birds and bursts with activity day and night. The stretch of water facing your bungalow is often visited by a multitude of fish. It is to be noted that there is no dangerous animal on Tranquility Island.
Some 200 to 300 spinner dolphins regularly come to rest at a spot facing the beach, a few hundred metres from the shore. You have a good chance of meeting some of them during one of your outings at sea. On your diving trips, you will come across new species or will view amazing underwater scenes every day, namely a huge octopus that continues enjoying its meal while looking you in the eye less than a metre away. You will discover many of the 121 bird species in the Vanuatu Archipelago. You will frequently see egrets, herons, but also flying foxes. You will also better understand why a quarter of the living organisms are coleopterous insects. A chance to enjoy life in its noblest sense.
A sea turtle nursery within the resort
Tourists with an ecological bent and divers will enjoy a visit to the sea turtle nursery that has been set up within the resort. Sarah and Steve are totally involved in this adventure whose objective is to improve the chances of survival of Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) born on the small beaches on the other side of the island and reported by IUCN as critically endangered. Statistically, only 3% of them survive due to predator attacks in their early days and later on, to the local trade of turtle shells, the collection of their eggs and finally, the local tradition of fishing in spite of repeated recommendations by official bodies and associations. Newly born turtles have been considerably threatened in the past decades and they are collected at hatching to be raised in the nursery tanks during approximately a year. When their size reaches some 30 cm, the turtles are ringed and released. This somewhat improves the chances of survival of the juveniles. Any visitor or guest staying at the resort can sponsor a mature turtle to help in financing the operation and the observation of the speciesā migratory routes. A person is in charge of the monitoring and maintenance of the place on a full-time basis. The water in the tanks of the 150 specimens is changed every day for sanitary reasons.
We seize this opportunity to remind you that it is imperative to refrain from purchasing anything made with turtle shells or eating their meat or eggs. Visitors should also avoid littering plastic bags on the beach or in the water as the turtles are fond of jellyfish and can be lured by these bags.
Hawksbill turtles like to roam in the deep seas and live close to the reef. They are omnivorous, eating both living organisms and plants. They can feed on sponges, which may sometimes be toxic, without being affected. Adult sea turtles reach up to 1 metre and can live up to 40ā50 years.
The āCoongoolaā, a former Sydney-Hobart race yacht, supports the snorkelling activity
During your stay at the Dive Resort, a provider with the same management as the resort will give you the opportunity to enjoy a sailing and snorkelling outing. A sailing boat leaves the coast of Efate every morning and first stops at the Tranquility Dive Resort for a visit to the nursery. You then get back on board and sail to the other side of the island. Your next stop will be close to the reef sea wall, where you will indulge in diving without an aqualung or simply snorkelling along the coral barrier. Afterwards, you will land in a white sand inlet lapped by turquoise waters, where a scrumptious buffet will be served. You will be offered with the opportunity to get back to the reef for another snorkelling session before sailing your way back. The Coongoola is a 40-metre wooden sailing boat from Australia which served as a pilot boat in the Sydney-Hobart race. Useless to say that this slow-moving and robust boat will provide you with maximum comfort at sea. This boat was designed to accommodate tens of passengers aboard without them feeling cramped. An unlimited service including tropical fruit plates, drinks and coffee, is available on board.
A dive outing to Hat Island, a World Heritage and Vanuatuās premier cultural site
Retoka, a UNESCO World Heritage site, more commonly known as Hat Island, is easily identifiable from afar due to its shape. It is located about an hour away from Tranquility Island by boat. This island is the geological remains of a former volcano. If the weather is good, you may be offered to spend a day there enjoying the pleasures of diving. Hat Island is actually a historical-cultural site included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The founder and owner of the Tranquility Dive Resort is in good terms with the customary authorities and hence benefits from the privilege of being able to approach this gem of Melanesian culture that is usually closed to the public. The island is in fact the burial place of the famous King Mata. According to a very ancient legend in the oral tradition, he lived at the heart of the Vanuatu archipelago in the 13th century. He unified and asserted his power over several tribes residing on the different islands. After having been poisoned, he was taken back to his native island of Lelepa where he died and was buried on Hat Island. As it was often the case at the time, 47 other people in his entourage were made drowsy with kava and killed. Many objects such as pottery, pig teeth, etc. were buried with him.
A French archaeological mission undertook excavations in 1965 and was surprised to unearth remains that tallied in every respect with the legend transmitted orally since hundreds of years. A carbon 14 datation test also confirmed the dates. A convincing argument for all those who claim that legends are truer than history!
You will be able to dive on a volcanic site in the open sea that is little affected by human activity! This guarantees access to an amazing fauna comprising both reef and deep-sea fish owing to the presence of steep sea walls. There is exceptional visibility, often as far as 50 metres away.
Various complementary activities are available from the Dive Resort
A narrow path crosses the island, leading to a white-sand beach where you will be able to enjoy snorkelling in optimal conditions. Some visitors have had the chance to encounter and swim with dolphins. It is best advised to spend the whole day there as the trip to the site and back takes some three hours. Donāt forget to bring along something to drink! A guide can also accompany you if you have doubts about being able to cross the forest.
Kayaking can be easily undertaken departing from the resort. You can consider doing a round the island trip, which is, however, 30 km long. It may not be an easy task without any prior preparation. It is better to plan the trip over two days and spend the night bivouacking in one of the many white sand inlets. You can look for shelter in one of the caves at sea level in case of bad weather.
There is no dangerous animal, the most fearsome ones, as anywhere else, being mosquitoes. Donāt forget your organic sun lotion, which has titanium dioxide as its main ingredient, and you mosquito repellent. You should also bring along some Lycra swimwear with a good UV protection index both for kayaking and snorkelling.
