13 Hauntingly Beautiful Shipwrecks You Can Still Explore Safely

Lisette Marie

November 11, 2025

5. SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

SS President Coolidge, troopship, sinking in Espiritu Santo after hitting mines while the crew abandons ship. Note the debris in the water. Photograph released October 26, 1942. U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @National Museum of the U.S. Navy

Once a luxury liner, then a WWII troopship, the Coolidge hit friendly mines and sank off Espiritu Santo in 1942. This colossal wreck starts in around 20 metres and slopes deeper, offering dives for various skill levels. Its accessible cargo holds contain jeeps, guns, and medical supplies. Famous sights include "The Lady," a porcelain relief figure, and the mosaic-tiled swimming pool. Exploring its vast, dimly lit corridors and witnessing the scale of this historical giant provides a truly haunting experience.

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13 Hauntingly Beautiful Shipwrecks You Can Still Explore Safely

5. SS President Coolidge, Vanuatu

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