Turtle Bay Lodge

Dive resort · Vanuatu · Espiritu Santo · Official Website

Booking by Tour Leader Club

4 room types · 15 dive sites · house reef

Turtle Bay Lodge sits on the point between Peterson Bay and Turtle Bay on the east coast of Espiritu Santo, looking across at Oyster Island. The resort owns 250 metres of waterfront and all fourteen rooms stand at the water’s edge facing the ocean.

Recent years brought a new reception, new bathrooms, a handicraft shop, extended pool decks and fully refurbished family rooms with 32-square-metre verandahs.

The on-site dive centre Dive@TurtleBayLodge is the first PADI Diving Resort on the east coast of Espiritu Santo. Two PADI Staff Instructors with more than twenty years of experience each run the dives, and groups stay small. Fifteen-plus dive sites lie within a short boat ride, among them a WWII US Corsair fighter at 31 metres — Turtle Bay was an air force base at the time.

The Salty Dog restaurant is built out over the water and serves local seafood, Santo beef, organic produce from nearby gardens and daily specials. Kayaks and paddleboards leave from the jetty, and the Matevulu and Nanda blue holes, the Riri River, Champagne Beach and the village of Port Olry are all close by.

No markup

You pay exactly the rate the resort publishes. On top of that, only the actual bank costs of currency conversion and the international transfer — no commission of ours.

We run the deal

Correspondence with the resort, holding the room, the contract, booking confirmation and all paperwork are on our side. There is nothing for you to arrange yourself.

Card payment

We accept payment by card through Stripe and issue an invoice. The transfer to the resort is our job — you do not have to find a way to pay abroad.

Support all the way

We help you choose the room and dates, work out the dive package, answer questions about flights and gear, and stay in touch until you are home.

The exact amount is confirmed when we hold your booking: it includes the resort's rate at the day's exchange rate plus the actual transfer costs. No hidden fees.

About the resort

Country

Vanuatu

Location

Espiritu Santo

Nearest airport

Pekoa Airport (SON), Luganville — a 20-minute drive

Transfer

Airport pick-up from Pekoa on request

House reef

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Dive sites

Dive centre

Dive@TurtleBayLodge on site — the first PADI Diving Resort on the east coast of Espiritu Santo.

Two PADI Staff Instructors with over 20 years of experience each, small groups, the dive boat Big Fella John with twin 150 hp outboards and the barge Wee John for snorkelling.

Rooms

Internet

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Languages

[English]

At the resort

Pool and children's pool

Restaurant and bar over the water

PADI dive centre on site

Kayaks and paddleboards

Handicraft shop

Massage

Quad bike and buggy hire

Jetty and yacht anchorage

Diving

More than 15 dive sites within a short boat ride

A WWII Corsair fighter at 31 metres — a 10-minute ride

Saddle, Canyons, Outside Island, Rainbow Reef, North Unicorn and White Rock

Visibility 20–40 metres, water temperature 24–30 °C

Dives include tanks, weights, guides, refreshments and towels

PADI courses — Discover Scuba, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, specialties, Divemaster

Snorkelling from the barge Wee John

The resort does not run the SS President Coolidge itself — those dives are arranged with Luganville operators and the lodge helps with the booking. The bow lies at 21 metres and the stern at 73.

Food

The Salty Dog bar and restaurant over the water

Local seafood, Santo beef and organic produce from nearby gardens

Daily specials, changing menu

Continental breakfast included with every room category

The restaurant is open to non-residents by booking

A single bill is settled on departure.

Things to do

Kayaks and paddleboards free for in-house guests within the bay

A 50-minute paddle to the Matevulu Blue Hole

Float trip down the Riri River

Nanda (Jackie's) Blue Hole 6 km to the north

Quad bikes and two- and four-seater road buggies for hire

Champagne Beach, the village of Port Olry, Millenium Cave, Mount Hope

Fishing, banana boat and donut rides

Pool with a children's pool, massages, a day in the village

Rooms

Room

View: Ocean

Beds: Queen size bed and a single bed

A room with views of the Pacific from your own verandah. En suite bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities, ceiling fans and a bar fridge. Continental breakfast included.

Private verandah facing the ocean En suite bathroom Ceiling fans Bar fridge Tea and coffee making facilities Breakfast included

Family room

View: Ocean

Beds: Queen size bed and a set of bunk beds in two separate rooms

A completely renovated family room — two separate rooms, a new bathroom and french doors opening onto a 32-square-metre verandah overlooking the ocean. The water is 20 metres away, facing the snorkelling area of the reef. Ceiling fans, a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. Continental breakfast included.

32 m² verandah overlooking the ocean Two separate rooms Ocean 20 metres from the verandah En suite bathroom Ceiling fans Bar fridge Breakfast included

Family room

View: Pool and ocean

Beds: Queen size bed, bunk beds and a day bed across two rooms

A recently renovated family room beside the pool with views onto the water. Two rooms — one with a queen bed, the other with bunk beds and a day bed; the master bedroom is air-conditioned. Its own large verandah with chairs and sunloungers. Suitable for 2 adults and 3 children, or 3 adults. Continental breakfast included.

Large private verandah with chairs and sunloungers Air conditioning in the master bedroom Two rooms En suite bathroom Bar fridge Tea and coffee making facilities Breakfast included

Waterfront marquee

View: Bay

Beds: Four poster bed

Five marquees at the water's edge, opened in 2020 — adults only. A four poster bed, en suite bathroom, air conditioning, fans, a bar fridge, tea and coffee making facilities and a private deck looking onto the tranquil bay. A private beach in front is reserved for marquee guests.

Adults only Private deck facing the bay Private beach for marquee guests Air conditioning and fans En suite bathroom Bar fridge Tea and coffee making facilities

When to go

Getting there

Solomon Airlines flies direct from Brisbane to Santo on Thursdays, a 2 hour 30 minute flight; a second Saturday flight is added from April 2026.

The alternative is an international flight into Port Vila (Virgin Australia, Qantas, Jetstar, Fiji Airways, Solomon Airlines, Aircalin, Air Calédonie, Air Niugini), then one of two daily flights to Santo at 7:30 and 14:00, around 49 minutes in the air.

Pekoa Airport is a 20-minute drive from the resort and pick-up can be arranged in advance. Yachts should use 15.21.25 S 167.11.30 E; Peterson Bay is considered a safe cyclone anchorage.