I have just arrived back from 8 days diving on the SS President Coolidge in Santo on the 26th Nov.
This was my second trip in 3 years but this time I flew direct into Santo from Brisbane. 3 years ago I stay for a few days on hideaway island before I flew to Santo.
The two main shops in Santo are:
http://www.aquamarinesanto.com/
Allan Power Dive Tours, Vanuatu
Diving the SS president Coolidge is an awesome experience and I would recommend to anyone. Especially for us that live in nearby countries. Santo was only 2 1/2-3 hours flight away from Brisbane. Doing easy deep dives on a wreck which is 198m long (2 football fleids) down to a depth of 70m to those that are experienced enough. I personal recommend the night dive, which your looking for Flashlight Fish and your doing this without a dive light at 30m is an experience you will never forget.
For the non diver or for the days before you flyout there are few things to do (
http://www.aquamarinesanto.com/tours.html)
We were planned to do the half day trek to the Millenium Caves but were rained out. We did a short trip to one of the fresh water blue pools that dot the island. Horse riding was also done by some of my group (7000vt cost). They loved the ride and it covered some beauitful parts of the island. 3 years ago I did a whole day trip around some of the island and ended up at the champane beaches for lunch. Its a very pretty location.
If your booked in for a week in Santo which is the minium amount of time to spend diving the SS President Coolidge as its just that interesting, the non- diver will probably get a little bored. Thats unless they like to chill out and snorkel and do very little as possible. If they are a shopper......forget it wood carvings and bits of junk off the wreck (old coke bottles, anti-aircraft brass caseings).
The township of Luganville (locals call it Santo) will take a morning to walk around and it doesnt really have anything of interest.
From memory, when I was in Port Vila there were much more options for the non-diver to do. I did stay at Hideaway Island (
Hideaway Island Resort & Marine Sanctuary - Vanuatu - The diving resort) which at the time had nice reef very close to the island and small boat rides away to some better reef. The reef quality isnt like GBR as the island itself is located in a bay more than into the open ocean.
The is a few duty free shops in Vila, which is basically selling the same things. There is also a French bakery in the main street which has great coffee and cake and I highly recommend it for a stop.
The active Volcano is located on the island of Tanna (
Vanuatu Tourism Office - Tanna Island Vanuatu)
which is a short flight away by light aircraft or helicopter and does cost a bit to get to. The vine bungee jumping is on the remote island of Pentecost (
Vanuatu Tourism Office - Pentecost And Maewo Islands Vanuatu ) and is also expensive to get to.
I posted some of my Santo photos in my profile if you want to have a look.
Any questions pm me
Aussie