Nautilus Scuba
Nautilus Scuba
4.5
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Nautilus Watersports is the best known dive operator in Port Vila and has established itself as one of the most professional scuba diving centres in the South Pacific with over 30 years in operation.Facilities include a large training pool, gear washing and storage areas, equipment hire and servicing facilities for all your scuba diving needs. We dive from a very comfortable purpose built dive boat "COWRIE" We go out of our way to make sure you have the best possible experience right from when we pick you up from your resort. Nautilus Watersports specialises in all facets of scuba diving from introductory dive tours through to a full PADI course (Open water, Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster). Each dive is different to the last with coral reef drop offs, amazing fish life, a huge cavern, night diving and wrecks. You can even dive a sunken flying boat!Why not join us and "Dive in Paradise"
Port Vila, Vanuatu
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SamK
Melbourne, Australia125 contributions
Nov 2019
After checking out the 3 main dive companies we opted for Nautilus. There's not much difference from the outside but when we visited the (foreign) dive masters/instructors were friendly and informative. Plus we had a 10% discount voucher.
I booked in for a double morning dive to Cathedral and Konanda Wreck, and my friend tagged along for snorkelling - this wasn't actually an ideal arrangement.
On arrival I felt rushed to sign the waivers etc. There was no pick up so we made our own way there for 7:30am. I didn't have a chance to check the gear. It was a short boat ride with 3 cert divers, 2 discover divers, an advanced PADI student, and my snorkelling friend, plus 2 instructors, a dive master and a boat driver. The boat was tiny so it was pretty cramped.
The instructor gave a good briefing, but I found the dive master (who guided us) a bit unprofessional and unprepared.
My friend's snorkelling was pretty average I think as it's really a dive trip.
During the surface interval we were just given a piece of cake (which was moist and yummy), fruit and water, but I am used to proper food on a dive trip - especially one that costs the best part of $200AUD. So this was disappointing and inadequate. I was starving after two dives!
I really enjoyed the Konanda Wreck but didn't have enough time exploring at all, and the reef on the drift back to the boat was nice. Just fish and some coral though - no large sea life sadly.
When we got back to pay, I told the owner I had a voucher (which I also disclosed when I booked the day before with the staff) and was met with definite attitude and felt really uncomfortable. It was 10% off but I got stung with 5% credit card surcharge. In general I didn't find Leanne very friendly at all - barely showed us professional courtesy let alone a warm welcome. But Marco and Riley were really lovely and professional and helpful.
It was a nice day, but at $180 for 2 hours I am not sure it's value for money. However, all the companies charge the same. Just be aware if you're going to use their discount voucher you'll get treated like you're low class.
I booked in for a double morning dive to Cathedral and Konanda Wreck, and my friend tagged along for snorkelling - this wasn't actually an ideal arrangement.
On arrival I felt rushed to sign the waivers etc. There was no pick up so we made our own way there for 7:30am. I didn't have a chance to check the gear. It was a short boat ride with 3 cert divers, 2 discover divers, an advanced PADI student, and my snorkelling friend, plus 2 instructors, a dive master and a boat driver. The boat was tiny so it was pretty cramped.
The instructor gave a good briefing, but I found the dive master (who guided us) a bit unprofessional and unprepared.
My friend's snorkelling was pretty average I think as it's really a dive trip.
During the surface interval we were just given a piece of cake (which was moist and yummy), fruit and water, but I am used to proper food on a dive trip - especially one that costs the best part of $200AUD. So this was disappointing and inadequate. I was starving after two dives!
I really enjoyed the Konanda Wreck but didn't have enough time exploring at all, and the reef on the drift back to the boat was nice. Just fish and some coral though - no large sea life sadly.
When we got back to pay, I told the owner I had a voucher (which I also disclosed when I booked the day before with the staff) and was met with definite attitude and felt really uncomfortable. It was 10% off but I got stung with 5% credit card surcharge. In general I didn't find Leanne very friendly at all - barely showed us professional courtesy let alone a warm welcome. But Marco and Riley were really lovely and professional and helpful.
It was a nice day, but at $180 for 2 hours I am not sure it's value for money. However, all the companies charge the same. Just be aware if you're going to use their discount voucher you'll get treated like you're low class.
Written 22 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Sam,
We appreciate your feedback.
We do offer transfers for guest that are staying in town, as you were staying out at Secret Gardens which is a good 25+ minutes out of town this fall out of our free transfer zone. This was explained to you at the time of you making the booking.
At the time of the booking the staff would have also given you our dive site/price list, showing the cost of a double dive including gear hire, 15,000vt or approx AUD$200.00 depending on the exchange rate on the day, we also mention that if you are paying with credit card that there is a 5% surcharge, this then gives the customer a chance get cash out if this is how they are wishing to pay.
More than happy to receive the 10% discount voucher, we have been receiving them for many years.
When making your booking the staff would have mention to you that the dive sites that were schedule were really not suited for snorkeling, Nautilus is a dive operation and the sites that we go to are for divers, but in saying that we do have some great dives sites that are perfect for snorkeling. We were unable to change these sites to suit the snorkeler as the dive sites had been pre-book months ago but other divers.
We ask out guest to be at Nautilus by 7.30am as this allows plenty of time for divers and snorkelers to complete the necessary paperwork as the boat does not depart until 8am and returns between 11.30 to 12pm, total tour time being 3 ½ to 4hrs.
The travel time to the Cathedral (1st dive site) is approx 20 minutes, which allows the diver to check their gear and prior to entering the water should carry out a buddy check.
Sorry to hear that you found the DM that guided you to be unprofessional, this DM has been with us for many years, our repeat customers will request him to guide them when they come back.
Morning teas are provided which is homemade cake and fresh fruit that is in season, there is always plenty of morning tea on board, a couple of peace’s of cake per diver and plenty of fruit, tea, coffee & plenty of fresh cold water.
Written 13 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ettrick22
Auckland, New Zealand51 contributions
Nov 2019 • Couples
Thanks Marco Jimmy and the team
Had a well organised trip to Kanundra and twin Bommies. Saw a large turtle and lots of nudibrancs thanks to Jimmies sharp eyes
Highly recommend
Had a well organised trip to Kanundra and twin Bommies. Saw a large turtle and lots of nudibrancs thanks to Jimmies sharp eyes
Highly recommend
Written 13 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brightsidejon
Palmerston North, New Zealand55 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
Ive never come across a dive shop team spirit quite like Nautilus. Everyone from pick up to drop off seemed to love their job and knew how to put the divers at ease with good humour and enthusiasm.
We enjoyed 2 fantastic dives at Mele and Big Dipper exploring pristine coral. The big thrill creatures like rays, turtles and sharks ( and even snakes) were all sadly absent except for some baby white tips at the end of the second dive. Even so, these dives were memorable for the coral and the company. Highly recommended.
We enjoyed 2 fantastic dives at Mele and Big Dipper exploring pristine coral. The big thrill creatures like rays, turtles and sharks ( and even snakes) were all sadly absent except for some baby white tips at the end of the second dive. Even so, these dives were memorable for the coral and the company. Highly recommended.
Written 8 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amélie Turcotte
Marahau, New Zealand1 contribution
Aug 2019
Thank you Nautilus team for such a great time diving in Vanuatu!! Had a blast with everyone, very professional and knowledgeable staffs. The sites where absolutely amazing! Loads of fish and corals. Enjoyed every dives and mostly the cake every time !! ;0) Great service !! Thanks again to Leanne, Chris, Fran, Marco, Jim, Freddy, Corey and the woman who makes the cake (they are so delicious) !! Couldn't have ask better way to spend my birthday week anywhere else!! What a treat !
Written 22 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle L
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia74 contributions
Aug 2019
Just spent a week diving with Nautilus including my AOW. Chris and Fran were great guides and took us to some fantastic dive sites. Our favourite was the Cathedral. A big thanks to Chris for helping me with my AOW. A big high to Freddie who made us laugh and made our trips extra special. We will definitely be back.
Written 26 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kay H
28 contributions
Aug 2019
My husband and I are experienced divers from New Zealand who did three double morning dives. We had a great time. Experienced dive guides and humorous boat skipper. Great service all round including pickup from our accommodation and cake for morning tea between dives.
Mele reef dives were the best coral we had ever seen and heaps of small reef fish. Good wreck dive and drift dives too.
Mele reef dives were the best coral we had ever seen and heaps of small reef fish. Good wreck dive and drift dives too.
Written 20 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMThorn
Sydney, Australia95 contributions
Aug 2019
I cannot rate this operation highly enough. I am a certified diver but I got my certification 30 years ago and have no real proof so they would only allow me to do an introductory dive which is fair enough. As my friend is a certified diver, they took us somewhere where we could start and finish together which was great. Chris, my instructor was attentive, reassuring and absolutely great. He was great at pointing out interesting things and we stayed down for over 40 minutes. Freddy, the boat driver, was a great source of laughter and fun and, Jim, the dive master who took my friend, was also very good. Leanne, who runs the place, is very professional and helpful and it is a very slick operation. The dives were both very enjoyable. I would DEFINITELY dive with them again.
Written 5 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lawrenceroache
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
Apr 2019 • Solo
Nautilus Scuba Dive Vanuatu provided me with great Customer Service and the opportunity to dive some pretty cool and colourful reefs... ...Fran was an excellent underwater guide and host on the dive boat !!!
Thanks again to all...See you all again soon....Regards Lawrence of Brisbane
Thanks again to all...See you all again soon....Regards Lawrence of Brisbane
Written 31 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nomadic90
London, UK27 contributions
Jul 2019 • Couples
My husband and I had an amazing time learning to dive with Nautilus. Our instructor, Fran, was a great teacher and so patient with us. Leanne and Pete were lovely and everyone else we bumped into were friendly and welcoming. It put us nervous newbies at ease.
We started learning in their own pool before moving onto the open water dives. We loved the reefs that we went to as part of our instruction. We saw so much and wanted to see more, so we booked in for extra dives!!
A slice of cake and a cup of tea on the boat in between dives was a nice (and warming) touch too.
We felt totally safe and looked after the entire time. I'd highly recommend these guys, especially to anyone looking to learn to scuba dive!
We started learning in their own pool before moving onto the open water dives. We loved the reefs that we went to as part of our instruction. We saw so much and wanted to see more, so we booked in for extra dives!!
A slice of cake and a cup of tea on the boat in between dives was a nice (and warming) touch too.
We felt totally safe and looked after the entire time. I'd highly recommend these guys, especially to anyone looking to learn to scuba dive!
Written 25 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
holidaysplus
Adelaide, Australia186 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
Have visited Vanuatu on a number of occassions. Myself, partner and friends have always dived with Nautilus, we have always found the staff to be very professional and plan the dives to the level of the divers. We have always had the requests for specific dive sites filled, we all have our favorites whether that is reef or wrecks. The surface interval is always a pleasure with hot tea, coffee, fresh season fruit and the best chocolate cake around. With no or very little current, warm water, excellent vis and dive sites, we have found that each dive is different irrespective of how many times we have dived a particular site. If learning to dive this is the place to do it, they have their own pool to do the lessons and easy non threatening dive sites to do the skills and get a bit of experience.
Written 20 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl S
Brisbane, Australia147 contributions
do you take snorkellers as well as my husband cannot dive. We will be arriving on a cruise ship holland america 29/12
Leanne Phillipps
Port Vila25 contributions
Yes we do
vbouarat
Noumea, New Caledonia
Bonjour, vous faite des baptêmes de plongée? si oui combien, svp
masierowe
2 contributions
Hi, We have never done scuba diving before.. is there someone with us when we do this = and will someone 'instruct' us first?
: )
TracyTas
Sydney, Australia87 contributions
You do a lesson in the pool first & you won't head off into the ocean until both you & the instructor feel confident. Enjoy!
Joanne G
Bremerton, WA174 contributions
We are cruising to our island in early February and want to go diving. But we are both Master Divers and don't want to get stuck in a tour with a bunch of newbies. Do you offer smaller excursions with pick up and drop off to the cruise liner where we do t have to sit through a bunch of introductory stuff we will have all our own equipment except tanks and weights.
Leanne Phillipps
Port Vila25 contributions
We can most certainly help you out with our diving needs.
All of our divers are fully guide lead by our Instructors & Dive masters that will take you to the best diving spots Port Vila has to offer.
Our specialties are: Wrecks & Reefs, Courses from Introductory To Dive Master, Discount Diving Packages, Diving & Accommodation Packages and Day Trips to exotic locations.
Vanuatu has a reputation for superb visibility, warm waters, prolific fish and coral life on the reefs and some of the most accessible wrecks anywhere. Spend time either by the single dive or dive packages exploring the reefs and wrecks of Efate or Mele Bay on Scuba Blue our high speed diving vessel.
Dive Gear:
Either bring your own dive gear (Tanks and weight belts are all included in dives purchased) and have the ability to wash it at the end of the diving day in our wash tanks and then hang it in our secure, guests gear lockup or hire our gear which is all in superb as new condition (Most of it is new) on a per dive basis.
Our regular schedule for cruise boat customers is a double boat dive in the morning with a departure of approx 9.00am with a return of approx 12.30/1pm and an afternoon dive with a departure of 1.30am being a single dive, returning approx 3.30/4pm return.
I am afraid that we are unable to offer transfers from the wharf, there are a couple of ways to get to us you can either catch a bus or water taxi the cost for this series is approx AUD$5.00 per person.
If you are wanting to book with us please check out our web page for our email address.
Cheers
Leanne
Joanne G
Bremerton, WA174 contributions
We are cruising to our island in early February and want to go diving. But we are both Master Divers and don't want to get stuck in a tour with a bunch of newbies. Do you offer smaller excursions with pick up and drop off to the cruise liner where we do t have to sit through a bunch of introductory stuff we will have all our own equipment except tanks and weights.
SherPaul
Naseby, New Zealand88 contributions
Nautilus is on the main road into tiwn not far from the cruise ships. They do pick ups and I had people with of all levels of diving on my trip. The reef was amazing the people with their higher certs dived not far from us and boat in the morning and then joined us for the second dive in a different spot.
April F
Brisbane Region, Australia
Hi, I am just wondering if you have to have a dive licence or any previous diving experience?
My husband and i would like to give it a go and will be in Villa on a day stop off a P&O cruise in march 2017.
also do you do pick up and drop off transfers?
Regards
Leanne Phillipps
Port Vila25 contributions
Hi April,
You do not have to have a dive license to go for a dive, for a non-certified diver we can offer you what is called an Intro Dive (Discover Scuba).
We are the dive operation that is pre-sold to all cruise boats that come to port, we offer a 10.15am tour and also a 1.15pm tours, these can be booked direct with the boat either prior to boarding or once on board.
The cost of the tour also includes your transfers from the wharf to our office.
If you have any further questions please feel free to email us via email, which you will find on our website.
Cheers
Leanne