The F4U Corsair is an airplane wreck located off the east coast of Espiritu Santo. The wreck lies on a sand and coral rubble seabed at a depth of 100 feet (30.5 meters), just 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers) from the end of the old wartime runway located at Turtle Bay.
Espiritu Santo, VANUATU
GPS: 15°22.894’S, 167°11.990’E
The F4U Corsair sits on a sand and coral rubble seabed at a depth of 100 feet (30.5 meters), just 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers) from the end of the old wartime runway located at Turtle Bay on the eastern side of Espiritu Santo. Corsairs were powerful fighter planes that played an important role in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This particular Corsair apparently crashed due to mechanical problems shortly after take off. It remains in remarkable shape. Although the tail has separated from the rest of the fuselage, it remains upright and recognizable, along with the telltale inverted gull-wing design and the open cockpit. The plane points slightly downslope, and it supports a variety of corals and small marine creatures, making it attractive as a dive for macro photographers.
