Which Abyss Vanuatu dive holiday should I choose?
Abyss currently promotes two distinct group formats in the Moso and Havannah region. The Long Weekend is a land-only, instructor-led introduction to tropical diving; the New Year trip is longer and includes return Sydney flights. Compare the full package and your own readiness before paying a deposit.
| Decision | Long Weekend Dive Escape | New Year Dive Adventure |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 12–16 Nov 2026; 14–18 Jan 2027; 11–15 Mar 2027 | 26 Dec 2026–2 Jan 2027 |
| Time / dives | 4 nights, 7 guided dives over 3 dive days | 7 nights, 10 guided boat dives over 5 planned dive days |
| Advertised price | A$1,995 per diver, twin-share, land-only | A$3,895 per diver, shared room, Sydney flights included |
| Deposit | A$500 per person | A$850 minimum per person |
| What stands out | Abyss instructor travels from Sydney; pre-trip meeting, night dive and included dinners. | Group New Year holiday; shared air-conditioned retreat, daily breakfasts and Nitrox fills for certified divers. |
| Check first | Book international flights only after written confirmation of trip and nominated flights. | Confirm final ticketed flight times, baggage, rooming and Dive Adventures terms. |
Which is better for a newly qualified diver?
The Long Weekend was designed specifically as an instructor-led first overseas trip and begins with two settling-in dives before the night dive. The New Year trip also welcomes suitable Open Water divers and offers more time and dives. Certification alone does not answer the question: recent experience, confidence, desired pace, travel dates and total budget determine the better fit.
Which has more diving?
The New Year holiday advertises ten guided boat dives across five planned dive days; the Long Weekend advertises seven guided dives across Friday to Sunday, with a possible eighth dive at extra cost if available. More dives are useful if you want a longer holiday, but the right number is the one you can enjoy comfortably.
Which is cheaper once flights are considered?
The A$1,995 Long Weekend price excludes international flights; the A$3,895 New Year package includes return Sydney–Port Vila flights. Both have other costs, including insurance and some meals or equipment. Do not compare the two headline figures as complete door-to-door costs. Ask for the current confirmed inclusions and build a total for your own situation.
Can I pick a different date or stay a full week outside New Year?
The advertised current choices are the three Long Weekend departures and the one New Year departure. The old 17–24 September 2026 Full Dive Week is over and has no current departure listed on Abyss’s Vanuatu overview. If those dates do not suit, use the Vanuatu enquiry form and ask what can be arranged; do not rely on an old product page or assume a new week exists.
Can I come from a city other than Sydney?
The Long Weekend package is land-only, but its group support and airport transfer arrangements are built around nominated flights; ask before buying a different routing. The New Year price includes return flights from Sydney. A guest starting elsewhere should ask about any separate connection or modified travel arrangement before paying a deposit; those options and prices are not published as standard inclusions.
I only have one free day in Port Vila; can I book a single Abyss dive?
Abyss Vanuatu says visitors in Port Vila can discuss a private-bus transfer to its dive area or take a public bus after receiving local directions. Tell Abyss your date, certification, last dive and accommodation address. A separately priced one-day dive is not yet published on the Abyss trip pages, so the local team must confirm a dive place, pickup or public-bus instructions, total price, gear and return time before you count on it.
I will be in Vanuatu on a cruise ship; is the group trip suitable?
The advertised Abyss group holidays include four or seven nights ashore and are not cruise-port excursions. Abyss Vanuatu can discuss reaching its Efate dive area from Port Vila by private bus or public bus, but has not confirmed a cruise-day dive product or reliable return timing. Give the local team your ship, port date, all-aboard time, certification and last-dive date; it must confirm an actual dive booking and transfer schedule before you rely on it.
What if I see an older Abyss family or Full Dive Week page?
Check the departure date and ask Abyss for the current offer. The Full Dive Week page still describes 17–24 September 2026, which has finished; a family page indexed a 24–30 September 2026 departure that is already under way on this document’s review date. Neither supplies a future departure in the current two-trip Vanuatu overview. If travelling with children or wanting a full week on other dates, send an enquiry rather than paying against an old listing.
See the current details: View Long Weekend dates and inclusions
See the current details: View New Year dates and inclusions
Compare current Vanuatu trips · Long Weekend Dive Escape · New Year Dive Adventure
Reviewed 25 September 2026. Dates, prices, flights, availability and inclusions may change. Check the current trip page and your written booking confirmation before making plans.