Carrying more than 5000 troops and supplies destined for the war effort in the South Pacific in 1942, the 650 foot long SS President Coolidge struck a friendly mine while entering the US Naval base of Luganville in the New Hebrides islands and sank in only 90 minutes. Miraculously, only two soles were lost in this tragic accident.
Prior to the war, the Coolidge was a state of the art passenger liner that cruised the Pacific rim and Asia in the lap of luxury. Today, divers from all over the world come to the island nation, known today as Vanuatu, to dive upon this remnant of war and of a time when opulent travel on the oceans was at its peak.
In 2006, Mike spent four months filming this legendary shipwreck and released his first documentary film titled, "The Wreck of the SS President Coolidge". In this film follow the history of the Coolidge from her days as a passenger ship until her untimely demise in October 1942. The extensive underwater scenes Mike presents will bring you up close and personal to what it is like to dive on this epic ship.
Please visit the gallery within this site dedicated to the documentary which contains video highlights of the film and archival stills.
