Allan Power and the SS President Coolidge: A Story That Put Espiritu Santo on the Map

Commonly known as “Mr. President” (a reference to his deep connection with the SS President Coolidge), Allan Power is a name that is impossible to ignore on Espiritu Santo. Especially for dive operators and anyone connected to the wreck diving community, his legacy is still very much present underwater.

But who was Allan Power—and why was his so important for tourism in Espiritu Santo?

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Allan Power’s Early Days

Born in Sydney, Australia in 1933, Allan Power began his professional life as a pastry chef. He later spent around 15 years working in a foam rubber factory before his life took a very different direction.

During holidays on Heron Island in the 1960s, he fell in love with the underwater world of the Great Barrier Reef.

A turning point came in 1956 when he purchased an underwater camera. This decision would ultimately shape his entire life story. His underwater photography went on to earn him the coveted Levanto Prize, and later led to the publication of his book The Great Barrier Reef in 1977.

But this was only the beginning. His growing reputation in underwater photography would soon get him invited on a salvage mission to an island called Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides.

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How Allan Power came to Espiritu Santo?

In 1969 the Coolidge was just another WWII wreck lying out in the pacific, ripe for salvage. Particularly her four ton brass propellers which were worth a lot in scrap metal value alone.

So when Barry May from the salvage ship pacific seal invited Allan to join him to photograph the process he said ‘yeah, why not’.

“They had a salvage vessel and were heading up to the New Hebrides to take the propellers off a ship called the Coolidge. And they asked me if I wanted to join them, and I said, yeah, why not. So, I came, just to have a look. Forty-eight years, and I’m still looking. Haven’t decided yet whether I like it.”

At one stage, there was even discussion of refloating the entire vessel for scrap. Fortunately for divers—and for Vanuatu—that never happened. Salvage operations did continue into 1970, including the removal of fuel oil from the wreck.

“They put you down with a twinset of tanks on, and you’d have a spare twinset sitting beside you on the pier, and if you hadn’t finished the job, well then you brought down another twinset. Stayed until you finished the job. I did over 600 dives completing one job, removing oil from the tanks. It was great. Oh, I got used to peace, and unlimited time underneath the water.”

You can read more about the Salvage work in our Dive Plan for the Starboard Side & Salvagers Cuts.

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Early Dive Operations in Espiritu Santo

*DISCLAIMER: This reference is historical and relates to the origins of the operation, not its current management activities.

Following what locals referred to as the “Coconut Rebellion,” Allan established one of the first dedicated dive operations in Espiritu Santo 1981, sharing his knowledge and passion for the SS President Coolidge with visiting divers.

In the early days, operations were very basic—Allan even filled scuba tanks from his garage. Divers were famously welcomed into his home for coffee and a bun, where he would entertain them with stories of the Coolidge while showing his growing collection of recovered memorabilia.

It didn’t take long for his reputation to spread, with more than 45 group bookings in a single year. As diving tourism increased, so did the need for accommodation, leading to a long-standing partnership with Hotel Santo, located just opposite his home in Luganville.

Eventually, other operators followed, and the Coolidge became a world-renowned dive site. However, it is widely recognised that Allan Power was instrumental in initiating dive tourism on Espiritu Santo.

That legacy earned him two enduring titles: “Uncle” from the local community, and “Mr. President” from his guests.

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Caretaker of the Coolidge

As the unofficial caretaker of the SS President Coolidge, Allan Power is believed to have completed over 15,000 dives on the wreck, accumulating an extraordinary total bottom time equivalent to more than a year and a half underwater.

He was known as a caring but strict —reportedly intolerant of lateness and once even driving off without divers who were still running to the van.

In the 1980s, when cruise ships would dock in town and locals sold WWII artifacts to tourists, Allan was already outspoken about preserving the wrecks. On one occasion, he grabbed the ear of a boy collecting and selling items and said, “Boy, if you continue to pick up stuff and sell them, there will be no reason for tourists to come and see them here.”

Despite this, he was deeply respected for his unmatched knowledge of marine life. Many divers described him as having an “encyclopaedic memory of fish species.”

One of his most famous relationships was with a giant grouper he named Boris, which he encountered over a 20-year period.

“He was about 8-foot long. Boris was special. But I never ever got a photo of him. That would have been a beautiful photo. You know? He’s my friend, I hope.”

In November 2011, Allan Power was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions to diving and his work on the SS President Coolidge.

During his acceptance speech, he said:

“They say happiness is doing something you love with people you like and with people you love. I am a happy man tonight.”

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Allan Power Death & Legacy

In his later years, Allan suffered from heart problems. Despite medical advice encouraging him to return to Australia, he remained on Espiritu Santo until his passing in 2018 at the age of 85.

At the time of his death, his home contained an extensive collection of artefacts recovered from the wreck. These items were later donated to the South Pacific WWII Museum, where they remain on public display.

With no children, Allan’s business ceased operations and his estate was inherited by his sister. After Allan’s passing, the business associated with his operation changed ownership and continues today under separate management using his name.

*DISCLAIMER: This article is an independent historical account and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any current business operating under the Allan Power name.

Allan Power is buried in Luganville Cemetery, where his grave is marked with a scuba tank. A memorial plaque was also placed on the bow of the SS President Coolidge in his honour.

Today, divers can still see this memorial during dives along the starboard side of the wreck. A sad but important SS President Coolidge highlight and tribute to her dive history.