As one of the largest open areas inside the SS President Coolidge, Cargo Hold 2 is an ideal dive for inexperienced or nervous wreck divers looking to build confidence. Its spacious layout and multiple exit points make it one of the most accessible areas of the wreck.
One of the most common entry points is through the large cargo hatch on Deck A. From here, divers are immediately greeted with an impressive view—multiple decks visible at once, stretching down into the ship. This unique perspective helps with orientation and gives a real sense of the wreck’s scale.
Entering through the cargo hatch on deck A, you’ll arrive on Deck B, an area originally designed to accommodate and service passengers. As a result, this level contains numerous small rooms and compartments, many of which are still partially visible today.
Below, on what is now the port side of the ship, you’ll find what were once key service areas, including the American galley, Chinese galley, print shop, and firemen’s mess.
Today, the remains of these spaces are scattered across the seabed, where divers can still spot plates, jugs, and cutlery—artifacts that have been uncovered and carefully arranged over time.
Moving up from the mess area on Deck B, you’ll enter what was once the dry stores, followed by the crew’s barber shop above. One of the most recognizable features here is the barber’s chair, still firmly bolted to the floor—an enduring reminder of daily life aboard the SS President Coolidge.
At depths of around 28 to 30 meters, this area typically marks the deepest point of the dive for most recreational divers, unless you hold additional certifications allowing deeper exploration.
Above the barber shop are the remains of the doctor’s office and crew hospital. These compartments are small, enclosed, and heavily silted, but by carefully looking inside, divers can still spot fascinating details. Including a medical trolley, a bedpan, a boot, and even a medical tool chest containing bottles and test tubes.
Above you on Deck B were once the living quarters for ordinary seamen, stewards, and tallymen. Toward the bow (to your left), a staircase originally led up to A Deck, while below were the stewards’ washroom and seamen’s mess.
Over time, much of the internal structure has deteriorated, with walls collapsing and opening up what were once confined spaces into a largely indistinguishable environment.
If you look closely, you can even spot the portholes above, a striking reminder of the ship’s original design and orientation within the SS President Coolidge.
Continuing deeper into the wreck, you’ll pass through multiple decks, which can be counted as you descend. A helpful way to maintain orientation is to note that ceilings are lined with beams, while the floors remain relatively smooth.
Many of these lower levels were originally designed as large, open cargo spaces between bulkheads, maximizing storage capacity during the ship’s operational years.
Toward the bow (to the left), Deck C once housed the steward’s mess. Below this, Decks D and E—and possibly even F and G—also connected to Cargo Hold 3, which was divided into two refrigerated compartments on both the port and starboard sides. Over time, however, much of this structure has corroded and is no longer clearly visible.
On Deck E, divers can find three field guns. Two are large, mounted on heavy wheels, while the third is smaller but still impressive in scale.
Further down on Deck F, the remains of several upturned six-wheel trucks can still be seen, offering a glimpse into the ship’s role as a World War II troop and cargo carrier aboard the SS President Coolidge.
During her early years, Cargo Hold 2 aboard the SS President Coolidge carried commercial goods, passenger baggage, and mail.
With the outbreak of World War II, it was repurposed to transport military supplies, including vehicles, machinery, and ammunition. One of the field guns found here is believed to be a 155mm artillery piece, possibly modified in Nouméa before being loaded onto the ship.
After the sinking, American forces cut large openings into the starboard side to salvage cargo. This likely explains why the hold appears more open and less cluttered than others.
Today, these salvage cuts allow natural light into the wreck and provide easy entry and exit points for divers. Open bulkheads and doorways also connect Cargo Hold 2 to other areas, making it accessible during various dive routes and swim-throughs.
Once divers have completed dives to Cargo Holds 1 and 2 in daylight and are comfortable with the site, they can plan a night dive to observe the resident flashlight fish.
These small, dark fish may look ordinary during the day, but they have special organs beneath their eyes containing bioluminescent bacteria. At night, they can switch this light on and off to communicate, attract prey, and evade predators.
While occasionally visible in darker areas during daylight, night dives in Cargo Holds 1 and 2 provide the best opportunity to see these fascinating nocturnal deep-water fish in action.