Bondi lifeguards have delivered vital life-saving training to local communities in Vanuatu as part of a Carnival Cruise Line program to support South Pacific destinations.
The team, well known for starring on TV show “Bondi Rescue”, spent a week in Vanuatu, visiting Mystery Island, the nearby community of Aneityum, and Port Vila, to teach more than 100 Ni-Vanuatu on how to spot a rip, safely rescue someone in distress, and administer CPR and First Aid.
Bondi lifeguard Bruce “Hoppo” Hopkins is a passionate advocate for improving water safety around the world and founder of the Float to Survive program.
“This program teaches people how to stay calm in a potentially life-threatening situation in the water,” Hopkins said. “They’re taught simple yet vital skills that can save lives. It was fantastic to see how much the participants learned and improved their skills in just a few days.”
Vanuatu has the fourth highest drowning rate in the world, according to the World Health Organisation, and despite being a nation made up of 83 islands, most children are not taught to swim.
These programs are made possible through Carnival Cruise Line’s Pacific Partnerships, a program that is one way the cruise line and guests give back to the destinations they visit.
Carnival also launched a Learn to Swim program for Port Vila children this year, with more than 200 young students taught valuable skills.
“Our guests love Vanuatu, and the warm welcome they receive, so we hope they’ll be delighted to see how this project is improving the wellbeing of the local community,” Carnival Cruise Line vice president external affairs Sandy Olsen said.
In 2026, Carnival Cruise Line ships will make 29 calls to Port Vila, and 45 calls to Mystery Island, taking nearly 150,000 guests to the idyllic South Pacific paradise.
