Sharks have been known to attack swimmers on Champagne Beach, and there are some dangerous currents so be sure to ask the locals before jumping in.

Vanuatu is, on the whole, a safe and friendly environment. You are unlikely to encounter any trouble unless you do something extremely provocative.

In rural Vanuatu, men and women do not socialize freely together, and gender relations are extremely old-fashioned. Whilst the status of women is improving, and female visitors are often treated with respect not accorded to local women, there are still a few men who know no better way of getting to know women than sexually assaulting them at random. Rates of sexual violence are high in Vanuatu, like elsewhere in Melanesia, and although local women are the main victims, female visitors occasionally find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Women should therefore never wander alone.

There are no seriously poisonous snakes, spiders, or insects on Vanuatu. However, there are various poisonous aquatic animals that you should beware of if you are swimming, snorkeling, or diving in the area. The most dangerous of these is the stonefish.

The large centipedes found in urban areas are not deadly but their bite is painful enough to ruin your holiday. Beware too of the tiny red 'fire ant', an imported pest now spreading through some areas.