Vanuatu is a chain of 83 islands lying in the Pacific about 2000km Northeast of Brisbane, Australia. Vanuatu is serviced by Air Vanuatu. The main international gateway to this area is Australia. Direct air services are available from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Connections are also available from New Zealand and Fiji. The islands range from towering volcanic cones to coral atolls with white sandy beaches and aquamarine lagoons. Until 1980, the country was administered as a "Condominium" by the British and the French and known as the New Hebrides. Today there is a unique blend of cultures with small communities of these nationalities together with the Chinese, Vietnamese, and the indigenous Melanesians. The two main areas of interest for divers are the islands of Efate and Espiritu Santo. The country's capitol is Port Vila, which is located on the island of Efate. Development is low key with a variety of low-rise hotels and resorts. About an hour's flight from Port Vila is the more remote destination of Espiritu Santo. Luganville is the capitol and the port for Santo and is the gateway to spectacular diving.