Scuba Diving Shipwrecks: Sunken Secrets

Because Sri Lanka sat on ancient maritime trading routes and was drawn into global conflicts, its coastal waters are littered with fascinating maritime history. For advanced divers, scuba diving shipwrecks in Sri Lanka offers incredible opportunities to explore artificial reefs teeming with life.

The Colombo Graveyard

Surprisingly, some of the best wreck diving is located just off the coast of the capital city, Colombo. The waters are clear during the dry season (Nov-April).

• The Taprobane East Wreck: Covered in beautiful soft corals and home to massive schools of snapper and grouper.
• The Cargo Wreck (Pecheur Breton): A massive 90-meter cargo vessel sitting upright, offering excellent penetration opportunities for certified wreck divers.

HMS Hermes: The Ultimate Dive

For serious technical divers, the holy grail of Sri Lankan diving lies off the east coast near Batticaloa. The HMS Hermes was the world's first purpose-designed aircraft carrier, sunk by Japanese bombers in 1942.

• It rests at a depth of 50+ meters, meaning it is strictly for heavily experienced trimix/technical divers.
• The wreck is massive, mostly intact, and swarming with pelagic life.

Basecamp Logistics

If you are planning a dedicated dive trip to the East Coast to dive the Hermes or the wrecks off Trincomalee, you will likely be carrying extensive (and heavy) scuba gear. Make your transit from the airport painless; hire a private van that can securely transport your pelican cases and dive bags directly to your dive center.