Scuba Diving Sites of Sri Lanka that spread out in the western, southern and eastern coasts of Sri Lanka are of such variety, the amateur scuba divers as well as the experienced scuba divers revel in the opportunities presented. Sri Lanka’s scuba diving sits offer opportunities to all to enjoy Wreck Diving and explore reefs and their abundance of marine life. Sri Lanka isn’t another diving destination; it is a serious diving destination. And it is an all-round the year scuba diving destination. Most of the reputed dive centers offer PADI certifications that may take about 3 to 4 days at competitive rates.
Scuba Diving Operators
Scuba Diving Operators generally have small boats (for about 6 divers) and larger boats for about 15 divers reach the Scuba Diving Sites within 10 minutes to 45 minutes depending upon the distance to the location from the shore. Most of the diving excursions begin in the morning, could turn out to be two tank dive or a trip back to the base on the shore for the reload of the tank.
Wreck Diving Sri Lanka
For centuries Sri Lanka featured prominently in the maritime shipping routes where the spice and tea were run from Asia. During the Second World War, Sri Lanka was a strategic location in the transportation through the Suez Canal and the Strait of Malacca. During the centuries since the colonial era, the coastline of Sri Lanka has claimed numerous vessels. The historical records have revealed of possible existence over 200 shipwrecks around the coast of Sri Lanka over the 500 years of colonial era of the maritime powers of Portuguese, Dutch and the British. Of the ships that were discovered, many of the wrecks have been disintegrated owing to the unceasing actions of the ocean. Marine life is in great abundance in and around the sites.
Wreck Diving Sri Lanka: HMS Hermes
Among all the wreck diving sites in Sri Lanka, WWII wreck of The HMS Hermes features prominently. The 167 meter long, 12900 ton aircraft carrier was sunken together with a crew of 307 men by the Japanese in an air raid on 9 April 1942. The wreck is designated a "military maritime grave" and as such the access to the inside of the wreck, removal of artifacts and photographing human remains aren’t allowed.
Scuba Diving Western coast- November through April at Kalpitiya, Negombo, Colombo, Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, and Weligama.
Scuba Diving Eastern coast - April through November at Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Scuba Diving in Colombo
Colombo, the main sea port and the capital of Sri Lanka offers wreck diving: many sorts of vessels from commercial barges and oil tankers to small aircraft.
Car Carrier Wreck
Car Carrier Wreck is a huge vessel that sank in 1983. Large batfish and groupers abound around the hull encrusted with coral. While the cars can be seen at a depth of 24m, diving further down 30m to the ship’s huge propeller.
Barge wreck
The Barge wreck that lies at a depth of 30m has teeming schools of fish over the deck over overlaid with corals.
Taj Wreck
Taj Wreck, 45m harbor boat is home to schools of barracuda, rabbitfish and stingrays. Some broken up areas of the hull are open to scuba diving penetrations.
Wreck of an aircraft
The wreck of an aircraft shot down during the Second World War aircraft lies at a depth of 30m. The aircraft’s wings, cockpit and twisted remains of its propeller are still can be identified.
Scuba Diving at Kalpitiya [north of Colombo]
The Bar Reef at Kalpitiya beach is one of the purest coral reefs in Sri Lanka. Bar Reef, Kalpitiya Ridge with rock, corals and fish are the main scuba diving sites.
Scuba Diving in Negombo [north of Colombo]
Negombo has several scuba diving sites that afford the spectacle of reef and fish. The most popular scuba diving sites at Negombo are Diyamba Gala, Derana Gala, Lobster Reef and Hanova.
Scuba Diving southwest coast
The bay beaches of Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, and Weligama are also fine scuba diving destination of the southwestern coast.
Further offshore of these bay beaches, the reefs are abundant with marine life: Titan, clown triggerfish, moray eels, lobsters and the usual brilliant assortment of smaller fish.
Scuba Diving Great and Little Basses southern coast [southern coast]
Great Basses and Little Basses, a couple of enormous reefs 10km and 20km off the beach at Kirinda of the southern coast are the most adventurous diving sites of Sri Lanka. However the reefs being exposed to both monsoons of Sri Lanka, i.e. southwest and northeast monsoons, the diving isn’t safe outside of the brief period of from March to early April. The submerged reefs with a lighthouse erected in each of those, are abound with big fish: sharks, dogtooth tunas, barracudas and groupers.
Hikkaduwa Scuba Diving [south western coast]
Between 30 min and an hour from the coast offshore of Hikkaduwa is a fine stretch of scuba diving sites: wrecks; coral; caves; rocks; marine life. Hikkaduwa is a fine base to enjoy scuba diving since the diving sites extend from north of Hikkaduwa to south of Hikkaduwa.
Wreck of SS Conch
The most visited site is SS Conch, the 3300-ton oil tanker sank off the rocks at Akurala. Lying in a depth of less than 15 meters are two halves of the wreck abundant with marine life. The wrecks afford some good scuba diving penetrations. The sites abounds with groupers, napoleons, queen angelfish and all other reef fishes.
Wreck of Earl of Shaftesbury
Earl of Shaftesbury, one of the oldest wrecks (dates from the 1820s), lies at a depth of 14m. The steel ship with four masts was sunk following an accidental fire on board. The wreck is populated with stingrays, groups of silver batfish and schools of Fosters barracuda.
Wreck of Alliance
The Alliance lying at a depth of 23 meters is a British wooden sailboat that sank carrying a cargo of charcoal. Reef fishes are seen herein too.
The other main scuba diving sites are Kiralagala: rock and fish; Diayambagla: rock, caves, fish; Earl of Shaftesbury: wreck, fish; Off Coral Gardens: coral; caves.
Galle Scuba Diving [south western coast]
Wreck of Rangoon
The Rangoon, a steam ship built in 1863 that weighed 1776 tons and powered by 400hp engine now lies at a depth of 30m offshore of the port at Galle. Sunk upright in full sailing position, Rangoon is a lovely wreck teeming with marine life.
Wreck of Arcturus
Arcturus, a British steam ship built in 1870, today lies on a large rocky area called Mada Gala. Corals and the marine life around wreck attract the scuba divers.
Wreck of Crispigi Cross
Lying at a depth of 16 meters is Crispigi, a boat carrying rice and paint that sank in 1980s. The massive engine is still in place while the penetrations can be done into the stern. The wreck abounds with reef fish.
Wreck of Orestes
The British steam ship carrying a cargo of bricks sank on a sandy bottom (16 meters) near Galle harbor. Wine bottles are soda bottles are found now and then.
Wreck of Lord Nelson
Lord Nelson carrying a cargo of cement capsized during a storm in the year 2000. Penetration is possible in most of the wreck lying at a depth of 18 meters that abounds with reef fishes.
Beruwala Scuba Diving [south western coast]
A half an hour boat ride offshore from Beruwala are magnificent rock formations abound with marine life. In fair Weather conditions the water is so clear sunrays stream deep to 30 meters down. When the currents are on the endless shoals of fish are seen at these rock formations. Trevally, Snappers, Barracuda and Wrasse are the main attractions in the marine life of the scuba diving sites at Beruwala.
The main scuba diving points are Shark Point; rock and fish; Barracuda Rock; rock and caves and fish; Hataragala; rock and fish; Malugala; rock and fish.
Scuba Diving at Weligama [south western coast]
Within a half an hour’s boat ride from the pristine Weligama beach are scenic rock formations that affords diving opportunities. The main diving sites are Prince Hienrich Patch: rock and fish; Bridge Rock: rock and fish; Yala Rock: rock and fish
Scuba diving at Batticaloa [Eastern coast]
The main scuba diving site at Batticaloa is the shipwreck of a vessel named British Sergeant. A half an hour’s boat ride takes the scuba diving enthusiasts to the wreck. Split in half and separated with a distance of about 10 meters is the 100 meter long shipwreck lying on its port side. Allison and McLeelan is another ship wreck. Though much smaller than British Sergeant, Allison and McLeelan has a considerable marine life around it and around the small rocky reef next to it.
Scuba Diving Trincomalee [Eastern coast]
Trincomalee, the largest natural harbour in Sri Lanka features numerous wrecks. The star attraction is the aircraft carrier Hermes. The British aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, which was sunk off the east coast by the Japanese Air force in 1942 during World War, now sits upside down in 53 meters, decks and superstructure in the 30-40 meter range.
HMS Hermes is recommended for divers with minimum technical training to 50 meters.
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