Wreck diving in Trincomalee centres on two WWII shipwrecks that sank in April 1942 during Japanese air raids on the Royal Navy's Ceylon fleet. The HMS Hermes — a 182-metre aircraft carrier at 44–53 metres — is one of the most historically significant wreck dives in the Indian Ocean and requires PADI Advanced Open Water certification. The SS British Sergeant, a cargo vessel at 20–30 metres, is accessible to Open Water certified divers and is covered in soft corals and resident marine life. Both wrecks are within 30–45 minutes by boat from Trincomalee harbour. DiveKing runs guided wreck dives throughout the April–October east coast season, with a maximum of 6 divers per guide.
In April 1942, the Japanese navy launched air raids on Trincomalee that sent several Royal Navy vessels to the bottom. More than 80 years later, those wrecks are some of the most accessible and well-preserved WWII diving in the world. The water is warm, visibility is good, and you don't need a technical certification to reach most of the structure on the main wrecks.
We run wreck dives throughout the April–October season. The HMS Hermes is the headline act, but the SS British Sergeant is worth a dive in its own right and is suitable for Open Water certified divers.
The Wrecks
HMS Hermes
Advanced Open Water requiredThe HMS Hermes was a Royal Navy aircraft carrier sunk during a Japanese air raid on Trincomalee harbour. She lies on her starboard side, hull intact, and stretches 182 metres along the seabed. A single dive doesn't come close to covering the whole structure — the flight deck, island superstructure, and hull sections each deserve their own exploration. Large grouper, lionfish, and dense schools of batfish have taken up permanent residence. On good visibility days (which are most days in season) the scale of the wreck is genuinely impressive.
SS British Sergeant
Open Water requiredA WWII-era cargo vessel that went down in 1942. More compact than the Hermes but often more colourful — the entire hull is encrusted with soft corals and the resident marine life includes lionfish, moray eels, and a family of batfish that seem to own the stern section. Accessible to Open Water certified divers and a good option for those not yet qualified for the deeper Hermes dive.
What Certification Do You Need?
The SS British Sergeant can be dived by Open Water certified divers. Most of the interesting structure is between 20 and 28 metres — within the Open Water limit.
The HMS Hermes requires an Advanced Open Water certification at minimum. The main deck sits at 44 metres and the keel at 53 metres. If you don't have your Advanced yet, we can run the course in Trincomalee — the Advanced qualification takes 2 days and wreck diving can be one of your five adventure dives.
Both wrecks involve some current at times, so good buoyancy control matters. If you're newly certified, let us know and we'll pair you with an instructor rather than a guide.
Wreck Diving Questions
What certification do I need to dive the HMS Hermes?
The HMS Hermes sits at 44–53 metres, so you'll need a PADI Advanced Open Water certification at minimum. For the deeper sections and penetration dives we recommend completing a PADI Deep Diver specialty first.
Can beginners do any wreck diving in Trincomalee?
The SS British Sergeant is accessible to Open Water certified divers at its shallower sections (20–25 metres). The HMS Hermes requires Advanced Open Water. If you're a beginner who wants to see wrecks, completing your Advanced course with us first is the quickest route.
How is the visibility at the wrecks?
During the main season (April–October) visibility at both wrecks averages 15–25 metres. The Hermes sits in open water with good current, which keeps sediment down and brings in pelagic fish. The British Sergeant can have slightly reduced visibility depending on conditions.
What marine life will I see on the wrecks?
The HMS Hermes is home to large grouper, lionfish, batfish, and schools of glassfish. Occasionally barracuda and tuna pass through. The SS British Sergeant has excellent soft coral growth and is a good site for nudibranch hunting.
Book a Wreck Dive
Message us on WhatsApp with your certification level and dates. We'll let you know which wrecks you can dive and what options work best for your group.