Earl of Shaftesbury
Hikkaduwa · Sri Lanka
Iron four-mast sailing ship wrecked in 1893 off Akurala, now a thriving artificial reef at 14 meters. Covered in corals and marine life including sweetlips, stingrays, barracuda, and batfish. The wreck rests on sandy bottom with bow and stern sections relatively intact, bow masts still recognizable.
Conditions
Depth
12 to 15 m
Good for beginners
Current
Often strong
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
8 to 12 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
27 to 30°C
Peak monsoon, difficult
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Vis (m) | 18 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 18 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Strong | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Sweetlips
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Foster's Barracuda
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Stingray
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Silver Batfish
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Sea Turtle
Rare
Now and then
Gear