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Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Trincomalee location page.
Overview
The world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, sunk by Japanese dive-bombers on 9 April 1942 and now lying on her port side in roughly 50 metres of water off Sri Lanka's east coast. The 180-metre hull is a designated Commonwealth war grave and a decompression-only dive: the flight deck, gun mounts and bridge are crusted in soft coral and sponge and patrolled by schooling snapper, trevally and batfish, with groupers and lionfish in the shadows. Real depth, limited bottom time and offshore current make this a serious technical wreck, reachable only in the calm May-to-September east-coast season.
Briefing note
Decompression/technical dive only: wreck top around 42m, seabed about 53-55m, lying on the port side. Designated Commonwealth war grave - no penetration of grave spaces or artefact removal. Strong offshore current and surge are common; suitable only for experienced trimix/technical wreck divers. Access limited to the calm May-September east-coast season.
What you'll see
6 species curated- year-roundGiant trevallyPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundBluestripe snapperPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundBatfishPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundGrouperPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- year-roundLionfishPeak: May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep
- rareBull sharkPeak: Jun · Jul · Aug
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27–28 °C | 5–12 m | moderate |
| Feb | 27–28 °C | 6–14 m | moderate |
| Mar | 27–29 °C | 8–18 m | moderate |
| Apr | 28–30 °C | 12–22 m | moderate |
| May | 28–30 °C | 15–25 m | moderate |
| Jun | 28–30 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Jul | 28–30 °C | 15–30 m | moderate |
| Aug | 28–30 °C | 15–30 m | strong |
| Sep | 28–30 °C | 12–25 m | moderate |
| Oct | 27–29 °C | 8–18 m | moderate |
| Nov | 27–28 °C | 5–12 m | strong |
| Dec | 26–28 °C | 5–10 m | strong |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Next step
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