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Colombo Rec Adventure
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◆ The Site Chart · Off Colombo

ColomboRecAdventure

Discover Colombo’s remarkable shipwrecks, from the shallower MV Thermopylae Sierra to deeper wrecks for experienced, appropriately certified divers. Explore fascinating underwater structures and marine life just a short boat ride from port.

Length
Day
Vessel
Boat
Departure
Colombo
Return
Colombo
Dives
2 to 3 dives · optional night dive
The Colombo Wreck Field

Explore Colombo’s Collection Shipwrecks

Just a short boat journey from Colombo, a remarkable collection of shipwrecks offers divers the chance to explore submerged vessels, unusual underwater structures and marine life. From the shallower *MV Thermopylae Sierra* to deeper wrecks for appropriately qualified and experienced divers, the Colombo wreck field offers a variety of underwater experiences within reach of port. Choose your dive sites according to your certification, experience and conditions on the day. **2–3 dives · Day trip · Departing and returning to Colombo**

Trace the route — tap any marker to open its log.

ColomboMount Lavinia
N

Off Colombo

Wreck Chart · Chart N°03

5 nautical miles

Port and dive-site positions are approximate — not for navigation. Coastline © OpenStreetMap contributors.

MV Chief Dragon
N°01Advanced + Deep Spec · 35 mWreck

MV Chief Dragon

CAR WRECK: lying at 35 metres, just 4 km off the city of Colombo — a superb wreck to explore. A very large area of wreckage shelters shoaling fish and big groupers, with badly deteriorated vehicles still on deck.

The structural spaces at the stern and bow are the most interesting spots, and its biodiversity rewards more than one dive.

Photography: Nishan Perera

Pecheur Breton
N°02Advanced · 32 mWreck

Pecheur Breton

CARGO WRECK: A huge, partly intact cargo ship at 32 metres, lying on its starboard side and offering a vast area for exploration — considered a particularly scenic wreck dive in Sri Lanka.

The hold amidships, the bridge, and the cavernous space under the starboard bow are the highlights.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

Toilet Barge
N°03Advanced · 32 mWreck

Toilet Barge

A small steamship about 10 metres in length at 32 metres, with excellent marine life and one unusual feature — a toilet situated beside the single large boiler.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

Taprobane East Wreck
N°04Advanced · 32 mWreck

Taprobane East Wreck

In the pristine far-offshore reefs lies Taprobane, boasting 20 metres+ visibility on average — a Caribbean-like setting. This picturesque shipwreck on white sand at 32 metres is draped in colourful soft coral and usually surrounded by schools of glassfish.

You may spot the occasional large stingray or Napoleon wrasse.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

MV Nilgiri Trug
N°05Advanced · 30 mWreck

MV Nilgiri Trug

A huge sunken barge that rests upside down. All the action is at 30 metres and the site is full of lionfish who are easy to approach. In addition various other marine life such as small groupers, pufferfish, trevally and stingrays can be seen.

Photography: Hsiaochung Lee

MV Medhufaru
N°06Advanced · 32 mWreck

MV Medhufaru

Though she sank on 31 May 2009, she was made accessible to divers in 2011 and lies at 30 metres. The highlight is exploring the earth-moving backhoe (JCB) on the deck — once upright, now on its side — with another found under the decks.

An excellent spot for lionfish, mostly on the hunt.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

Clarke Wreck
N°07Advanced · 29 mWreck

Clarke Wreck

Named after the world-famous science-fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, who conducted his last scuba dive on this wreck at the age of 74 in March 1992. The wreck lies at 29 metres and is inhabited by blue-striped snapper and other reef fish.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

MV Thermopylae Sierra
N°08Open Water · 7–23 mWreck

MV Thermopylae Sierra

SIERRA: The only shipwreck with its masts still out of the water, settled on the sea bed such that it is the open-water training site Colombo dive operators must use.

With a depth range from 6 to 23 metres and clear water, it is ideal for all certification courses in Colombo.

Photography: Dharshana Jayawardena

The Voyage Plan

One day on the water at a time

A week working the wreck field off Colombo — choose from a basket of eight dive sites, all within reach of port Colombo.

A Typical Day of Wreck Diving

  • 07:30 — Meet and prepare
  • Meet the crew, complete the necessary checks and briefing, and travel by boat to the selected wreck.
  • First dive — Explore the wreck
  • Descend with your guide to explore the selected site, subject to certification, experience and conditions.
  • Surface interval — Rest and prepare
  • Take a break between dives, review the next site and prepare for the following dive.
  • Second or third dive — Another perspective
  • Where conditions and the itinerary allow, explore another wreck or revisit a site with a different plan.
Notes to Mariners

Your Journey Begins Before You Fly

  • 01Maximum depth for recreational dives is limited to 40 m.
  • 02Night, deep and decompression dives beyond 18 m are for suitably certified divers only.
  • 03Diving with a computer is mandatory; solo diving is not permitted.
  • 04Wait 24 hours before flying after your last dive.
  • 05Exact route and sites are subject to local regulations, guest experience, weather and logistics — at the Captain's discretion.

Experience required

  • Advanced Open Water — 20 minimum logged dives, of which 7 to 30 m required.
  • Deep Speciality — 7 minimum logged dives to 40 m required.
Colombo Rec Adventure route map
All maps are for illustrative purposes only.
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