COLOMBO, SRI LANKA

January 22-26, 2026

It’s all about the wrecks, about the wrecks, about the wrecks.    And the fishlife on those wrecks!

When most people think of dive destinations, they think of distant locations.    However, the coast off Colombo has over 25 shipwrecks, and offers some of the best diving of Sri Lanka, in our opinion:  great wrecks for exploration, including the iconic “Sierra Thermopylae”, but also artificial reefs which provide sanctuary for large schools of fish from the trawlers of this part of the world.

 

For those interested, Vinnie, who is leading this trip, will be conducting Wreck Diver training on the dive as well.   With a decade of diving the wrecks of the North Atlantic, including the “Andrea Dorea”, under his belt, he is at his happiest when poking around the inside of a shipwreck and is always happy to get others hooked to this as well.

Overview

This is a short get-away sort of trip, aimed to get in some quality, focused diving with an emphasis on shipwrecks.


However, do note – it isn’t just about exploring the shipwrecks.   The shipwrecks act as natural oases for fishlife, as trawlers tend to avoid them for fear of getting their nets caught.    So the wrecks also have a good amount of fishlike packed around them as well.



Also, unlike typical dive trips which involve staying in relatively remote locations, we will be based out of a suburb of Colombo itself, which means we have time in the afternoon to explore the city as well – including possibly the most epic weiner schnitzel and wurst in Asia.   So bring your appetite!

The following is the itinerary for the trip:

  • Jan 22:   Arrive in Colombo and transfer to the hotel
  • Jan 23:  3 dives
  • Jan 24:  3 dives
  • Jan 25: 3 dives
  • Jan 26:  checkout and fly back

The “Sierra Thermopylae” is one of the highlight dives on the trip – a 155m ship that sank in 2012.   It’s large enough that parts of it still protrude from the water, while the bottom is at nearly 30m depth – and its size means that you can easily spend 2-3 dives exploring it (or even 2-3 days, if you are a hardcore wreck diving junkie).

 

 

In addition, there are quite a few other interesting wrecks – the Perseus (a WW1 armed mechantship), the Chief Dragon, a car transport ferry, various cargo vessels, tug boats and more.

 

But keep in mind – it is not just about the wrecks.   As mentioned above, these wrecks provide home to a large variety of marine life, from small critters to large schools of fish.   So think of them as artificial reefs.    So whether you are a wreck enthusiast, a photographer or just like seeing coral and fish, there is something for you.

 

The dives are not particularly challenging.  Vis is variable but should be in the 10-15m range (hopefully!) for our dates.  The depths are in the 20-30m range – and because these are wrecks, you cannot really shallow up when done.      So an Advanced/Deep cert is required on the trip (or can be completed on it), and Nitrox is very helpful to have as well.

 

Other than the above, the trip is open to divers of all experience levels, and is a great way to get in some very nice dives and also level up your diving skills.

 

Lastly, for this trip, we will be diving off a large, custom dive boat with cabins, head and a galley (for fresh-made lunch on the boat, subject to dive logistics) – so a welcome change from the tiny boats of the past.

 

Accommodation will be in either a hotel in Mt Lavinia, offering comfortable stay.



Do note – there is a small chance we may shift to an AirBnB for the entire group that’s closer to the dive center – if so, the accommodation will be comparable in quality.


Breakfast and lunch are included in the trip.   Dinners are on our own, and we will use that to explore some of the dining options of the area – beach shacks near the hotel, The Bavarian for the afore-mentioned schnitzel/sausages, Ministry of Crab and others.


 

Airport transfers:

We have incoming transfers arranged to match the 8pm Indigo arrival.       For returns, we will have a transfer for the flights departing at around 1:30-2pm.    If your flight times are close enough to these timings, we’ll do a bundled pickup for everyone – if they are off significantly, contact us and we’ll sort something out.

 

Visas:

Sri Lanka typically required visitors to fill in an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter.    However, since late 2025, it is visa free for Indian citizens and an ETA is no longer required.   We will confirm this in the Whatsapp group closer to the travel date.

 

Insurance:

Diving insurance is mandatory.     In addition, travel insurance is also recommended in case you have to cancel due to health or travel connection issues.   You can purchase insurance using the links below or contact us if you need any assistance selecting a plan:

Dive Assure:

All plans:  https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/17014/en

DAN:

Annual plans: https://apps.dan.org/join-dan/?do=dw&rc=3209485

Short term plans:   Contact us for a link to buy

$900 per person (retail $975).


A $300 payment is needed to confirm the trip, with the balance due 15 days prior to the start of the trip.


Inclusions:
  • 4n stay on double occupancy
  • 9 dives
  • Breakfast and lunch
  • Airport transfers as mentioned above
  • Taxes and fees

Excluded/Extras:
  • Single surcharge
  • International flights
  • Dinners and local travel costs
  • Instructor fees if doing courses
  • Gear rental – $10/day
  • Nitrox – $5/tank
  • Tip/gratuities for the crew ($50)
  • Most restaurants accept credit cards, as does Uber (if you need a cab for getting around)

 

  • Dive shop payments need to be in LKR or USD – and it is worth keeping a small amount of LKR with you for small expenses.

 

  • You can convert USD into LKR at the airport or just withdraw with an ATM.    

 

  • While the diving is accessible to all certification levels, we recommend divers who are not comfortable with their buoyancy, etc do a refresher in a pool before coming – this lets you enjoy the dives more and also doesn’t affect the dives for others

 

  • Feel free to contact us on +919880334003 or +917044072204 if you have any questions, or email info@bangalorescuba.com
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