The east coast of Sri Lanka can be dived between May and September each year. This is where you will find Sri Lanka’s most famous (and enormous) WWII wrecks including the HMS British Sergeant and the HMS Hermes aircraft carrier.
This sample 7-night itinerary is a starting point to help you plan your own tailored itinerary and includes diving, cultural and wildlife experiences.
Sri Lanka has a rich cultural history dating back over a thousand years, and several national parks where you can view megafauna such as elephants, sloth bears and leopards, as well as monkeys, diverse birdlife (including peacocks) and incredible scenery, so a dive trip here would not be complete without including some historic sites and wildlife safaris!
| Location | Accommodation | Meal Plan | Activities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Negombo | Tamarind Tree Hotel | Half Board | Check in to hotel and relax prior to road transfer to Trincomalee in the morning. Negombo is a short drive from the airport and an ideal place to rest and recover from your flight before travelling to the east coast. |
| Day 2 | Trincomalee | Nilaveli Beach Resort & Spa | Half Board | Relax at the resort |
| Day 3 | Trincomalee | Nilaveli Beach Resort & Spa | Half Board | Two dives, diving either Swami Rock, Pigeon Island or the Navy Underwater Museum |
| Day 4 | Batticaloa | The Calm Resort & Spa | Half Board | Two dives, diving either Swami Rock, Pigeon Island or the Navy Underwater Museum Transfer to Batticaloa accommodation |
| Day 5 | Batticaloa | The Calm Resort & Spa | Half Board | Two dives, diving the SS British Sergeant, Lady McCallum or other wreck sites; SS Amarillys; SS Clan Lamont; SS Gladys Moller; SS Sir John Jackson; Batticaloa Boiler wreck; SS Brennus |
| Day 6 | Batticaloa | Habarana Village by Cinnamon | Half Board | Two dives, diving the SS British Sergeant, Lady McCallum or other wreck sites. Travel to Haberana, afternoon game drive in Minneriya National Park. |
| Day 7 | Habarana | Habarana Village by Cinnamon | Half Board | Visit the ancient city of Polonnaruwa and enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan lunch. |
| Day 8 | Check out and transfer to airport. |
Trincomalee and the east coast dive destinations are around a 5 to 6 hour drive from the airport.
All resorts on this itinerary and 4-star boutique properties, each with individual charm. Resorts in Trincomalee and Batticaloa both beachfront, with properties in Habarana and Negombo surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
Tamarind Tree Garden Resort
The Tamarind Tree Garden Resort promises a perfect balance of space, style and sophistication. Set amongst 12 stunning acres of lush gardens, only 10 minutes drive from Katunayake Airport, this 60-room resort is ideally positioned for an overnight stay before heading east. The villas are designed to a British colonial style, with shady verandas and wicker furniture.
Trincomalee – Nilaveli Beach Resort
Nilaveli Beach Resort is set on the bronze sands of Nilaveli Beach. This tranquil resort welcomes guests with a private beach area, cosy guest rooms and free internet access at all public areas. Rooms resemble rustic wooden huts, beautifully furnished with a private balcony overlooking the sea.
Batticaloa – The Calm Resort & Spa
The Calm Resort is situated on the beautiful coastline of Pasikudah, with its own private white sandy beach. The resort is contemporary in design with spacious well appointed rooms.
Habarana Village by Cinnamon
Offering bungalow-style rooms surrounded by greenery, Habarana Village by Cinnamon is a 15-minute drive from Minneriya National Park. The hotel features an outdoor pool and overlooks a beautiful lake. Don’t be surprised to see elephants wandering by.
East Coast (Trincomalee, Pigeon Island, Batticaloa)
- Season: May to September
- Best Time: May and June
- Why? Monsoon winds shift, bringing calm conditions, warm waters (27–30°C), and great visibility (20–40m). May and June provide the clearest visibility, and if diving the Hermes, time your visit according to moon phase to ensure you visit when currents are less fierce.
- Highlights: Snorkeling and diving with blacktip reef sharks at Pigeon Island, WWII wrecks in Batticaloa, including the magnificent HMS British Sergeant, and for tech divers, the HMS Hermes. Trincomalee’s Underwater Museum is also an interesting dive, with a mix of scuttled ex-Navy vessels and statues telling a story of Sri Lanka’s history.
Trincomalee
Trincomalee on the island’s north-east is regarded as one of the world’s largest natural harbours and with a rich cultural heritage, its famous for its white sandy beaches and is an increasingly popular option for those seeking a beach stay on the east coast. ‘Trinco’ has been used by the island’s major port going as far back as the Polonnaruwa era around two thousand years ago having attracted the Danish, Dutch, Portugese, French and British and was even bombed by the Japanese in 1942 during the second world war.
The area around Kalmunai and Trincomalee has over 20 different dive sites including a variety of deep dive sites with coral reefs in excellent condition. There are also several shipwreck sites including World War II shipwrecks with two deep dive sites in Kalmunai. Certified Dive Operators are based at Nilaveli and in the leading beach resorts.
Batticaloa
SS British Sergeant was sunk on the 9th of April 1942, upon the bombardment of the Japanese air force during WWII. Although no casualties were recorded, the ship was broken into two distinct pieces close to the middle of the vessel. The bow section lies upside down (with the keel up) on the sandy seabed while the stern (rear section) lies about 15m away from the bow, tilted to the starboard side. The large cavern in the hull of the bow section provides an opportunity to explore the inside safely. However, the propeller cannot be observed at the stern section seemingly buried under the sand.
SS British Sergeant is one of the seven WWII shipwrecks in Sri Lanka that are diveable, the others being HMS Hermes, SS Sagaing, HMS Hollyhock, SS Athelstane and SS Norviken. In addition to the multiple heritage values, the wreckage is home to a large aggregation of fish species, enhancing the wreck’s value as a resource of biodiversity. Accordingly, Blue-Striped Snappers can be observed, especially at the aft section, and several other species of schooling fish (i.e. Sri Lankan Rabbitfish, Blue Striped Snappers, Bluefin Trevally) seek shelter within the caverns of the ship.
Pricing for Classic Sri Lanka East Coast Dive Safari
| 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2025 | AUD | USD | |||
| 7 Nights, 6 dives, half board, wildlife safari and visit to Polonnaruwa ruins, all transfers. Per person price for 2 guests | 3240 | USD | | | 3240 | |
| 7 Nights, 6 dives, half board, wildlife safari and visit to Polonnaruwa ruins, all transfers. Per person price for 4 guests | 2580 | USD | | | 2580 | |
| This resort's prices are in USD. The AUD prices shown are based on the current exchange rate. The price paid in AUD will be based on the actual exchange rate at the time any payments are made. | |||||
| The per person pricing above is indicative only: we show 7 night with 10/12 dive packages singles & doubles for the purposes of comparison. We can give you a price (and availability) for any combination of nights/dives you wish to undertake, which will include any discounts due to you as part of that package, and any exclusions, or items payable at the resort. Please use the [Enquire Now] tab to give us your exact requirements and we'll give you the best deal we can. | |||||
| Excluded: Peak Period Supplement (01-Jul to 31-Aug), compulsory New Year & Christmas supplement, airfare, alcoholic beverages, meals other than specified, tips and gratuities. | |||||
