Who can dive the HMS Hermes?

This is a technical dive. You need Advanced Open Water certification at minimum, plus our Deep Diving specialty or equivalent deep diving training. Ideally, some previous wreck experience too. Call us before booking and we'll have an honest conversation about whether your qualifications and experience are appropriate.

How long do we spend on the wreck?

At 45–53 m, no-decompression limits are short on recreational scuba. You're looking at about 10–15 minutes at depth. Some divers do this as a staged dive with deco stops for longer bottom time, which requires technical equipment and training. We run this as guided tec dives for appropriately qualified divers.

Technical

HMS Hermes Wreck Dive — Trincomalee

↓ 45–53 m⏱ 35 min by boat📅 June to September

About this dive site

HMS Hermes is a Royal Navy aircraft carrier sunk during WWII, now resting upside-down at 45 to 53 m. It is one of the largest diveable shipwrecks in the world. The flight deck, gun turrets, and propellers are intact. Over 80 years of coral growth covers the hull.

What you'll see

Schools of batfish
Trevally
Barracuda
Massive coral formations on hull
Grouper
Rays
Reef sharks (occasional)

Site highlights

✓One of the largest diveable shipwrecks in the world
✓WWII Royal Navy aircraft carrier
✓80+ years of coral growth
✓Flight deck, gun turrets, propellers intact

Currents & Visibility

Experienced guides only. Depth 45–53 m. Visibility 15–25 m in season. Technical dive — call for details.

Recommended courses for this site

Deep Diving Specialty →Wreck Diving Specialty →

Book a dive here

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Depth45–53 m

Boat time35 min

SeasonJune to September

LevelTechnical

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Equipment included · Local guides · Small groups

Questions

Questions about HMS Hermes Wreck

Guest experiences

“Swami Rock is something else entirely. The statues on the reef, the turtles, the sheer amount of life on the wall. I've dived in Thailand, Indonesia, the Red Sea, and this is right up there. The guides know every inch of these reefs. Highly recommended.”

James T.

United Kingdom · Fun Diving

“Did my Advanced here after getting my Open Water in Koh Tao. The Klathipa deep dive and the wreck dive were both incredible. Small groups, attentive instruction, and the equipment was in excellent condition. I'll be back for the specialty courses.”

Aiko N.

Japan · Advanced Open Water Diver

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