Irarakandy
About this dive site
Irarakandy is an old European steamship sitting in 6 to 10 m of water, and at that depth, you basically can't run out of air. It's a shallow wreck, well-covered in coral, and one of the more photogenic dives in the bay — the hull sections are draped in soft corals and anemones, with Christmas tree worms dotting the iron plates in orange and yellow.
Because it's shallow and the current is usually light, it's a good wreck introduction for recently certified divers who haven't done wreck diving before. You're not penetrating anything — just swimming alongside and over the hull — but it still has that wreck atmosphere. Schools of reef fish hang around the structure. Moray eels are tucked into every available hole. Turtles occasionally pass through.
We include this site on our fun diving days when we want to give guests something different from the coral reef dives, and it's a reliable second dive on a two-site morning.
What you'll see
- Christmas tree worms
- Anemones and soft corals on the hull
- Moray eels
- Schools of reef fish
- Hawksbill turtles (occasional)
Site highlights
- ✓Shallow wreck — ideal for newly certified divers
- ✓Beautiful soft coral growth on hull
- ✓Christmas tree worms for photography
- ✓Non-penetration wreck — accessible to Open Water divers
Currents & Visibility
Light current. Visibility 10–15 m. Good for photography at any level.
Recommended courses for this site
Book a dive here
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Equipment included · Local guides · Small groups
Photos — Irarakandy
Questions about Irarakandy
“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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Call us or send a message — we'll sort the dates, answer questions, and get you booked in.