PECHEUR BRETON

Best months: Jun–Oct

Protected Area

Muthurajawela

Why dive here

With 91+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue whales, giant moray eels, humpback whales, orcas and sea turtles - PECHEUR BRETON offers some of Hikkaduwa & South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 28-31°C, warmest March, April, May.

Best timeJun–Oct

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBlue Whales, Giant Moray Eels, Humpback Whales, Orcas and Sea Turtles · 91+ species recorded

Water28-31°C · warmest March, April, May

CharacterWreck dive · max 27m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Pecheur Breton is one of our favourite deep wrecks in Hikkaduwa, a properly moody dive that feels like uncovering a secret. She’s a big carrier vessel, 87 metres long, and lies upright at 27 metres. We first found her almost by accident, the current pulling us straight onto her bridge, and even now, the sense of scale is impressive. She went down in 1994, apparently on her way to the breakers, so for a relatively young wreck, she feels surprisingly old. The main deck is a good place to start, dropping down into the cavernous holds where we often find big snappers schooling. The light shafts are incredible on a sunny day, cutting through the gloom. Our best dives here have been early mornings, before the day boats crowd the other sites, giving us the Breton all to ourselves. Look for the resident moray eels peeking from every crevice, and the schools of fusiliers can be so thick they genuinely block the light. The stern is particularly photogenic, with its prop and rudder still intact, though be mindful of your depth here. It’s a site that rewards careful exploration, suited to those comfortable at 25-30 metres who appreciate a bit of wreck history.