TRANS ASIA

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 - TRANS ASIA 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 2m

StandoutRich in charismatic marine life

The Trans Asia wreck is something else, especially if you’re looking for a shallow dive with a story. This container ship went down in '96, a proper goliath that just drifted in a gale and keeled over. We love it for its sheer accessibility – 2 metres, that’s it. You can almost touch it from the surface on a calm day. It’s completely broken up now, scattered across the seabed, which actually makes it more interesting for exploring. Think twisted metal, enormous gears, and shipping containers lying on their sides, offering little hideouts. Sunlight streaks through the gaps, illuminating schools of snapper that dart between the frames, and we’ve seen some surprisingly large groupers lurking in the shadows. Look closely, and you’ll spot nudibranchs crawling along the corroded steel. It’s not a vibrant reef, no, but it’s an incredible artificial habitat, a real magnet for fish. Our favourite time to visit is early morning before the tour boats arrive, the light is soft, and the water is usually clearest then. It suits anyone who fancies a relaxed shallow wreck potter, even snorkelers get a decent view.