WOMBAT - Hikkaduwa & South Coast

The Wombat, oh, she’s a beauty, a proper diver’s wreck. This old barge went down in ‘79, being towed from Dubai to Singapore, and now she sits upright in about 32 metres, just begging for an exploration. We love how intact she is, a real steel skeleton to navigate. You can swim right into the hold, imagining her cargo as schools of fusiliers dart around you, thick enough to momentarily block the light. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the prop is still visible, usually swarming with trevally. You’ll want to have good buoyancy for this one, especially if you’re planning a penetration, though it’s pretty straightforward for an advanced diver. Visibility here can vary, but on a good day, the light plays beautifully through the superstructure, creating these amazing shafts that highlight the resident lionfish. We’d suggest hitting it early in the morning before the thermoclines really set in. It’s a superb wreck dive, offering a genuine sense of history and plenty of nooks for macro life, even if the larger pelagics are just passing through.

Location
Hikkaduwa & South Coast, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
5.950000, 80.733330
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
32m

Marine Protected Area: Rekawa

Best Time to Dive in Hikkaduwa & South Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Hikkaduwa & South Coast occur in January, averaging 28.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
  • February: 28.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
  • March: 28.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
  • April: 28.4°C (air: 27.4°C)
  • May: 28.4°C (air: 27.4°C)
  • June: 28.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • July: 28.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
  • August: 28.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
  • September: 28.4°C (air: 26.6°C)
  • October: 28.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
  • November: 28.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • December: 28.4°C (air: 25.9°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Hikkaduwa & South Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to WOMBAT

Marine Life in Hikkaduwa & South Coast

Home to 95 recorded species including 65 reef fish, 6 whales & dolphins, 6 hard corals, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 other, 2 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for WOMBAT

Based on average water temperature of 28.4°C.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories