ASIA CARRIER 1 - Kalpitiya & Northwest

The Asia Carrier 1 is one of those wrecks that just delivers. At a shallow 7m, it’s a huge, sprawling site, and we love how the light just floods the deck, illuminating every corner. You’ll find the bow section completely separated from the stern, almost like two distinct dives. We always start at the stern, where the prop is still impressive and often surrounded by schools of trevally. Descending onto the main deck, you can weave through the skeletal remains of the superstructure. It’s a proper playground for divers, with swim-throughs opening into cavernous cargo holds. Keep an eye out for resident groupers lurking in the shadows and the occasional reef shark patrolling the perimeter. Our favourite part has to be the sheer density of glassfish around the mast - they swarm so thick you can barely see your buddy. While it’s shallow, its size and the slight current mean it’s best for divers comfortable with navigation. The Asia Carrier 1 offers a genuinely immersive wreck experience, perfect for a long, relaxed dive.

Location
Kalpitiya & Northwest, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
7.215167, 79.812330
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
7m

Wreck History - ASIA CARRIER 1

Year Sunk
1980
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The ASIA CARRIER 1 was a motor vessel built in 1957 by the French shipyard Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranee. For over 20 years, she served as a cargo hauler, and by 1980, under the ownership of Herrowby Shipping Ltd., she was actively engaged in trade routes that crisscrossed the Indian Ocean.

Her long career came to an abrupt halt in November 1980. While on a passage from Kuwait to Chittagong, Bangladesh, the vessel ran into trouble off the coast of Sri Lanka. She ran hard aground near Negombo Point, and despite attempts to salvage the ship, the damage was too severe. The ASIA CARRIER 1 was declared a constructive total loss and left to the mercy of the sea.

Now resting in just 7 meters of water, the wreck has become a fantastic and highly accessible dive site near Kalpitiya. Its shallow depth ensures great natural light and long, relaxed bottom times, making it perfect for novice wreck divers, underwater photographers, and snorkelers. In the decades since its sinking, the hull has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef, teeming with corals and home to schools of colorful fish, turning a maritime disaster into a beautiful underwater ecosystem.

Marine Protected Area: Muthurajawela

Nearby Dive Sites in Kalpitiya & Northwest

Nearest Dive Centres to ASIA CARRIER 1

Marine Life in Kalpitiya & Northwest

Home to 92 recorded species including 77 reef fish, 8 hard corals, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sharks & rays.

Notable Species