GALATIA - Kalpitiya & Northwest
The Galatia wreck in Kalpitiya isn’t about depth, it’s about character. Sitting flat on a sandy bottom at a mere 7 metres, it’s remarkably intact and just begs to be explored. We love how the light plays through the holds, illuminating schools of small snapper that dart between the decaying metal. You can swim right into the cargo areas, imagining the ship's last moments before it settled here. It’s an easy dive, perfect for newer wreck enthusiasts or photographers who appreciate the ambient light. Keep an eye out for the resident moray eels peeking from crevices and the occasional turtle gliding overhead. The sheer volume of fusiliers here can be incredible, sometimes so thick they create a living wall around the stern. While it’s often labelled "dangerous," we find that refers more to its historical status than its diveability today. Just take it slow, enjoy the light, and watch for lionfish tucked into the shadows. We’d suggest going early in the morning for the best visibility and a quieter experience.
- Location
- Kalpitiya & Northwest, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 8.790278, 78.221500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 7m
Nearby Dive Sites in Kalpitiya & Northwest
- Anchor Point
- ASIA CARRIER 1 - 7m (wreck)
- BENITTO - 10m (wreck)
- HMS HECTOR - 9m (wreck)
- HONG LIAN - 6m (wreck)
- Kandakuliya
- Maha Gala
- Marine Power 2517 - 11m (wreck)
- MUSGRAVE - 10m (wreck)
- MV EXPRESS PEARL - 21m (wreck)
- SLNS SAGARWARDANE - 3m (wreck)
- TU 14 - 10m (wreck)
- TU 84 - 12m (wreck)
- TU 88 - 5m (wreck)
- UNILAXMI - 7m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to GALATIA
- Kalpitiya Diving Center - ["PADI"]
- Sri Lanka Diving Tours - ["PADI"]
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
- Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Unicornfish (Naso annulatus) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) - Reef Fish
- Acropora Butterfly (Chaetodon trifascialis) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Blue-banded Pualu (Acanthurus blochii) - Reef Fish
- Black-back Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melannotus) - Reef Fish
- Brown Butterflyfish (Chaetodon collare) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma hardwicke) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) - Reef Fish
- Big long-nosed Butterflyfish (Forcipiger longirostris) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Bristle-toothed Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus striatus) - Reef Fish
- Checkered Seaperch (Lutjanus decussatus) - Reef Fish
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- bluefin filefish (Balistoides viridescens) - Reef Fish
- Argus Grouper (Cephalopholis argus) - Reef Fish
- Blacksaddled coral grouper (Plectropomus laevis) - Reef Fish