wreck

Log This Dive

HMS HOLLYHOCK

The HMS Hollyhock, a British Royal Navy corvette, lies at 60 metres, a true ghost from World War II. We consider it an essential dive if you’re in Trincomalee and properly qualified for technical depths. Dropping down, you start to make out the distinct shape of a Flower-class corvette, still surprisingly intact for a vessel sunk by Japanese aircraft in 1942. The bow points slightly up, a somber salute to the 54 lives lost here, making it a solemn war grave. Visibility here can be excellent, often pushing 30 metres, letting the entire wreck loom into view. We love seeing the deck guns, still mounted, though heavily encrusted. Schools of fusiliers swirl around the superstructure, and big groupers eye you from shadowy nooks in the hull. Look for the engine room area; it’s collapsed but still offers some penetration for experienced wreck divers. The Hollyhock is a dive for those who appreciate history as much as the marine life that now calls this steel coffin home. It’s a serious dive, so plan your gas and deco stops meticulously.