Weeraya - Trincomalee & East Coast
The Weeraya wreck is where Trinco truly shines for us. This isn't just a sunken vessel; it's a piece of history, scuttled by the British in 1942 to block the harbour entrance from Japanese subs. We love diving a wreck with a story, and you can almost feel the echoes of its past as you descend. Lying perfectly upright in just 12 metres, it’s a brilliant dive for newer wreck enthusiasts, or those just wanting to spend some proper bottom time exploring. The ship itself is largely intact, a skeletal frame now draped in soft corals and home to schools of fusiliers that swirl so thick they sometimes block out the light. Look closely into the nooks and crannies of the superstructure; we’ve often spotted lionfish lurking, and the occasional moray eel peering out from what was once a porthole. Our favourite part has to be the stern, where the propeller is still clearly visible, a striking photo opportunity as the sunlight filters down. We'd suggest an early morning dive here if you can swing it; the water is usually calmer, and you often get the site almost to yourselves before the day boats arrive. Visibility can vary, but even on an average day, the sheer scale and history of the Weeraya make it a truly rewarding dive.
- Location
- Trincomalee & East Coast, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 8.563533, 81.251420
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 12m
Marine Protected Area: Little Sober Island
Best Time to Dive in Trincomalee & East Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Trincomalee & East Coast occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- February: 27.4°C (air: 26.3°C)
- March: 27.4°C (air: 27.3°C)
- April: 27.4°C (air: 28.2°C)
- May: 27.4°C (air: 28.9°C)
- June: 27.4°C (air: 29.6°C)
- July: 27.4°C (air: 29.4°C)
- August: 27.4°C (air: 28.9°C)
- September: 27.4°C (air: 28.7°C)
- October: 27.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
- November: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
- December: 27.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Trincomalee & East Coast
- Angel Diving Center
- Bar Reef (reef)
- Bar Reef (reef)
- BRITISH SERGEANT - 20m (wreck)
- CITY OF MARSEILLES (POSSIBLY) - 6m (wreck)
- CITY OF MYSORE - 5m (wreck)
- Coffin Ray Point
- Condolidated Catalina PBY-5A Aircraft Wreck - 42m (wreck)
- CORDIALITY - 14m (wreck)
- Fort Frederic - 18m (reef)
- HMAS VAMPIRE - 50m (wreck)
- HMS DIOMEDE - 22m (wreck)
- HMS Hermes - 48-55m (wreck)
- HMS Hermes (wreck)
- HMS HOLLYHOCK - 60m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Weeraya
- Coco Diving Trincomalee - ["PADI"]
- Dive For You - ["PADI"]
- Epic Ocean Adventures - ["PADI"]
- International Diving School Trincomalee - ["PADI"]
- Poseidon Diving Centre - ["PADI"]
- Sri Lanka Dive School
Marine Life in Trincomalee & East Coast
Home to 259 recorded species including 205 reef fish, 16 hard corals, 14 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 sharks & rays, 6 seagrass & algae, 5 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) - Reef Fish
- cloth-of-gold cone snail (Conus textile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Silver Sillago (Sillago sihama) - Reef Fish
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Small-eyed Squirrelfish (Myripristis murdjan) - Reef Fish
- Necklace Cone (Conus monile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Five-lined snapper (Lutjanus quinquelineatus) - Reef Fish
- Herring Scad (Alepes vari) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Weeraya
Based on average water temperature of 27.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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