HMS Kelly - Crete

Diving the HMS Hermes off Trincomalee isn’t just a dive; it's a deep plunge into history. This isn't some small fishing boat; it’s a colossal aircraft carrier, sunk in 1942, lying on its side, remarkably intact. We love how the sheer scale of the wreck hits you – finning past the enormous propeller, then moving up along the hull, it feels like you're exploring an underwater city. The Hermes is just over 50 meters deep at the seabed, with the shallower parts of the wreck around 40 meters. This depth means it's strictly for experienced divers comfortable with advanced decompression protocols, but the rewards are immense. Our favourite part has to be the bridge section. You can still make out the command areas, with schools of batfish circling the structure, almost guarding it. Big groupers often lurk in the hangars, and we’ve seen eagle rays glide over the main deck. It’s a quiet, humbling place, draped in soft corals, where every porthole tells a silent story. To really experience it, we’d suggest multiple dives; you can't absorb it all in just one. Dive early, before the thermocline pushes too high.

Location
Crete, Greece, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
34.666668, 24.166666
Type
wreck

Marine Protected Area: NISOI GAVDOS KAI GAVDOPOULA

Best Time to Dive in Crete

The warmest water temperatures in Crete occur in August, averaging 25.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 16.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 17.3°C
  • February: 16.4°C
  • March: 16.4°C
  • April: 17.0°C
  • May: 19.2°C
  • June: 22.3°C
  • July: 24.1°C
  • August: 25.1°C
  • September: 24.6°C
  • October: 22.9°C
  • November: 20.9°C
  • December: 18.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Crete

Nearest Dive Centres to HMS Kelly

Marine Life in Crete

Home to 11 recorded species including 5 reef fish, 1 other, 1 sea urchins, 1 worms, 1 seagrass & algae, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for HMS Kelly

Based on average water temperature of 20.4°C, currents 5 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 20°C water
  • 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