Purple Turtle Diving – HMS Hermes – Sri Lanka – 09 July

This is a fantastic opportunity to dive the first purpose built aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes. We will be staying at the Deep Sea Resort, which is an amazing 15 minute boat ride from HMS Hermes. The top of the wreck is at around 42 – 45m with the seabed at 53m. Whilst Deco Procedures (or TecRec 45 or equivalent), we would highly recommend having a qualification to at least 50m. Contact us if you’d like any details on how we can help you get there!

For further information on diving Hermes there are some great resources online, for example Pete Mesley posted some pics and info on his blog here: https://petemesley.smugmug.com/WreckDiving/HMS-HERMES-Sri-Lanka/

High Level Itinerary (more details below):

All twin share rooms have aircon and both hot and cold water. Our high level itinerary is as follows (full details are available further down):

– 9th of July – depart LHR evening

– 10th of July – arrive Sri Lanka and stay locally

– 11th of July – transfer to the Deep Sea Resort near Batticaloa with some sight seeing

– 12th to 16th of July – 5 days diving with at least 4 days on HMS Hermes, with 2 dives each day

– 17th of July – Transfer to Kandi with some sight seeing

– 18th of July – transfer to airport and fly home (arriving 8pm at LHR)

Costs:

The cost of this trip is US$2,100 (currently £1,638.70 at the Post Office rate) plus flights (currently £1088 on the Sri Lankan Airlines website, but we are trying to negotiate a deal).

This includes:

transfers
accommodation
air and 50% deco for open circuit divers
O2 for rebreather divers
tanks (choice of twinsets, 3L or 2L cylinders for rebreathers pllus S-80 or S60 deco / bailout cylinders with stage rigging)
all meals at the Deep Sea Resort

Not included are:

flights
helium (US$0.10 per litre)
Sofnalime – US$60 for 5 litres

To book:

Please contact us on info@purpleturtlediving.com. A non-refundable deposit of £500 will be required to secure your place. Any questions at all, please contact us by PM, on 07792 723 938 or on info@purpleturtlediving.com

Full itinerary:

DAY 1
Arrival in Sri Lanka / Colombo air port, meet, assist and transfer to the Hotel in Negombo just about 20 mins away. Over night stay at the Deep Sea Resort.

DAY 2
Departure to Batticaloa after breakfast (Elapse time 6 hours plus stops. distance 300 km). En route to Batticaloa brief stop in Kurunegala, known as the Famous legendary city. After a tea break proceed to Dambulla, the Geographical center of Sri Lanka to pay a visit to the 1st century Golden cave temple. 450 steps to climb – 90 mins. Drive further to Habarana for an Optional Elephant safari or Jeep safari to see wild Elephants. Whilst driving through the Jungle, get a glimpse of the giant water reservoir at Minneriya built during the 3rd century A.D, Giritale Tank, the giant Parakarama bahu reservoir, etc.A brief stop at Polonnaruwa to visit a wood carving workshop. Continue towards Batticaloa, the lagoon city in the East coast of Sri Lanka famous for “SINGING FISH”. The historic wreck of the Hermes lies off the coast of Batticaloa at a depth of 42m-53m. It is a designated war grave.On arrival at the hotel, ‘DEEP SEA RESORT’ built to accommodate Hermes divers, it’s time for a glass of cool beer or a comforting refreshing cup of Ceylon Tea. Dinner will consist of a sumptuous feast of the bounty of the seas off Batticaloa. Fresh Fish platter, crabs, and prawns – all can be provided to you on request.

After dinner, we sit down for a pre-dive briefing meet Feli the Dive Guide / Tec deep Instructor and the boat crews. We rig our gear and get ready for the next day’s diving. Divers are advised not to bring anything to the surface from the Wreck HMS Hermes without prior written approval of the commissioner of archaeology in Sri Lanka.

DAY 3

After an early breakfast we depart by boat at 0700 hrs to the dive site, drop anchor, and scroll down the shot line so as to get acquainted with the currents and tidal conditions. We hover around 42m- 48m on top of the wreck area. The currents can be very strong.

We use twin s-80 / 12 ltr tanks with manifolds and stage tank with EAN Nitorx 50% for the dive or rebreathers. One long dive with two slings: one for deco and one as an additional bottom gas or after a surface interval go for the 2nd dive with the similar dive gear set up. Usually it’s windy in the afternoon. Therefore it is advisable to finish during the early afternoon. Optional sightseeing tours can be arranged on request.

DAY 4
After breakfast we leave by boat for the 2nd days’ dive. Using similar diving gear to that we used on the first day, we dive to greater depths of about 45 – 50 m to the HMS Hermes. The guns and shells are visible at about 44m – 48m. The propeller which is still connected to the shaft is located at around 48m. We swim through the wreck, observing, and exploring the scattered military hardware used by air craft carriers during World War II.
If you are up to it, we will arrange a site seeing tour of the surrounding areas.

DAY 5

Similar to Day 3

DAY 6

Similar to Day 3

DAY 7

5th day of diving and we will dive another wreck, possibly the British Sergeant, which was the supply oil tanker to HMS Hermes.

DAY 8
We leave the hotel after an early breakfast to climb the 5th Century rock fortress Sigiriya (1200 steps!!) with its world famous 5th century wall paintings, the runs of the Pleasure garden with the natural water fountains. Thereafter proceed to Kandy via Matale, which is famous for spices. Brief stop at a spice garden, drive to Kandy which was the Hill capital and the last stronghold of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka. Should you feel inclined, we will take you on a City tour. Royal Botanical Gardens, which was used as one of the shooting locations of the award winning film Bridge on the river Kwai and Indiana Jones. The temple of the sacred tooth relic of the BUDDHA and the royal botanical garden not included, but optional. Overnight stay in Senani Hotel or alternative

DAY 9
Departure to Negombo. En route visit a tea plantation and a Tea factory, then on to the airport for your return flight.