SS British Sergeant Wreck
About this dive site
The SS British Sergeant is a WWII-era cargo vessel that went down in Trincomalee Bay and has been slowly becoming part of the reef ever since. At 18 to 24 m, it sits within recreational depth limits — you'll need your Open Water cert at minimum, and Advanced is better — but it's accessible to most divers without specialist training.
The wreck itself is pretty well broken up at this point, but that's not a bad thing. The structure creates incredible habitat. Schools of batfish hang in the shadowed sections of hull. Lionfish patrol the open deck areas. There are usually some large grouper in and around the bow section, and if you spend time near the stern on a calm day you'll often spot large rays resting on the sand alongside the hull.
It's about 25 minutes from our base, so we run this as part of a full-day two-dive trip. Morning at Swami Rock, afternoon on the wreck — that's a good day. The light in the afternoon is softer on the wreck photography too, which is worth timing for.
What you'll see
- Schools of batfish
- Lionfish
- Grouper
- Rays on the sand beside the hull
- Moray eels
- Coral-encrusted hull sections
- Fusiliers in the water column
Site highlights
- ✓WWII-era cargo vessel in good diving depth
- ✓Schools of batfish in the hull shadows
- ✓Excellent wreck photography
- ✓Pairs well with Swami Rock on a full-day trip
Currents & Visibility
Moderate current possible on surface. Calmer below. Visibility 12–18 m.
Recommended courses for this site
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Equipment included · Local guides · Small groups
Photos — SS British Sergeant Wreck
Questions about SS British Sergeant Wreck
“Swami Rock is something else entirely. The statues on the reef, the turtles, the sheer amount of life on the wall — I've dived in Thailand, Indonesia, the Red Sea, and this is right up there. The guides know every inch of these reefs. Highly recommended.”
James T.
United Kingdom · Fun Diving
“Did my Advanced here after getting my Open Water in Koh Tao. The Klathipa deep dive and the wreck dive were both incredible. Small groups, attentive instruction, and the equipment was in excellent condition. I'll be back for the specialty courses.”
Aiko N.
Japan · Advanced Open Water Diver
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Call us or send a message — we'll sort the dates, answer questions, and get you booked in.