Batticaloa
Sri Lanka · East Coast
A rarely dived stretch of Sri Lanka's southeast coast, Batticaloa combines pristine fringing reefs with one of the world's most remarkable wreck dives — the HMS Hermes, the largest diveable aircraft carrier wreck on the planet — and seasonal sperm whale encounters offshore.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is busy.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
19 species across the dive sites here
Tawny Hermit Crab
Seen 2 months ago
at Passikudah Reef
Indian Garden Lizard
Seen 2 months ago
at Passikudah Reef
Least concern
Tigertooth Croaker
Seen Jul 2025
at Passikudah Reef
Least concern
Greater Coucal
Seen Jun 2025
at HMS Hermes
Least concern
Red-Backed Flameback
Seen Jun 2025
at HMS Hermes
Least concern
House Crow
Seen Oct 2024
at Sperm Whale Alley
Least concern
Barracuda
Seen year round
at HMS Hermes
Least concern
Batfish
Seen year round
at Dutch Bay Wrecks
Least concern
Feather Star
Seen year round
at Dutch Bay Wrecks
Frogfish
Seen year round
at Dutch Bay Wrecks
Least concern
Giant Grouper
Seen year round
at HMS Hermes
Glassfish
Seen year round
at HMS Hermes
Least concern
Napoleon Wrasse
Seen year round
at Passikudah Reef
Endangered
Oriental Sweetlips
Seen year round
at Passikudah Reef
Least concern
Whitetip Reef Shark
Seen year round
at Passikudah Reef
Vulnerable
Sperm Whale
Seasonal visitor
at HMS Hermes
Vulnerable
Spinner Dolphin
Seasonal visitor
at Sperm Whale Alley
Least concern
Whale Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Sperm Whale Alley
Endangered
Gibbous Olive
Rare sighting
at Dutch Bay Wrecks
Dive sites
HMS Hermes
giant grouper · glassfish · sperm whale · barracuda
Passikudah Reef
napoleon wrasse · whitetip reef shark · oriental sweetlips · indian garden lizard
Sperm Whale Alley
sperm whale · spinner dolphin · whale shark · indian garden lizard
Dutch Bay Wrecks
batfish · frogfish · feather star · indian garden lizard