Batticaloa lies on Sri Lanka's east coast, facing the Bay of Bengal, and is the primary base for diving the HMS Hermes, a Second World War aircraft carrier and the first purpose-built carrier ever constructed. The wreck is a designated British war grave and sits between forty-two and fifty-three metres, making it strictly an advanced and technical dive. Alongside the Hermes, the area offers shallower reef, pinnacle, and cave sites including the Boiler Wreck Batticaloa and White Rock, which are open to beginners and intermediate divers. Water temperatures are warm throughout the year. The east coast diving season runs from April to September, the opposite of the southwest.
Monthly water temperature across Batticaloa's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature is warm throughout the year, running highest from April through July. The east coast season falls between April and September, when the Bay of Bengal is at its calmest and the HMS Hermes is accessible; outside this window, sea conditions can make boat operations difficult.
Water temperature around Batticaloa ranges from about 28°C in January to 30°C in April, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
With water around 28–30°C, a rash guard or 3mm shorty works in Batticaloa year-round.
Fin maps 4 sites in Batticaloa (4 scuba diving sites).
Across Batticaloa's dive sites, May, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
