Dive-site story
The SS Orestes was a British steamship that sank off the coast of Galle in the late nineteenth century. Today, the wreckage sits scattered over a mixed bottom of sand and rocky reef. While the hull has broken down over time, large structural components including the engine block, boilers, and propeller shaft remain clearly discernible and encrusted with marine life.
Historical nineteenth-century steamship machinery and boiler remnants
Schools of reef fish schooling around the exposed iron frame
Macro critters hiding within sponge-covered wreckage fragments
Location
Use the map to plan with your operator and confirm the exact entry point on the day.
Seasonality
Calm seas and optimal visibility coincide with the dry season on Sri Lanka's southwest coast.
Marine life
| Species | Likelihood | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honeycomb Moray EelGymnothorax favagineus | Common | ||||||||||||
| TrevallyCaranx spp. | Common | ||||||||||||
| LionfishPterois volitans | Common | ||||||||||||
| PorcupinefishDiodon hystrix | Common | ||||||||||||
| NudibranchNudibranchia | Common |
Marine forecast
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