Lying 22 meters below the surface off Mount Lavinia, the Pecheur Breton cargo shipwreck is a haven for marine life. Teeming with lionfish, snapper and soft corals, it’s an ideal site for intermediate divers seeking history and biodiversity. With impressive visibility and structure, this is one of the most rewarding wreck dives near Colombo.

• Accessible shipwreck for certified divers
• 22 meters deep, moderate difficulty
• Excellent visibility most of the year
• Coral covered structure attracts marine life
• Common sightings – lionfish, snapper, moray eels
• Dive shops operate from Mount Lavinia

The Cargo Wreck, also known as the Pecheur Breton, is a beloved dive site located just offshore from Mount Lavinia, a suburb of Colombo. Sunk deliberately in the 1990s to create an artificial reef, this sunken French cargo ship now sits upright at about 22 meters deep and has become a vibrant marine oasis.

Divers are greeted by schools of snapper, lionfish, angelfish and even giant moray eels weaving through the crevices. Over the years, the wreck has been encrusted with soft coral, algae and sponges, creating a vivid underwater ecosystem. With visibility averaging 10 to 20 meters, this site offers clear views of the ship’s structure, complete with cabins, railings and cargo holds that are safe to peer into but not enter.

Accessible via local dive shops, Pecheur Breton is suited for intermediate level divers with proper certification and is best explored between November and April when seas are calmest. The site combines marine biodiversity, historical intrigue and accessibility in one thrilling dive.

Sri Lanka Tailor-Made includes this wreck in Colombo based dive itineraries for travellers short on time but big on adventure. It’s the perfect fusion of urban proximity and oceanic discovery.