HMS HERMES - Exclusive Scuba Tours Worldwide Trip
01 - 10 June 2012
Introduction to HMS Hermes | Trip Itinerary & Cost | Diving Guidelines |
Introduction to HMS Hermes
At dawn, on 9 April 1942, in the Indian Ocean just off the east coast of Sri Lanka, the 167m long, 12,900 ton aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, was attacked in a devastating raid by 70 Japanese aircraft. Taking 40 hits in just 10 minutes, HMS Hermes capsized and disappeared beneath the waves, with the loss of 307 men.
Lying in 45-58m of water, 8km off the coast of Batticaloa, the wreck has been offlimits to divers unless accompanied by the Sri Lankan navy. But now, more than sixty years after sinking, the area has been opened to tourism and the HMS Hermes has finally become available for technically trained divers to explore. One of just three aircraft carriers accessable to divers (the USS Oriskany located in Florida, and the USS Saratoga located in Bikini Atoll) the HMS Hermes is unique in that she was the only one sunk in battle. This is without doubt, one of the most outstanding wreck dives in the world, with incredible visibility and abundant marine life.
We are the European booking agent for the Deep Sea Diver's Lodge and we are very excited to be able to offer our customers the unique opportunity to dive this remarkable wreck. The Deep Sea Diver's Lodge runs weekly trips to dive the HMS Hermes from April to September each year. If you can't make our exclusive date then please do give our sales team a call and they will be happy to check availability and to put together an itinerary for you.
2012 Trip Itinerary & Guide Cost
Batticaloa is about 300km from Colombo, on the east coast of Sri Lanka. Our trips incorporate one night in Dambullah en-route to Batticaloa, and one night in Kandy on the return. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country and we would recommend you extend your stay there if you can. Take a look at our Sri Lanka section for more information.
It is also very easy to combine a stay in the Maldives. The Sri Lankan flight back to Heathrow actually touches down in Male, so why not jump off and head off to relax on an island for a few days. Check our islands section for details of some of our favourites.
8nts Sri Lanka - HMS Hermes
Scuba Tours Worldwide Exclusive Trip
01 - 10 June 2012
Itinerary:-
Fri Depart Heathrow at 2145hrs for direct overnight flight to Colombo, arriving at 1300hrs
Sat Transfer to Palwehera Village Eco Resort or similar, Dambulla, for 1nt
Sun Set off from Dambulla to Batticaloa. The drive will take approximately 3-6hrs by 15 seater mini coach and we will include sightseeing stops en-route including a visit to The Dambulla Golden Cave Temple from 103BC and also a wood carving centre by the 12th century city ruins in Polonnaruwa. Continue on to The Deep Sea Lodge, Batticaloa for 6nts accommodation
Mon Begin 5 days of fabulous diving 2 dives per day
Sat Check out of The Deep Sea Divers Lodge and enjoy a scenic 3hr drive to the ancient rock fortress of Sigiriya ( Lions Rock ) 1200 steps. The palace ruin is surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs and other structures. Proceed to Kandy for your overnight stay at The Senani Hotel (or similar)
Sun Depart for Colombo and your flight at 1120hrs, arriving Heathrow at 2015hrs
*Please note that this last day may change due to travel time required back to Colombo for the flight on Sunday.
The guide cost for the above trip is £1740 per person plus departure taxes of approx £110 per person.
Price includes return economy class flights from Heathrow on Sri Lankan airlines.
In Sri Lanka it includes all transfers and 8nts accommodation based on twin/double share with breakfast.
Price also includes 5 days diving, 2 dives per day with use of tanks and weights on air. During each trip we expect to make 8 dives on the HMS Hermes and 2 reef dives.
Above flights are subject to availability at the time of booking. Single supplement may apply.
SRI LANKA VISA REQUIREMENT
From the 01st January 2012 a visa will be required for travel to Sri Lanka for stays of more than two days. Currently British nationals receive a 30-day tourist visa, free of charge, on arrival. This arrangement is being phased out and replaced with an online visa application process, the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA), and the following visa fees will be applicable per person:
FREE for single entry / transit up to 2 days
US $10 for single entry stays between 3 - 7 days
US $20 for double entry / or stays up to 30 days
Children under 12 years are free.
It is possible to apply for the visa on arrival in Sri Lanka but this will be at a higher cost than above (approximately US $5 per person - not including the free visa)
The ETA will be available to purchase from the 01st January and further details can be obtained from the ETA official website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration (www.eta.gov.lk). Please ensure that you have applied for your visa (and that it has been granted) before you travel.
Diving Guidelines
HMS Hermes is recommended for divers with minimum technical training to 50m. The wreck is a "military maritime grave" and as such no attempt should be made to gain access to the inside of the wreck or touch or disturb or in any way interfere with the wreck. There must be no attempt to remove artefacts of any kind from the wreck. Whilst there is no objection to still photography or filming of the wreck, the dive team should only photograph or film the exterior of the wreck. Every effort must be made to avoid photographing or filming any human remains. Any photographs or film inadvertently taken of human remains should under no circumstances be published or broadcast.
Technical Diving & Diver Requirements
Cylinder set up for each diver is 2 x 11 litre luxfer twin Aluminum cylinders with Isolator manifolds as back gas Normal Clean air (21% O2), plus a decompression sling tank 11 litre Aluminium cylinder with EANX 50% for the decompression to start at 18m (similar gear twice a day).
The maximum depth of the wreck is 56m and the water temperature is approximately 26-27 C’ at 40m.
Note: The above dives are not on Trimix. Helium is available.
Diver Training: The minimum training requirement to dive the Hermes is as follows :
Technical dive qualification to minimum of 50m plus Advanced Nitrox certified.
Rebreather Divers: We can cater for rebreather divers. To ensure that the sorb is available for you on arrival, we will need to know what type of rebreathers are being used. We can then obtain a quotation for the purchasing and shipping costs of the sorb. Full payment will be required prior to purchasing and shipping. Please allow a minimum of 3 months for ordering and shipping of sorb.
Equipment required: Divers will need to bring their own Tec BCD , 3 x Din Regulators, mask, fins, wet suit, dive computer and slates. All divers should carry two Safety Marker Balloons (one red, one yellow) with line and reel for decompression stops. The red one is deployed by the diver who is doing the decompression stop while drifting. If the diver should become low on air, or has a 50% deco gas problem, then he should deploy the yellow balloon to alert the surface boat team that he needs more gas and a new tank can be lowered down by line.
Tel:+ 44 (0)1284 748010
Fax: + 44 (0)1284 748011
Email us here: sales@scubascuba.com
