The SS Orestes is an iron-hulled passenger steamship that struck the Gindura Reef off Galle in 1876 and is sometimes mistakenly called the Tango Wreck. It is the more intact of the two deep wrecks off Unawatuna, an advanced dive for its depth, overhead spaces and offshore current, and it holds some of the richest fish life on the coast.
Also known as Orestes, Tango Wreck, 80 Feet wreck.
Where it is and how deep
6.0238° N, 80.2117° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The intact hull lies at around 22 m, more complete than the other deep wreck off Galle. Large groupers occupy the engine room, and moray eels are abundant throughout the wreckage. Soft corals grow over the structure, and schools of sweetlips and snappers hang around it with lionfish, barracuda and trevally.
The wreck
- Vessel
- SS Orestes
- Type
- Iron-hulled passenger steamship
- Sunk
- 1876
- Cause
- Struck the Gindura Reef
- Lies
- Largely intact on the seabed off Galle at about 22 m
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Unawatuna & Jungle Beach: The south-coast season runs from October to April, and whale sharks occasionally pass from January to March.
Know before you go
- The wreck has overhead environments, and current can run at this offshore site.
Dive videos
THE TANGO (SS ORESTES) SHIPWRECK DIVE, GALLE, SRI LANKA · SUPer SUP Unawatuna on YouTube
Sources
- Dive Sites | South Coast | East Coast | Sri Lanka — Divinguru
- SS Orestes — National Shipwreck Database of Sri Lanka
- SS Orestes — DivePlanner Pro
- Scuba Diving Adventure Tour in Unawatuna — Lakpura
More dive sites in Unawatuna & Jungle Beach
Pinnacle
A pinnacle with manta rays, scorpionfish, lionfish and morays
Reef
Black and red corals, with whale sharks sometimes seen in February
Wreck
Around 20 iron cannons spread across the seabed
A calm reef below Rumassala Mountain for snorkellers and divers
Wreck
A shallow wreck on the Goda Gala reef with open sections
Reef
A resident giant Napoleon wrasse that gives the reef its name
Wreck
An 1871 steamship sitting upright with a bow like a Viking ship
Similar dives elsewhere
Wreck
Conch Wreck
Hikkaduwa · Sri Lanka
The huge oil tanks of an 1892 tanker, still lying where she sank
An upright 16 m tug covered in soft and black corals
40 m supply boat at 20 m, sheltered enough for night dives
Wreck
Twin Barges
Seychelles · Seychelles
Two barges on one mooring, at 22 m and 19 m