The SS Rangoon is an iron-hulled passenger steamship that sank off Point de Galle in 1871 and now sits upright at the entrance to Galle Harbour. It is the deepest of the Unawatuna wrecks and an advanced dive, with a bow still shaped like a Viking ship and resident groupers inside the hull.
Also known as Rangoon Wreck, RMS Rangoon, 100 Feet wreck.
Where it is and how deep
6.0231° N, 80.2046° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck rests upright on the seabed at 32 m and remains remarkably intact for its age, its bow rising in a shape that recalls a Viking ship. Current can run across the site, which adds to the demands of the dive. Jellyfish, rabbitfish, snappers and bluefin trevally gather around the structure.
Large groupers hold territories within the wreck, while schools of sweetlips, snappers and batfish shelter in the lee of the remaining hull. Barracuda and lionfish are also seen on the wreck.
The wreck
- Vessel
- SS Rangoon
- Type
- Iron-hulled passenger steamship
- Length
- 89.85 m (295 ft)
- Built
- 1863
- Sunk
- 1871
- Cause
- Holed on Kadir Rock off Point de Galle while stopped to disembark the pilot
- Lies
- Upright at the entrance to Galle Harbour at 32 m
In November 1871 the Rangoon stopped outside Point de Galle to disembark the pilot when a current put her across Kadir Rock, holing her several times amidships. Six hours later she slipped off the rocks and sank stern first in deep water. There were no casualties, and the pilot was given the entire blame for the accident.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Trevally & jacks
- Barracuda
- Reef fish swarms
| 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
- Current can be present over the wreck and adds to the demands of a dive at 32 m.
Dive videos
RANGOON WRECK · Divinguru Sri Lanka on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification does the SS Rangoon wreck need?+
It is an advanced dive: the hull sits at 32 m and current can run over the site, so divers need Advanced Open Water with deep training.
Sources
- Unawatuna Dive Sites — Pearl Divers
- Dive Sites | South Coast | East Coast | Sri Lanka — Divinguru
- SS Rangoon — National Shipwreck Database of Sri Lanka
- S S Rangoon — DivePlanner Pro
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