The Legend of the HMS Hermes (95) - The worlds first purpose-designed Aircraft Carrier

The HMS Hermes (95) is a fascinating and historic WWII shipwreck located off Sri Lanka's East Coast. She was the first purpose-designed aircraft carrier the world had seen, laid down in 1918, and commissioned in 1923. She had a distinguished career in the Far East which eventually ended in April 1942 when she was sunk by aircraft from the Japanese Carrier Fleet comprising Soryu, Hiryu, and Akagi, of Pearl Harbour fame: ships that would meet their own violent ending at the Battle of Midway just two months later.

She was sunk along with SS British Sergeant, HMAS Vampire, HMS Hollyhock, and the RFA Athelstane. The attack went down in history as one of the most accurate bombings of a ship ever seen as she was caught without fighter escort by some eighty Japanese aircraft, the majority of which scored hits on the ship. She now lies upside down(keel up) in 53m of water offshore from Batticoloa. As such, she is genuinely one of a kind, so few aircraft carriers have ever sunk in such shallow water that this fact alone makes her an incredibly unusual wreck. Add to this that of those carriers that are accessible ( Saratoga, Oriskany, Graf Zeppelin...) none of them were actually sunk in combat situations. Few opportunities as unique and intriguing as the HMS Hermes exist anywhere in the world of technical diving. ....

Tribute to the legends of Hermes exploration

After Rodney Jonklas, Blue Water White Death Team & The Rex Morgan
"Hermes Adventure" team dived the Hermes from the late 60's to early 80's the Hermes wasn't explored much. Partly this was because of the civil war.
Hermes Diving resumed when the second generation Hermes diver Felician Fernando, relocated the wreck, and started taking divers to it. In the early days of diving, in 2000-2010, the divers were experienced recreational divers with no Tek Training.
Now the Wreck is only dived by certified Technical Divers.

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MUSIC USED
All Music Credits Goes to Ivan Torrent and Julie Elven
Ivan Torrent - Icarus (Feat. Julie Elven)
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Artist:- Ivan Torrent
Album:- Ivan Torrent
Song:-
IVAN TORRENT - FORBIDDEN LOVE (Sonokinetic Demo Kemence)-Ivan Torrent
Ivan Torrent youtube Channel
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Julie Elven youtube Channel
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