Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka might not be the first destination you’d think of when planning a dive trip - but perhaps it should be.  This island nation is surrounded by pristine oceans, so it really is no wonder that there is some great underwater action to be found here.  There are two main dive regions to discover in Sri Lanka, and they are best visited at opposite times of the year from each other, making this a year-round destination.

In Australia’s late summer, the south coast of Sri Lanka has the best conditions for divers.  Here, around the towns of Galle and Unawatuna, you will find some hidden gems.  The various marine life you may encounter here include morays, turtles, blue box fish, and large variety of tropical fish.  There are pinnacles, soft coral gardens and caves to explore in this region.  If you are after some rust, there is up to a dozen wrecks of various ages in the area.  This is a great option for divers taking non-diving passengers along for the ride, as the area is also famous for its surf, as well as its accessibility to Yala National Park where you can add a safari to see Elephants and Leopards to your itinerary (check out our Wildlife section here for more on this!).

If you are looking to escape our winter here in Aus, you can head to Sri Lanka’s north east coast.  The diving here is best around the towns of Trincomalee and Pasikuda.  Here you can visit Pigeon Island, popular for its variety of fish life and corals.  One of the exciting dive exeriences here are the wrecks, however.  There are many, and all are somewhat recently registered as part of a project to maintain their heritage.  Many of these wrecks fall into the high conservation priority category, and are a real joy to be able to visit.

When to go

For the south coast, the best times to dive are January to mid April.

For the east coast, April to July and then September / October are the most recommended times for visibility.

How to get there

Sri Lankan Airlines fly to Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital, from many Australian cities.

Where to stay

Sri Lanka has so many options in terms of accommodation it can be a bit overwhelming!  We suggest having a chat with us about the type of accommodation you would like and we will find the best fit.

Highlights

We think you will be hard pressed to find anywhere in the world with as much unique culture, history and heritage in such close proximity to this level of diving!