Sri Lanka is home to an incredible range of marine life ranging from massive blue whales all the way through to tiny and colourful nudibranch. This great dive destination in the Indian Ocean has an abundance of great sites to discover including great wreck dives scattered just off the coast, many of which are covered in soft corals and marine life like macro critters and large aggregations of schooling fish. Non-divers will also be amazed with this destination’s vibrant landscapes and unique cuisine. Sri Lanka also boasts wildlife reserves, which protect native species such as leopards, porcupines and anteaters.
As you plunge into the warm waters and dive below the surface, the stories about the whispers of bygone tales, ones of maritime visits of bandits and pirates and explorer’s journeys really come to life. The wrecks dotting the seas will take you back as far as the 18th century and the deep reefs and colourful walls will provide you with enthralling explorations.
Trincomalee on the East Coast offers diving from April through October. There are several dive sites in this area including Swami Rock, Eel Rock, Sitanampara, Coffin Ray Point and Pigeon Rock just to name a few. Here, you will find numerous species of marine life including sting rays and moray eels. The Irrankandy ship wreck which is located about 40 minutes off shore is surrounded by schools of exotic species of fish and worth exploring.
Negombo on the North West Coast offers great scuba diving from December to April. The dive sites are divided into two sections in Negombo - closer dive sites which are within about 8kms from the shore and the further sites also known as the `Third Reef’ about 22 km from shore. Here you will come up close and personal to numerous species of fish, marine turtles, moray eels and sting rays.
The diving season in Sri Lanka depends on when you plan to visit the island. The monsoon seasons vary from one side of the island to the other. From October to May is the high season for diving the west and south-west coast of the island whilst from June to September is the best time to dive the north-east coast.
The water visibility ranges between 10 and 25 metres between the high and low seasons and the water temperature is usually around 27 Degrees Celsius year round.
Sri Lanka Fact File
| Currency |
Rupee (LKR). Credit cards are widely accepted |
| Time Difference |
GMT +6 |
| Vaccinations |
It is recommended that primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain as well as consulting with your doctor or practice nurse 6 to 8 weeks prior to your travel date. |
| Tipping |
10% of your bill |
| Passport & Visas |
Tourists visiting Sri Lanka for a short stay, must obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) approval prior to arrival on the island. Click on the ETA Link for more information and to process your application. Passport must have minimum 6 months validity. |
| Flight Routes |
Direct from London Heathrow |
| International Flight Durations |
10 hours and 30 minutes from Heathrow |
| Luggage Allowance |
23KG hold plus up to 7KG hand luggage. Some airlines will offer 30KG at the time of booking when you provide your diving qualification number but please note this is not always garanteed. |
| Internal Flights |
Guests aboard the Sri Lanka Aggressor between May and October will fly into the Colombo Airport. A charter flight will be prearranged from the Colombo Airport to the Trincomalee Airport by fixed wing or helicopter charter flight then guests are transferred to Trincomalee Harbor to board the Sri Lanka Aggressor. Reservations must be made in advance to confirm the domestic flight. The cost is £399 per person. |
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| Airport Departure Tax |
An Embarkation Tax of LKR 3250.00 is levied on every Departing passenger who has stayed in Sri Lanka for over 24 hours. |