SCUBA DIVING IN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka has been a huge draw to Scuba divers from all over the world. Scuba diving in Sri Lanka slowly grew in popularity over the past 50 years and is nowadays a very sought-after activity by any visitor who visits the island. There are various different places for Scuba Diving and snorkeling around the island and there a number of PADI diving schools that will teach you the craft before you take the plunge.

The main attractions for scuba diving in Sri Lanka is obviously the amazing coral reefs and the beautiful schools of fish and other marine life which call it home. But there are other attractions as well. The coast of Sri Lanka is dotted with a number of shipwrecks that date to ancient times. This is something that extreme divers are quite interested in.

When you only consider the reefs and the marine life there are a few popular spots for scuba diving. Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna are among the most famous. There are at least 10 coral reef dive spots around this area that have various depths and can accommodate all levels of divers, the Hikkaduwa Gala and Barracuda Point being most popular.

Mirissa and Kirinda are two spots in the South of the island that is sought for scuba diving as well Mirissa has always been popular for whale watching but recently it has unearthed some great diving spots as well. In Miirissa There are around five great dive sites. In Kirinda the main dive spots originate around the Little Basses and Great Basses lighthouses. This area is a bit out there in terms of diving schools but people from the Hikkaduwa or Mirissa areas will be happy to take you there.

The other main diving spot is on the East coast of the island near Passikudah. It was recently discovered that this area hosts some great coral reefs that are home to some amazing wildlife so make sure to check this out as well.

Sri Lanka being an island in the center of the Indian Ocean has meant many of the ancient seafaring nations have graced its shores at some time in history. From the time of the old silk route connecting China to the Middle East to the more recent Dutch and British colonial fleets, Sri Lanka has been graced by ships of many different nations. Unfortunately, some of the ships that came to the island never left, sinking either due to storms or striking unknown reefs. This meant that the Sri Lankan coast is dotted with shipwrecks going back millennia and most of them positioned around famous harbors and ports.

Some of these wrecks lie in deep water, while others, such as the wreck of the SS Conch can be found at depths of around 15meters. Most of these ships have been broken down and are now home to some amazing marine life. The wrecks of the HMS Hermes, the Earl of Shaftesbury, Lord Nelson, and the Rangoon are some of the more famous ones out there. All of these and more you will be able to see when Scuba Diving in Sri Lanka.