Also known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, Sri Lanka has made its mark on the map as a scuba diving destination for people of varying experience levels. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver or even looking at technical diving, scuba diving in Sri Lanka has something to offer for everyone! Being an island nation, the coastline of the country is vast with myriad diving spots offering different underwater landscapes and marine life. Below is a list of all the prominent dive destinations in the country with quick insight into what they offer.

Located on the northeast coast of Sri Lanka, Nilaveli is an untouched paradise. With a range of dive sites off the coast, Nilaveli is home to stunning coral reefs and rock structures where marine life thrives. Dive sites range from a depth of 6m to 35m, making it perfect for beginners and advanced level divers. The famous Pigeon Island, which is home to black tip reef sharks and sea turtles is also located close to Nilaveli. Our scuba diving school Divinguru is located just opposite the famous Pigeon Island. The northeast coast of Sri Lanka is also frequented by whales and dolphins so keep your fingers crossed! (Please note that it is illegal to do any in water activities with whales in Sri Lanka.)

The best time for diving in Nilaveli is from March to October. Visibility ranges from 5m to 20m and the conditions are typically easy. This makes it a top spot for doing your beginner level scuba diving courses in Sri Lanka. Our dive centre Divinguru Nilaveli offers the perfect opportunity to get certified or even just for some fun dives! Nilaveli is located 248 kms away from the main international airport in Colombo and can be reached by public bus or private taxis. One can also take a train to Trincomalee which is 13 kms away from Nilaveli. 

A stone’s throw away from Galle, Unawatuna has grown as a popular tourist spot and a diving destination over the years! Directly on the Unawatuna Beach you can also find our diving centre Divinguru Unawatuna. Different from your typical dives over coral reefs, the dive sites in Unawatuna offer marvellous rock structures and formations with swim throughs and canyons. The age-old wrecks of S.S. Rangoon and S.S. Orestes are also accessible from here, making it an exciting spot for diving enthusiasts. Dive sites range from a depth of 5m to 32m and are home to schooling fish, turtles, octopuses, nudibranchs and even a variety of wrasses. Time to time we get lucky to spot dolphins or whale sharks around our dive sites in Unawatuna.

The best time for diving in Unawatuna is from November to March with visibility ranging 5m to 15m. Unawatuna is located 153 kms from the main international airport in Colombo and can be reached by public bus or private taxis. One can also take a train from Colombo Fort Station to Galle which is 6 kms away from Unawatuna.

Home to HMS Hermes, the world’s first ship which was designed to be an aircraft carrier, Batticaloa is a technical divers paradise. Hermes lies in the depths, off the coast of Batticaloa, in all its might. Located between 44-55 metres, Hermes is a monstrous ship with so much to see and explore. Hermes sank off the coast of Sri Lanka after being bombed by the Japanese during World War II. It has developed an ecosystem of its own over the years and numerous schools of fish have made it their home. Given its depth, this shipwreck is only accessible to technical divers. Conditions here can also be challenging.

Batticaloa also offers wrecks at shallower depths, S.S.Brennus and S.S.John Jackson, both of which have so much to offer with John Jackson being the largest steam shipwreck off the coast of Sri Lanka.

The best time to dive in Batticaloa is from March to October. Batticaloa is located 292 kms away from the main international airport and can be reached by public bus or taxis.

Located on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is a diving hotspot known for its shipwrecks, rocky and hard coral reefs. These reefs are home to a myriad species of reef fish and rays which are bound to make your dives exciting. Diving in Hikkaduwa is suitable for beginners and offers some nice shallow dives for those who want to start their scuba diving journey.

The best time to dive in Hikkaduwa is from November to March. Hikkaduwa is located 143 kms away from the main international airport and can be reached by public bus or private taxi. One can also catch a train from Colombo Fort Station to Hikkaduwa.

Colombo is home to an array of wrecks, both at depth and in the shallows for divers of various certification levels. Over the years, it has earned its reputation for wreck diving in the diving community and now divers across the world come here to dive at the wrecks. Apart from wrecks, Colombo is also home to stunning corals. Gorgonian Gardens is a famous dive site located off the coast of Colombo at 35m. The dive site is filled with large Gorgonian fans and one can spot a number of different species of fish here. If you are diving in Sri Lanka, do not miss out on the dive sites in Colombo for they might be some of the most exciting dives you have ever been on!

The best time for diving in Colombo is from November to April.

The above are some of the best places for diving in Sri Lanka with wrecks, rock formations and coral reefs. The dive sites are also rich in marine biodiversity, making it thrilling for both beginners and experienced divers. With Divinguru Sri Lanka you can scuba dive whole year round on both south and east coast. Learn more about specific Dive Sites around Unawatuna and Nilaveli, Trincomalee.