With more than 13,000 km of coast line, warm 28 degree waters and marine life that is said to rival the Great Barrier Reef, Sri Lanka is a great location for all aquatic activities.

Water Sports

The best place for water sports is without doubt the town of Bentota on the West Coast, which is approximately 2.5 hours south from the airport. It benefits from a large flat estuary at the mouth of the Bentota River , which ensures safe waters all year round for wakeboarding windsurfing, waterskiing, banana rides, donuts, kayaking and jet ski. Therefore, even during the monsoon (April-Nov) when the sea is unsafe for swimming and other activities, the water sports can continue.

Other activities include river cruises and from Nov-March surfing, body boarding, deep sea fishing, snorkelling and diving.

For advise on water sport packages and well located accommodation please give us a call on (0207 112 0019) or email us

Diving & Snorkeling

There are several dive sites along Sri Lanka's coastline, where vibrant and beautifully shaped coral is home to a varied number of fish species that include the Emperor Angel, the Moorish Idol, Powder Blue Surgeon, Sergeant-Major, Lion, Unicorn, Parrot Fish, Clown, Porcupine, Rays, Eels and others. For more adventurous and experienced divers, dozens of ship wrecks litter the coastline in clear accessible waters.

Hikkaduwa and Tangalle on the west coast, Unawatuna on the south coast and Nilaveli on the east coast are all wonderful places for scuba diving and snorkeling. The best time for diving and snorkeling on the west coast is from November to April and on the east coast from April to September.

For advise on accommodation in these areas please give us a call on (0207 112 0019) or email us

Surfing

The south west coast of Sri Lanka is open to the same regular, long distance swells as Indonesia , making it an ideal choice for surfing between November and April when northeasterly winds are most likely to coincide with the big southwest groundswell. There are many great surf spots to choose, all fairly close together and so it is easy to base yourself in one location and try them all out!

The mellow reefs at Hikkaduwa tend to favour left-handers. However, the most consistent spot is Main Reef, which has fun lefts and rights on a flat coral reef. Further north is Benny's and the North Jetty that both boast a fairly consistent big swell. South of Main Reef is the equally powerful Inside Reef. Beyond here is a long stretch of Beach Break, which varies from a fat wave (ideal for surfing beginners) to a fun shore break (great for body-boarders). The interesting colonial town of Galle has some good left breaks near the jetty just outside of town, and a bit further east, Koggala has some excellent left-handers when the swell is on.

Further east still is Midigama, which is less consistent than Hikkaduwa and more exposed to south winds. However there are two superb spots - a long fat left and a short powerful right breaking over a shallow reef. As a reliable option when the rest of the south coast is blown out, the beach break in Weligama can be surfed even when small.

The 'A-frame' surf shop in Hikkaduwa provides tide tables. Most shallow reefs change significantly with the tides.

Hikkaduwa is a convenient 3 hours from the airport with a variety of both cheap and up-market places to stay. For advise on accommodation in Galle , Midigama and Weligama please give us a call on 0207 112 0019 or email us.

Fishing

Fishing provides one of Sri Lanka 's most enduring images - even if it is difficult to tell these days whether the famous stilt fishermen of Weligama are more interested in catching fish or tourists. But Sri Lanka 's fishing heritage runs much deeper than the traditional craft of the stilt fishermen and is the lifeblood of coastal communities all around the island.

Sport fishing in Sri Lanka is relatively undeveloped, but 1,140 miles of shoreline and warm Indian Ocean currents ensure there is a plethora of fish in the sea, estuaries, mangrove lagoons and rivers. Deep sea fishermen may encounter Marlin, Sail Fish, Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Giant Trevallie, Benito, Queen Fish, Barracuda, Grouper, Cobia and Tuna making this beautiful island second to none when it comes to sea angling.

As with all other water related sports fishing in Sri Lanka is regulated by the two annual monsoons that feed this tropical isle. The west and south coasts are favored during north-east monsoon period from November to April when the sea is blue and calm, while the east coast is at its best during the south-west monsoon period from May to September.

Rafting & Canoeing

Sri Lanka has hundreds of rivers and small streams that originate from the hills and offer excellent water sports facilities. Some of the rivers such as Kelani River in Kitulgala, southwest of Kandy , are very popular among tourists for rafting purposes as well as boasting Hollywood stardom as the backdrop to the film Bridge over the River Kwai. Popular sites for canoeing are the Kalu Ganga ( Black River ) and the Kelani Ganga.