Scuba diving locations in Sri Lanka:

When to scuba dive in Sri Lanka:

The water is generally around 28C all year, but the monsoons, from December to March in the north-east and from June to October in the south-west, can reduce visibility. Turtles nest in Galle from December to February and Hambantota from March to July.

Local standards for gear:

The best scuba diving spots in Sri Lanka:

• Bar Reef is one of the most pristine coral reefs in Sri Lanka, covering a huge area and has recovered remarkably from the El Nino bleaching in the 1990's.
• The Third Reef off Negombo has great visibility and pristine marine conditions.
• Gale Reef South, off Colombo, has, deep within the open ocean, a flat terrain full of sea fans.
• The Earl of Shaftesbury is the wreck of an iron sailing ship which sank on route from Bombay to Sri Lanka.

The best spots to snorkel in Sri Lanka:

• From Nilaveli beach, you can take a boat out to Pigeon Island, not far north of the beach, whichis a fine place to go snorkeling.
• At the Coral Sanctuary in Hikkaduwa, the water is shallow and the coral is well protected.

Fun scuba facts:

Country data:

Administrative details

• Currency: Sri Lanka rupee (LKR)
• Population: is about 20,000,000 (2010)
• Time Zone: Sri Lankan Standard Time Zone (GMT+5:30)
• Main languages spoken: Sinhala, Tamil ## Diveable overseas territories:

Sri Lankan diving federations:

Local diving laws and regulations (and PADI-equivalent certifications):

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