Dive sites in Sri Lanka
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Batticaloa Bar Reef
Batticaloa · Eastern Province · Sri Lanka
A sandstone bar reef off Sri Lanka's less-explored eastern coast where seasonal whale shark aggregations, reef manta rays, and recovering coral gardens offer pioneering diving in waters closed to tourism for decades during the civil war.
HMS Hermes Wreck
Trincomalee · Eastern Province · Sri Lanka
The world's first purpose-built aircraft carrier, sunk by Japanese bombers in 1942, now resting upright on the seabed as one of Asia's greatest wreck dives.
Pigeon Island
Trincomalee · Eastern Province · Sri Lanka
A national park island near Trincomalee with vibrant shallow reefs, blacktip reef sharks in knee-deep water, and healthy coral regeneration.
Kalpitiya Bar Reef
Kalpitiya · North Western Province · Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's largest reef system off the Kalpitiya Peninsula, a shallow coral plateau emerging from monsoon-warmed waters where spinner dolphins, reef sharks, and recovering coral gardens create a frontier diving experience.
Dive centers in Sri Lanka
Sun Diving Center - PADI 5-Star Dive Resort Sri lanka
Devala Road · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
DIVINGURU Unawatuna, PADI 5 STAR IDC DIVE RESORT, S-36133
Unawatuna 80600 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Original Mirissa Dive Center
Mirissa 81750 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Pearl Divers PADI Dive Center Unawatuna
Galle 80600 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
International Diving School - PADI 5 STAR DIVE RESORT
Galle Rd · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Poseidon Diving Centre Hikkaduwa
Hikkaduwa 80240 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Sea Horse Divers PADI Resort Unawatuna
උණවටුන 80600 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Diving Tours Mirissa, PADI 5 Star IDC Center
Mirissa 81740 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Divers Land Dive Club Unawatuna
Unawatuna 80600 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Polhena Diving Center
Madiha 81000 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Island Scuba - Scuba Diving In Sri Lanka
58/6 De Alwis Pl · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Pigeon Island Diving Centre Trincomalee Sri Lanka
Trincomalee 31000 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Divevora Sri Lanka - PADI Diving Center (S-30430)
Peraliya · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Mirissa Diving & Snorkeling Center
Mirissa 81740 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Scuba Diving Kalpitiya dive center
Kudawa · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Weligama Bay Dive Center , PADI 5 Star Dive Resort
Kapparatota · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Divers Unawatuna
Unawatuna 80600 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Epic Ocean Adventures PADI 5* IDC DIVE RESORT S-27241 Sri...
Trincomalee 31000 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Submarine Diving | PADI 5 Star Diving Resort
Unawatuna · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
SRI LANKA DIVING TOURS Trincomalee PADI 5 Star IDC Center
Trincomalee 20000 · Southern Province · Sri Lanka
Diving in Sri Lanka
Dive sites in Sri Lanka include reef, wreck locations across Eastern Province, North Western Province. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
How do I get to Batticaloa and are there dive operators?
Batticaloa is located on Sri Lanka's east coast, about six hours' drive from Colombo or three hours from Trincomalee. A small domestic airport has occasional flights from Colombo. Dive infrastructure is still developing, with only two or three operators offering regular trips as of recent years. Most are run by local fishermen-turned-guides who know the reef locations intimately. Equipment standards vary, so experienced divers may prefer to bring their own regulators and computers. Accommodation ranges from basic guesthouses to a handful of mid-range hotels in Batticaloa town.
When can I see whale sharks at Batticaloa and are sightings reliable?
Whale shark sightings along the east coast are most frequent from March through May, coinciding with the northeast monsoon's waning and the onset of calmer seas. The sharks follow plankton blooms that develop as surface waters warm. Sightings are not as reliable as at established whale shark destinations like the Maldives or Mozambique, but local fishermen report encounters throughout the season and the numbers appear to be increasing as monitoring improves. Most encounters are snorkelling-based from boats, though divers occasionally meet them on the reef when conditions align.
Is it safe to dive at Batticaloa given its conflict history?
The civil conflict in Sri Lanka's eastern and northern provinces ended in 2009 and Batticaloa has been peaceful and open to tourism for over fifteen years. The area is safe for visitors and local infrastructure is steadily improving. There are no unexploded ordnance concerns at established dive sites. The Sri Lankan Navy occasionally conducts patrols offshore but these do not interfere with recreational diving. As with any emerging destination, it is wise to dive with a reputable local operator who knows the current conditions and maintains communication with coastal authorities.
What certification do I need to dive the HMS Hermes?
Due to the depth of the wreck, with the deck at approximately 47 metres and the seabed at 54 metres, the HMS Hermes is classified as a technical dive. A minimum of Advanced Open Water with Deep Specialty is needed to visit the superstructure at 38 metres, but exploring the flight deck and deeper sections requires technical diving certification such as TDI Extended Range or equivalent, along with experience in decompression diving. Most operators require a minimum of 50 logged dives.
Is the HMS Hermes wreck penetrable?
Limited penetration of the superstructure is possible for certified technical divers with appropriate training and equipment. However, the wreck is a protected war grave under Sri Lankan maritime law, and removal of artefacts is strictly prohibited. Most recreational divers explore the exterior of the superstructure and flight deck, which offers abundant photographic opportunities. The wreck sits upright, which makes orientation relatively straightforward.