Pigeon Island National Park is a marine national park about 1 km off Nilaveli beach, north of Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s east coast. It protects two small islands and the coral reef around them, and the Department of Wildlife Conservation lists it as a diving and snorkelling site.
Is it worth visiting?
Go if you want to snorkel over a coral reef close to shore, with a chance of seeing blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles in the shallows.
Think twice if you are travelling from about October to January, the rainy season on this coast, when rough seas often close the park, or if you expect an untouched reef: bleaching and heavy visitor use have damaged the coral.
The islands and the reef
The park is made up of Large Pigeon Island and Small Pigeon Island. The larger island, about 200 m long and 100 m wide, is fringed by a coral reef, and takes its name from the rock pigeons that breed there. In the colonial era it was used as a shooting range. It became a sanctuary in 1963 and was declared a national park in 2003, and it was among the protected areas affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
More than 100 species of coral and 300 species of reef fish have been recorded in the area. Blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles are often seen in the shallow coral areas.
A reef under pressure
In 2010 unusually high sea temperatures caused severe coral bleaching here. Uncontrolled tourism and boat anchors have also damaged the reef. Recent visitors (2025–26) report roped-off areas where swimming is not allowed, to let the coral recover, and crowded beaches on busy days.
- Don’t touch the coral: don’t stand on it, kick it with fins or take any of it away.
- Leave the wildlife alone: don’t feed the fish, and don’t chase or touch turtles and sharks.
- Follow the guides: stay inside the marked snorkelling areas and take all your rubbish back. Recent visitors (2025–26) report that plastic bottles are not allowed on the island.
Permits and tickets
As in every national park, visitors need a permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, paid in addition to the boat trip. There is no current official information online on fees or opening hours (the figures on Sri Lanka Tourism’s page are out of date), so check locally before you go.
When to go and closures
Most of the rain here falls from about October to January, with the inter-monsoon storms and the north-east monsoon, and the park closes when the sea is too rough to cross. The Department of Wildlife Conservation closed it in December 2018, at the start of the north-east monsoon in December 2023, and again in December 2025, when it also stopped issuing tickets. In 2023 it said visitors would be allowed on calm days, which cannot be predicted. Plan your visit for the middle of the year, the dry season on this coast.
Getting there
- By boat: boats leave from Nilaveli beach. Recent visitors (2025–26) also report trips from Uppuveli, closer to Trincomalee.
- To Nilaveli: take the train to Trincomalee, at the end of the line from Colombo Fort, then a tuk-tuk or taxi north along the Nilaveli Road. Check times and book reserved seats on the official Sri Lanka Railways booking site.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Where is Pigeon Island National Park?
About 1 km off Nilaveli beach, north of Trincomalee on Sri Lanka’s east coast. Boats leave from the beach.
Can you see sharks at Pigeon Island?
Blacktip reef sharks are often seen in the shallow coral areas, as are sea turtles. Don’t chase or touch them.
Is Pigeon Island open all year?
No. The Department of Wildlife Conservation closes it when the sea is too rough, as in December 2023 and December 2025 during the north-east monsoon.
Do you need a ticket?
Yes, a national park permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation, on top of the boat fare. Check the current fee locally.
Can you touch the coral?
No. Don’t stand on, touch or take coral: the reef has already been damaged by bleaching and heavy visitor use.
Sources: dwc.gov.lk, dwc.gov.lk, srilanka.travel, en.wikipedia.org (Pigeon Island National Park), en.wikipedia.org (List of national parks of…), en.wikipedia.org (Nilaveli), sundaytimes.lk (nws 78.html), hirunews.lk, srilankamirror.com, sundaytimes.lk (rough seas force temporary closure…), en.wikipedia.org (Climate of Sri Lanka) and recent visitor reports. Header photo: AntanO / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
