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A white beach and turquoise cove on Pigeon Island below a scrub-covered rocky hill, with snorkellers in the shallow water

Diving and Snorkelling in Sri Lanka

Start with the best-known places: Hikkaduwa, Nilaveli, Pigeon Island and Marble Beach.

10 guides1 itinerary passes throughChecked 11 Oct 2026

Plan your route

Where to find diving and snorkelling

  • Southern Province 5 guides
  • Eastern Province 5 guides

Top places for diving and snorkelling

Map of Diving and Snorkelling

The 3 places with coordinates in their guides; numbers match the top places.

Map of 3 places
  1. 1Pigeon Island
  2. 2Hikkaduwa
  3. 3Nilaveli
Open in Google Maps© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap

Around Hikkaduwa, by distance

Straight-line distance from Hikkaduwa, from each guide's coordinates; the road is longer.

Diving and Snorkelling in pictures

Photos from the guides, credited on each page.

  • Glass-bottom boats moored in the shallow reef lagoon at Hikkaduwa, seen from the beach past a wooden fishing boat
  • Two fishing boats pulled up on the wide sand of Nilaveli beach, with small waves breaking and a line of palms in the distance
  • A white beach and turquoise cove on Pigeon Island below a scrub-covered rocky hill, with snorkellers in the shallow water
  • A white beach and turquoise cove on Pigeon Island below a scrub-covered rocky hill, with snorkellers in the shallow water
  • A curving sandy beach with two fishing boats and thatched sunshades, calm turquoise water and a forested headland ending in rocks
  • Glass-bottom boats moored in the shallow reef lagoon at Hikkaduwa, seen from the beach path
  • Small canopied tour boats moored in the calm lagoon inside Hikkaduwa's reef, with waves breaking on the reef edge beyond and a wooden outrigger canoe on the sand
  • A small sandy cove backed by thick forest, with turquoise water and a wooded point of land running out into the sea
  • A palm-leaf sunshade, two sun loungers and a red flag on the sand at Nilaveli at dawn, with long-exposure clouds streaking over the sea and small islands on the horizon

Beach in diving and snorkelling

Marine park in diving and snorkelling

Where to go for diving and snorkelling

Itineraries for diving and snorkelling

What recent visitors report

Lines from the guides' 2025–26 visitor reports.

Frequently asked about Diving and Snorkelling

When is the surf season in Hikkaduwa?

November to March, according to Sri Lanka Tourism. From the Hikkaduwa guide

How far is Pigeon Island from Nilaveli?

About 1 km offshore. Boats leave from Nilaveli beach, and you also need a park permit from the Department of Wildlife Conservation. From the Nilaveli guide

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. From the Pigeon Island guide

When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka's east coast?

From about May to September, the dry season on this coast. Most rain falls from about October to January, when boat trips are often cancelled and many places in Arugam Bay close. From the East coast in 9 days guide

How much is the entrance fee for Marble Beach?

According to the Air Force's official ticket page, adults pay Rs 50 and children under 18 pay Rs 30. Parking costs from Rs 20 for a tuk-tuk to Rs 200 for a bus. From the Marble Beach guide

Is Hikkaduwa Beach good for swimming?

In the calm months, yes, but currents can be strong. In January 2025 the sea swept away a visitor who had ignored warning signs. Follow the signs and flags, and take extra care from May to September. From the Hikkaduwa Beach guide

Before you go

Header photo: AntanO / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.