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Dive Sites of Sri Lanka
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Wreck Conch
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Oil tanker that sank in 1903, depth between 14 meters – 22 meters. Travelling time by boat 45 minutes. You could see beautiful corals and many species of tropical fish.
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Wreck Earl of Shaftsbury
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Sailing ship which sank in 1877 (one piece), depth 16 meters. Travelling time by boat 30 minutes. Many Barracudas, Big Grouper and Rays.
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Wreck Ethopy
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Cargo ship which sank in 1877 (many pieces & big engine), depth 10 – 15 meters. Travelling time by boat 60 minutes. Many species of fish.
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Wreck Rangoon
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Sailing ship still in one piece; depth 20 – 35 meters. Travelling time by boat 120 minutes. Corals and many fish.
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Madagala Wreck
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The wreck is in two pieces, depth 20 – 28 meters. Travelling time by boat 60 minutes. Big Grouper, Rays and many other fish can be seen.
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Kirala Gala
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Deep drift dive. Maximum depth 24 – 35 meters. Travelling time by boat 20 minutes. Barracudas, Moray Eels and many other fish.
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Black Coral Point
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Drift dive. Maximum depth 20 – 35 meters. Travelling time by boat 20 minutes. Groupers, Jack Fish, Snappers, and Black Coral.
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Godagala
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Drift dive. Depth 06 – 28 meters. Travelling time by boat 25 minutes. Manta Ray, Big Grouper and other fish.
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Hikkaduwa Gala
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Drift dive. Depth 02 – 21 meters. Travelling time by boat 20 minutes. Groupers, Snappers and many other fish.
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The Canyon
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True to its name, this site is the aquatic version of the Grand Canyon but on a smaller scale. The rock formation here is spectacular, being more massive than those found in Mudun Gala or Mada Gala. Again, lots of crevices and fissures housed diverse fish life, though the latter is not as abundant as in Mudun. The current is mild and a pleasant time can be had letting it carry you along in and out of the canyon. The schools of fish in front of the rock edge here are generally more relaxed. Schools of yellow fusiliers, red-tooth triggerfish and longfin bannerfish can be seen.
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Siri Gala
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This is one huge plateau tapering gently onto the sandy bottom. The plateau is flanked by a few huge rocks which create very interesting caves and valleys. Such a terrain would drive wide-angle photographers wild. Parrotfish, bannerfish and other small fish scavenge near coral stubble on the plateau surface at 13m. Near the surface, schools of fish cross one another's paths while a lone, 2m long black tip reef shark cruised by, singling out the choicest morsels. A great barracuda suddenly appeared out of nowhere, its razor-like teeth and silver body slicing through the water and dispersing the fish in all directions.
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Mada Gala
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This site is very similar to Mudun Gala in terms of terrain and fish life. Like Mudun, the rock formation is impressive with lots of swimthroughs to explore. In front of the rock, where the current sweeps in, can be found big concentrations of fish. The school of mackerel and jacks, especially, is spectacular here. Huge schools of fusiliers can be seen enveloping you near the surface, feeding and fending off one another as if there were no tomorrow.
Night diving here is quite an experience - the journey out is a thrilling roller-coaster ride as the boat maneouvres its way out from the wave-tossed area near the river mouth. Once out of the area, the ride is smoother. There is a strong surface current and immediate descent is necessary. Exploring the rock top at 20m, you will be surprised at the amount of macro life . Minute crabs and shrimps dwell amongst hard coral, and some of them are perfectly camouflaged against the algae on the rock face.
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