Hikkaduwa for snorkelling and diving — is it still good or has the coral reef been damaged?
Hikkaduwa used to be famous for its coral reef and turtle sightings, but I've read conflicting reports about coral bleaching and overcrowding damaging the reef.
1. What is the current state of the Hikkaduwa coral reef — is it worth snorkelling?
2. Are turtle sightings in the shallows reliable or is that overhyped?
3. How is the visibility for snorkelling vs proper scuba diving?
4. What are the best dive sites around Hikkaduwa for an intermediate diver?
5. How does Hikkaduwa compare to Pigeon Island (Trincomalee) for snorkelling quality?
6. Is there good shore entry snorkelling or do you need a boat?
7. What time of year gives the best underwater visibility?
I'm an Open Water certified diver looking for genuinely good underwater experiences.
3 Answers
I run a dive school at Hikkaduwa. Honest assessment.
Coral reef current state: The Hikkaduwa National Marine Sanctuary has partially recovered from the 2004 tsunami and subsequent bleaching events. The inner reef (shallow, 1–3m) visible from shore is degraded by boat anchoring and foot traffic from inexperienced snorkellers. The outer reef (3–10m, by boat) has recovered significantly and has genuinely good hard and soft coral coverage.
Turtle sightings: Yes, reliable. Green and hawksbill turtles are present year-round in the shallow areas off the beach. You can see them from shore with a mask and fins — they feed on the reef grass and are habituated to people. This is one of Hikkaduwa's genuine strengths.
Snorkelling quality: Shore entry snorkelling is mediocre (crowded, degraded inner reef). Boat snorkelling to the outer reef: genuinely good, 5–8m visibility typically, healthy coral, fish life.
Dive sites: Several worth diving:
1. The Cathedral (16m) — large swim-through archways, excellent fish diversity
2. The Wreck (20m) — a small freighter, good for intermediate divers
3. Kirala Gala (18m) — pinnacles with hard coral and angelfish
Vs Pigeon Island (Trincomalee): Pigeon Island is better for snorkelling — cleaner water, healthier reef, fewer people. Hikkaduwa has better dive sites variety. Both are worth visiting if you're doing east coast.
Best season: November–April for southwest coast diving (calmest seas). Avoid May–October when swell makes diving difficult.
Dived Hikkaduwa in January — The Cathedral dive was the highlight. The arches are genuinely impressive at 15m, and we saw a large school of sweetlips, a resting nurse shark under a ledge, and a decent octopus on the way up. The instructors at the dive centre I used (asked guesthouse for recommendation) were knowledgeable and safety-conscious. Worth it for the dives even if the snorkelling doesn't blow you away.
For snorkelling specifically: the best snorkelling on the south coast is actually at Unawatuna's Japanese Garden reef (not Hikkaduwa). A 5-minute swim from Jungle Beach or by kayak. Much less crowded than Hikkaduwa and the coral garden is genuinely healthy. If you're based in the Galle/Unawatuna area and primarily snorkelling (not diving), go there instead.
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