Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka's east coast, is a haven for scuba divers, offering a diverse range of underwater landscapes and marine life. The area boasts numerous dive sites, including coral reefs, shipwrecks, and rock formations, catering to all skill levels. Divers can explore the vibrant coral gardens, encounter schooling fish, and even spot larger marine creatures like blacktip reef sharks and turtles.
Dive Sites:
Pigeon Island Marine Park:
This renowned park offers shallow dive sites teeming with hard and soft corals, diverse fish species, blacktip reef sharks, and turtles.
Coral Garden:
A shallow reef perfect for beginners and Discover Scuba Diving experiences.
Swami Rock:
A dive site with historical significance, near a sunken temple site, and rich in marine life.
Navy Underwater Dive Museum:
Explore two sunken navy gunboats, now artificial reefs, surrounded by marine life and underwater sculptures.
Other notable sites:
Swami Rock, Sardine Tooth, Bubble Rock, and various other reef and wreck dives.
Marine Life:
Reef Fish:
Trincomalee's reefs are home to over 1,000 species of reef fish, including eagle rays, blue spotted stingrays, and more.
Hard and Soft Corals:
Divers can admire over 200 species of hard corals and a vast array of soft corals.
Larger Marine Life:
Blacktip reef sharks, turtles, and occasional whale sharks, reef sharks, and manta rays can be spotted in the area.
Dive Center Services:
Trincomalee Diving Centre:
Offers a variety of dives, including reef dives, rock dives, wreck dives, and night dives.
Sri Lanka Diving Tours:
Provides PADI diver training, from Discover Scuba Diving to Instructor level, and guided dive trips to Pigeon Island.
Other Dive Operators:
Several PADI and SSI dive centers offer a range of diving courses, guided dives, and excursions.
Best Time to Dive:
The best time to dive in Trincomalee is generally between April and September, when visibility is excellent and you may even see a whale shark.
The water temperature ranges from 27 to 29 degrees Celsius, making it comfortable for diving all year round.
Safety and Comfort:
Many dive centers prioritize safety, offering dive briefings, first aid training, and rescue trainings.
Dive operators often have portable DAN systems and stationary oxygen supplies available.
The calm waters and sheltered dive sites make Trincomalee a particularly good location for beginner divers.
