The popular coastal town of Hikkaduwa with its endless sunny skies, white sands and surf has long been regarded as a back-backer’s haven for travellers heading down the coastline. One of its major attractions is the stunning coral reefs which helped promote the town as a top destination for snorkelling and scuba diving in Sri Lanka. Attractions aside, this really is a beautiful reef and unlike the other reefs found along the southern coastline, the coral reefs near Hikkaduwa are the most diverse and easily accessible.
Due to the wide range of bio-diversity among the reefs, it was declared a marine sanctuary in 1979 and later a Marine National Park. The main coral reefs can be found in calm, shallow waters near a lagoon, making it a perfect snorkelling excursion for anyone who wants to attempt it without any previous experience. The reef begins nearby to the fishing harbour and extends out about 4km south. Up to 60 species of coral has been recorded so far with over 170 species of marine life. Tropical fish like angel fish, butterfly fish, snappers, parrot fish and more can be seen frequently swimming among the corals whilst schools of trevally fish are typical found swimming in shallow lagoons along with a few turtles.
The best way to experience the reefs is to go with a guide who can take you to all the best spots along the corals and explain the differences between the vast formations of corals and marine life. If you’re staying at one of the hotels along the coastline like the Cantaloupe Hotels, the hotel will usually arrange a trusted guide to accompany you. For scuba divers, venture out beyond the shallow reef where several deeper reefs and rock formations can be found, teeming with marine life. There are even a few old shipwrecks that over the years have turned into artificial reefs, providing sanctuary for corals and reef fish. The best time to visit the Hikkaduwa coral reefs is between November and April when the seas are calmer and sunny skies are aplenty.
