10 Best Water Sports in Sri Lanka
Posted by Adventurer Hirushani Umayanga
The island of Sri Lanka is rich in water sports around beaches, lagoons and rivers. If dashing into the water is your dream, then water sports in Sri Lanka is the best place for you to be. It will give you ample opportunities to have fun, relaxation and your own bit of enjoyment too. Indulging in some extreme thrilling experiences of snorkeling, surfing and scuba diving will leave you truly refreshed. These water sports will also allow you to discover the richness of the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean. Let's talk about the most interesting things and what is the best place in Sri Lanka to enjoy every sport.
1.Surfing
The exciting experience of surfing will surely give you an unforgettable experience for a lifetime. To enjoy surfing the most, you need to be on a beach that has beautiful crashing waves that you can surf against. Of course, in the sport of surfing, patience is of utmost importance as you have to wait for the wave. At the same time, you should be willing to take chances at massive waves and keep calm if things get hectic. The Indian Ocean offers great waves to Sri Lankan coastal explorers. In the high season, the swelling grows up to eight feet. No matter whether it is your first time or you are a professional, it is always better to understand the water from a trainer to learn the basics of surfing in safe waters. So, peel off the waves with your surfs and let the adventure begin!
Location : South-east coast Arugam bay and East coast Pasikuda, South-west coast Unawatuna and South coast Hikkaduwa and Weligama.
Time : July to September for South-east & East coast, November to April for South and South-west coast
2.Jet Skiing
Jet skiing is very much like a motorbike ride, but on water! The thrill of riding a motorbike on water can only be experienced through a Jet Ski ride. You can explore deep into the ocean if you are confident enough on a jet ski while making speedy movements around big waves. Jet skiing can be played in many parts of the island, including the east, west and south coasts, as well as man-made lakes throughout the island. So, experience the adrenaline rush in your body when the waves of the ocean lift you and feel amazed as you fly through the misty sea.
Location : East-Pasikuda, North-west-Kalpitiya, West-Negombo beach & lagoon and south-west coast-Unawatuna, South-Hikkaduwa, Bentota beaches as well as man-made lakes like Gregory
Time : October to April for South-west and west coast and March to November for North-east and east coast
3.Scuba Diving
Scuba diving will take you down into the beautiful world of water creatures. Swim with the fish , explore the underwater life, and witness how it works down there by diving deep into the sea! Equipment such as masks, fins, scuba tank and wetsuit are provided by the center, along with a guide who will swim around with you. You will find a wide variety of marine creatures in Sri Lankan waters from the mighty Blue Whale to the tiny nudibranch. Mount Lavinia reef which will never disappoint you because it is home to some of the beautiful aquatic creatures such as Lionfish, rays, and nudibranch. The friendly locals of the place well complemented with amazing food make the experience even better. Go and get that experience once in a lifetime.
Location : South-Hikkaduwa, South-west-Unawatuna, Mount Lavinia and North-west-Bulldog Reef in Kalpitiya, North-east-Pigeon Island in Trincomalee
Time : November to April for North-west, South, South-west coast, March to November for North-east coast
4.Dolphin and Whale Watching
Watching whales and dolphins in their natural habitats is one of the most striking activities. This safari tour offers many centers in the area and the boat leaves harbor for Safari at 06.00 AM. Boat safari tours take approximately 05 to 08 hours. It depends on the spotting of whales and the wishes of our passengers. Breakfast and a guide will be included. Twenty six out of eighty species of whales and fifteen out of forty-two species of dolphins have been recorded around Sri Lanka. You can see Blue whales, Bryde's whales, Sperm whales, Fin whales, sometimes Killer whales and also observe the friendly Spinner Dolphins in their hundreds as they play, dance and show off their acrobatic skills. Blue Whales and Sperm Whales that are considered to be some of the largest creatures on earth. It is a truly unique experience and a brilliant opportunity to witness the earth’s largest mammal – the blue whale.
Location : North-east Trincomalee, North-west Kalpitiya, South-west Aluthgama, Ambalangoda, South- Mirissa, Galle
Time : March to May for North-east coast, February to April for North-west coast, November to April for South and South-west coast
5.White Water Rafting
Experience White Water Rafting in the picturesque Kelani River in Kitulgala covering five major rapids and four minor rapids. The distance covered is around five kilometers. Anyone over 10 years old can whitewater raft with the proper safety equipment and with a professional experienced team of river guides. While water rafting in this section of the Kelani River is an exhilarating experience. Rocky sections, rapids, and rafting through the boulders and rocks, create grade 2 to 3+ rapids. As the river widens, you will go past the exact location which was used to film ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’. This location is also ideal for a refreshing swim with its cool and inviting waters. A flatter section of the lower gorge is ideal for those who want to enjoy the river and its surrounding beauty - without having to navigate through the thrills and spills of large rapids. This option is perfect for children and family groups. The changing contours of the route along with the gushing crystal clear waters, certainly make white water rafting at Kitulgala a novel experience. The white-water rafting adventure ends further down the river close to the Kitulgala town and this adventure takes 1 hour.
Location : Kitulgala
Time : April to November
6.Banana Boat Ride
In Banana ride, a long banana shaped boat is pulled by a motor boat at a very high speed, giving you the thrill of your life. Most popular among young and adventurous people, this trip gives you a joyous experience when you get out of the boat and the process of getting back on the boat is as much fun as riding it. With up to 7 adventurers sitting astride the giant inflatable Banana, the experienced speed-boat Captain will execute repeated sharp turns in his attempts to flip the Banana Boat upside-down and dump as many riders as possible into the water! Prepare to get wet! This is possibly the most hilarious activity as you try to defeat the captain’s best efforts at getting you into the Lagoon, as you hang on during this white knuckle ride! An exhilarating and enjoyable activity! All essential equipment is provided with fully trained and experienced guides.
Location : Bentota, Negombo lagoon, Colombo
Time : October to April with lesser precipitation
7.Canoeing & Kayaking
Kayaking and Canoes are nothing but modes of transportation which were once used by fishermen in ancient times. There is nothing much different between these two, kayak uses a double-bladed paddle pulling the blade through the water on alternate sides to move forward and canoe uses a single-bladed paddle to propel the boat forward. Paddling through nature, exploring the wildlife and relaxing while enjoying the serene views of the surroundings, is all that one has got to do! All safety guidelines and equipment are provided by well-trained centers.
If you’re visiting Sri Lanka with your partner, then canoeing is one thing you should add to your itinerary for creating some cheerful memories. Once you’re there, just canoe in the scenic river and paddle your way through the gorgeous views and share a laugh or two with your beloved.
Location : Kalutara, Unawatuna Lagoon, Rekawa lagoon, Sembuwatta lake, Samanalawewa reservoir
Time : Morning or Evening time is suitable When it is less windy, November to early May
8. Turtle Watching
Five out of the seven species of sea Turtles such as green, loggerhead, hawksbill, olive ridley and leatherback, come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka, making it an ideal country to go Turtle Watching.
Turtle Watch is a marine turtle conservation project which aims to protect the turtles’ nesting sites and ensure that the eggs can hatch safely. Visitors can go on ‘turtle watch’ any evening of the year, where the volunteers from the center lead groups to the beach between 8:30pm and 11:30pm where you can watch the turtles laying eggs or returning to the sea. As waiting for turtles to appear can take a couple of hours, patience is required. During the season 5-15 turtles appear each night and off season it is approximately 1-2. The center has strict rules about not disturbing the turtles and visitors should be aware that flash photography and white/yellow torches are not allowed.
Location : Rekawa, Beruwala, Induruwa, Kosgoda
Time : April to July
9.Snorkeling
Snorkeling in Sri Lanka is one of the best water sports that will thrill your senses! Go through the surface in the sea and be delighted by the tropical fishes, colored coral reefs, and the shipwrecks.
Snorkeling and scuba diving are very similar activities and the primary difference is that snorkeling only allows you to swim at the water's surface, while scuba diving lets you descend deeper into the sea. Equipment such as masks, fins and snorkels are provided by the center, along with a guide who will swim around with you. During your snorkel experience, if you want the adventure to reach its peak, you can try Bar Reef, located two kilometers off the coast of Kalpitiya which is considered to be Sri Lanka’s largest reef.
Location : Pigeon Island, Hikkaduwa, Weligama, Kirinda, Kalpitiya beach
Time : March to May
10.Sea Plane Ride
The Seaplane ride is an activity that will give you the most breathtaking experience of witnessing the beauty of the place as you will be flying over water, and through the sky, all at the same time.
Sri Lanka is rich in spectacular beauty and cultural diversity. The golden beaches, the exotic flora and fauna, the diverse landscapes, the beautiful heritage architecture of the islands over two thousand years old are a lifelong experience to preserve. Allowing you to travel on a comfortable seaplane in Sri Lanka gives you a bird's eye view of this fascinating island. The rides are available for most parts of Sri Lanka.
Location : The rides are available from Colombo, Galle, Bentota, Batticaloa, Dickwella, Kandy, Koggala, Sigiriya, Trincomalee and many other cities.
Time : The ride can last from 10 minutes to an hour with best suited weather.
