Hikkaduwa's 'coral sanctuary' is stretching out from Hikkaduwa shore to a group of rocks a couple of hundreds meters offshore. It is a large and shallow that enclosed by a reef - fishing and spear fishing are prohibited in the area. Visitors can swim to the reef as the water over the reef is never more than three or four meters deep. In the sanctuary the coral is not being torn up or burnt to make lime for building as is happening elsewhere at Hikkaduwa. Thus, the beach is being eroded in places. Renting a mask, snorkel and fins from dive centers available in the area is possible.
(http://www.sri-lanka-tour.com/attraction/coral-sanctuary.htm)
