Silavatturai
A remote place, this was this site where those involved in the ancient Pearl Fishery encamped (the fishery of the colonial period was held at Marichchukadi further south). A few miles offshore are the famed Pearl Banks, which are well worth a dive if you can find a local diver to accompany you.
Kalpitiya
October or February is a good time to organize a boat from Kalpitiya to take you from the lagoon into the open sea to the beautiful Bar Reef, where the coral formations are like those found in the Maldives. Off the fishing village of Kandakuliya north of Kalpitiya are two other noteworthy reefs. Southwards there are little known sandstone reefs, a plane wreck off Katuneriya, and several small ships.
Negombo
Between November and March there is good diving to be had at Negombo, although clear water cannot be expected every day of this period. This is because strong currents and the presence of the nearby lagoon rich in silt sometime cause turbidity. As a consequence, however, some of the best seafood can be caught off Negombo, such as barracuda, queenfish and caranx. Lobsters can be caught at night using simply a good flashlight and a sturdy pair of gloves.
Kapungoda
Hire a boat from Negombo and travel south to Kapungoda, where there are two shipwrecks in shallow water. These wrecks, which are best viewed between November and March, are home to an extraordinary variety of fish, as well as large crabs and lobsters.
Colombo
There was a time when Colombo was the only dive site in the island, but back then it was a smaller city with a less polluted sea. Good diving is now to be had only out far out at sea, where the strong currents bring in clear water. However, there is a reef off South Colombo where schools of queenfish, caranx, barracuda and mackerel congregate. There is another reef further offshore where harmless grey sharks sometimes turn up. November to March are the best months.
Mount Lavinia
On calm days during the November to March west coast season a dive off Mount Lavinia Beach can be a rewarding experience as there are usually a variety of exotic fishes to be found.
Akurala
A headland with a fringing coral reef and sea breakers near Akurala offers splendid rock and reef diving two and an abundance of fishes. Moreover, there are two shipwrecks to explore, the Earl of Shaftesbury, which sank in 1893, and the nearby Conch, which sank in 1903.
Hikkaduwa
Although Hikkaduwa is the dive centre on this coast, the reason for it being so - the wonderful reef with its amazing fishes - has long since been devastated by environmental degradation and the sheer number of visitors, both above and below the surface. Consequently, it is better to use Hikkaduwa as a base and dive further south at Dodanduwa and the reefs off Gintota and Ralagala. In early 1956 the Greek freighter Aenos, carrying 6,000 tons of manganese, struck Ralagala and sank. The first divers to visit the partly submerged ship were Arthur. C. Clarke and Mike Wilson.
