Surfing & Scuba Diving

Sri Lanka is a great place for surfing and has been a popular surf destination since the 1970s. The main attraction is Arugam Bay on the remote East Coast, one of the world’s 10 best surf points. The Arugam Bay surfing season runs from July / August and dedicated surfers, who know these waves well, return each year to experience the thrilling waves and the relatively secluded beaches. Arugam Bay was devastated by the 2004 Tsunami but it has responded resiliently and several characterful beach side guesthouses provide comfortable accommodation here. The south and west coast is best between December and March. During the monsoon period from April/May to October the surf is uninviting. Hikkaduwa, less than half an hour north of Galle, is the most famous surf destination on the west coast and has lots of cheap guesthouses, beach restaurants and fun nightlife. Lesser-known bays to the south, such as Ahangama, have a sprinkling of uplifting guesthouses and uncrowded beaches.

Southwest Coast: There are several surf points in the southwest and Hikkaduwa is the most popular. The best surfing spots in Hikkaduwa are in Wewala. Narigama is good for body surfing. Surf boards, gear, and even clothing can be sourced from Hikkaduwa. Surfing season in the southwest is from November to April. Clean, value-for-money accommodation, beach restaurants, bars, and beachside nightclubs gives Hikkaduwa something of the mood of a resort in Goa or Bali. The journey to Hikkaduwa from the international airport in Colombo will take about 3.5 hours.

South Coast: Sri Lanka’s jagged south coast starting from the historic city of Galle upto Tangalle consists of delightful coral-protected bays and headlands and offers a greater diversity of beaches than the southwest coast. At Kabalana, Midigama, Weligama, Mirissa and Matara – surfers prowl the shores in search of some of the best waves in Sri Lanka. Dickwella has some of the island’s best dive spots and Tangalle offers secluded, uninterrupted cove like beaches.