Hikkaduwa

Sri Lanka

A fringing coral reef system on Sri Lanka's southwest coast, protected as Hikkaduwa National Park and one of the island's most accessible dive and snorkel destinations.

Hikkaduwa lies on Sri Lanka's southwest coast and centers on a shallow fringing reef, protected first as a sanctuary in 1979 and later as a national park in 2002. The reef supports around 60 coral species and over 170 reef fish species, along with seagrass beds used by dugongs and sea turtles. Its compact size and proximity to Colombo and Galle make it one of the more convenient dive regions for a short visit, typically dived from around November to May.