International visitors generally arrive via Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), then continue by prearranged car or via the Colombo coast-line rail network. The approved circuit consists of Galle, Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa only. Galle is a useful heritage base, Unawatuna is convenient for Divinguru's seasonal local operation, and Hikkaduwa suits its own reef and wreck departures. Sri Lanka Railways officially lists all three stations, but not every service stops everywhere. Verify train running, road traffic and dive-center pickup before making a tight connection. Sources: Sri Lanka Tourism | airports and Sri Lanka Railways | Coast Line station list.

Sri Lanka's principal international gateway at Katunayake. This is an overland arrival for the approved Galle-Unawatuna-Hikkaduwa circuit rather than an airport inside the destination.

Use the Sri Lanka Railways Coast Line for town-to-town connections where your train actually stops, and a prearranged car, taxi or tuk-tuk for station-to-beach, hill and dive-center transfers. The Galle Fort area can be explored on foot. Confirm the pickup point separately for Hikkaduwa and Unawatuna; never assume one operator's boats will pick up from the other town. After heavy rain, allow extra travel flexibility and follow local road or flood warnings. Railway source: Sri Lanka Railways | Coast Line station list; timetable checks: Sri Lanka Railways | timetable.

The Sri Lankan Immigration ETA service states that tourists generally need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization before arrival. Effective 25 May 2026, nationals of a listed set of 40 countries, including the United States and several European countries, can obtain a free 30-day tourist ETA; other nationalities may owe fees or follow exceptions. The authority also requires a passport valid for at least six months on arrival and may require onward/return travel and sufficient funds. Verify your nationality, visa type, permissions and fees at the official ETA service and Sri Lanka Immigration | visa eligibility. No diving or marine-park permission is granted by a tourist ETA.

Operator listings support air fills, rental regulators, BCDs, masks, fins, cylinders and dive computers at at least one Hikkaduwa center and gear rental at Divinguru; do not assume every center has identical sizes, service records, nitrox blends or maintenance capacity. Ask whether tanks and weights are included, whether computers, torches or course materials cost extra, and whether personal insurance is required. For snorkeling or freediving, confirm fins/line setup and licensed supervision separately. No specialized technical fills, rebreather support or overhead access were verified. PADI | International Diving School Hikkaduwa; Divinguru | operator rate card.

The local currency is the Sri Lankan rupee. Carry smaller notes for tuk-tuks, beaches and small cafes. Hotels and larger businesses may accept cards, and some dive providers quote international currencies; confirm the actual settlement currency, local exchange rate and any card fee directly before paying. Sri Lanka Tourism guidance: Sri Lanka Tourism | practical travel tips.

ATMs are available in towns such as Galle and Hikkaduwa, but individual banks may decline some foreign cards or charge fees. Use bank-located machines and hold backup cash for small suppliers. Sri Lanka Tourism | practical travel tips.

Type G is the national standard; older Type D outlets can remain in use. Carry an appropriate safe adapter and verify voltage compatibility of chargers. Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka | plug standard; Electrical Safety First | Sri Lanka power.

Communications

English is used widely in the visitor economy but not uniformly. A local prepaid SIM or eSIM can be bought from an operator such as Dialog with passport verification; do not assume identical signal or mobile data coverage offshore. Download map and emergency contacts before boat departures. Dialog Sri Lanka | tourist SIM and eSIM.

Language

Sinhala and Tamil are national official languages, and English is a link language often used by tourism operators. Ask for a briefing in a language you fully understand, particularly for emergency procedures and restricted wreck permissions. Sri Lanka Tourism | practical travel tips.

Insurance

Choose travel insurance that explicitly covers recreational scuba, planned maximum depth and courses, freediving if applicable, medical evacuation, and recompression treatment. Check exclusions for wreck penetration, depth, monsoon-weather disruption and evacuation to a specialist chamber outside the region. Insurance is not evidence that the local marine rescue network is adequate.

Packing list

Bring sun protection, a rash guard, light rain layer for October-November and monsoon months, safe shoes for wet heritage walks, reef-respectful snorkeling equipment, seasickness medication if appropriate and proof of qualifications. For scuba consider a personal computer, mask and SMB; for freediving follow instructor-specific equipment requirements. Protect electronics and documents from spray and downpours.

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