Diving in South India and Sri Lanka
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover South India and Sri Lanka's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of South India and Sri Lanka, ecoregion. This region features 13 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, South India and Sri Lanka has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in South India and Sri Lanka (2)
Popular Spots in South India and Sri Lanka (13)
Aluth Gal Mattha
Aluth Gal Mattha features a reef system with a maximum depth of 25 meters (82 feet) and good visibility, making it suitable for both beginner and advanced divers. Expect to see various corals and schools of fish in the area. The best diving conditions are from November to April, with water temperatures averaging 27°C (80°F).
Aqua House Reef
Aqua House Reef is located just 20 meters from the shore, featuring a diverse coral ecosystem that extends along the coastline for several hundred meters. The reef descends to a depth of approximately 5 meters, making it an ideal location for beginner divers and snorkelers. The underwater landscape includes various types of corals such as table coral, fan coral, and brain coral, interspersed with sea grass. Marine life commonly observed here includes lionfish, angelfish, bannerfish, juvenile barracuda, as well as larger species like snappers and groupers.
Car Wreck (Chief Dragon)
The Chief Dragon wreck is an old cargo ship sunk in 1983, located at a depth of 20 to 35 meters (66 to 115 feet). The wreck measures approximately 112 meters (368 feet) long and 22 meters (72 feet) wide, featuring several car chassis on the top deck. This site requires multiple dives to fully explore.
Dalawella beach
beginner friendly, enclosed lagoon with beach entry, sandy bottom with chunks of reef formations to swim around, quite shallow all over. Best time to visit is in the mornings, in the afternoon the tide comes over the reef wall at the back and swell can get strong and drag you around. Perfect place to see turtles and various fish, but beach does get crowded as many tourists visit to see the turtles which can ruin the vibe. But this is mainly at the shore, pop your snorkel on and head out into the lagoon and its far more peaceful and enjoyable!
Fort Frederic
Fort Frederic is a reef located approximately 15 minutes from Uppuveli Beach, accessible via shore entry. The site features a mix of corals, stones, and sandy areas. Divers can expect to encounter various marine life, including snappers, rays, and moray eels. Note that there is a net present in the area, which may affect visibility and access to certain parts of the reef. This site is suitable for divers who are becoming accustomed to deeper dives following their open water training.
Govind’s Garden
Govind's Garden features a landscape of sea grass interspersed with hard coral formations, making it an ideal location for novice divers to enhance their buoyancy control, finning techniques, and underwater photography skills. The site is characterized by clear waters and the absence of current, providing a comfortable diving experience. Divers can observe various hard corals, including brain corals, staghorn corals, and table corals. The marine life includes tropical species such as moray eels, anemonefish, parrotfish, and the occasional sightings of stingrays and cuttlefish.
Great Wall
The Great Wall features an extensive stretch of staghorn coral that extends for hundreds of meters. This site is bordered by seagrass meadows and soft sandy areas. Divers should possess good buoyancy control due to the slight surge, which can pose a risk of contact with the sharp coral. Marine life commonly observed here includes various tropical fish such as snappers, damselfish, angelfish, anemonefish, and parrotfish. Additionally, sightings of cuttlefish, moray eels, and stingrays may occur.
Green Mile
Green Mile features a seagrass bed interspersed with coral patches, extending for approximately one mile. The dive site has a depth range of 6 to 8 meters, making it accessible for divers of all experience levels. It is located just a 5-minute boat ride from the shore. Marine life includes various macro species such as nudibranchs, shrimp, and anemone crabs. Additionally, during the summer months, giant pink jellyfish can be observed in the area. The coral types present include fan coral, table coral, and cabbage coral.
Navy Museum
Located approximately 20 minutes from Uppuveli beach, the Navy Museum dive site features two shipwrecks and several statues. The dive area includes a long reef with a maximum depth of 18 meters. Divers can observe various marine life, including octopus, schools of snappers, and occasionally rays and turtles. The predominant underwater structure consists of hard corals.
Oasis, Tuticorin
Oasis in Tuticorin is a shore entry dive site characterized by a coral reef surrounded by extensive seagrass beds. This location is suitable for beginners and training due to its soft sandy bottom and the presence of seagrass. Divers can expect to encounter various tropical fish species, including anemonefish, angelfish, and bannerfish, along with schools of sweepers. The area is also home to resident species such as pufferfish, moray eels, and groupers. Occasionally, divers may spot barracuda, stingrays, and cuttlefish. The site is adorned with numerous seastars, enhancing the underwater landscape.
Ss British Sergeant Wreck
The SS British Sergeant wreck is located at a depth of 24 meters (80 feet) off Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. The wreck is split into two sections, featuring large structural openings that attract schools of fish and allow divers to swim through and explore various entry points within the wreck.
Suwame Rock
Suwame Rock is a dive site located near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, with a maximum depth of 23 meters. The site features a replica statue of Lord Ganesh, stone columns, and blocks of stone, with notable marine life including porcupinefish, pufferfish, crayfish, and trumpetfish. Visibility is generally good, and there is no current, making it best to dive here between January and April.
Thermopylae Sierra
Thermopylae Sierra is a wreck dive site located 23 meters deep off the coast of Lunawa, Sri Lanka. The 165-meter-long former Cypriot ship sank in 2012 and is now home to barracudas, parrotfish, surgeonfish, snappers, and octopuses. Whale sharks have been occasionally observed in the area.