Pearl Divers

Hikkaduwa & South Coast, Sri Lanka

The team at Pearl Divers are exactly the sort of people you want to spend your dive holiday with: laid back, funny, and incredibly knowledgeable about the Hikkaduwa coastline. We’ve always been impressed by their chill vibe, especially when the dive boat is buzzing with new Open Water students mixed with divers heading out to explore some of the deeper wrecks. They’re PADI certified, so you know the training is solid, but what we really love is how they manage to make every dive feel like a personal exploration. They specialise in showing you the real Hikkaduwa, from the vibrant reef patches just a stone's throw from shore, absolutely packed with angelfish and parrotfish, to our favourite, the Conch Wreck. That wreck can get a bit silty if you’re not careful with your buoyancy, but the sheer volume of glassfish inside is something else – it’s like swimming through a cloud of glittering confetti. Go early in the morning for the best visibility; the afternoon can sometimes bring a bit more chop. They’re a great pick for anyone from a first-timer to an experienced diver looking for unpretentious, honest diving with a crew who genuinely love being in the water.