Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary - Hikkaduwa & South Coast
The Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary is a gentle spot, usually tackled as a shallow second dive or for newer divers getting their fins wet. Depths here stay between 3 and 12 metres, making it an easy drift over healthy coral patches. You’ll often find green sea turtles munching away, quite unbothered by divers, along with schools of snapper and the occasional ray cruising by. It’s a good place to spot a Blackspotted Rockskipper or a Coral Blenny if you take your time and peer into the crevices. We’d suggest going early in the morning before it gets too busy.
- Location
- Hikkaduwa & South Coast, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 6.131000, 80.095000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-12m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Hikkaduwa NP
Best Time to Dive in Hikkaduwa & South Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Hikkaduwa & South Coast occur in January, averaging 28.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- February: 28.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- March: 28.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
- April: 28.4°C (air: 27.4°C)
- May: 28.4°C (air: 27.4°C)
- June: 28.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
- July: 28.4°C (air: 27.0°C)
- August: 28.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- September: 28.4°C (air: 26.6°C)
- October: 28.4°C (air: 26.4°C)
- November: 28.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
- December: 28.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Hikkaduwa & South Coast
- AENOS - 2m (wreck)
- ALSIA - 2m (wreck)
- ASCALON - 2m (wreck)
- ASTORIA - 18m (wreck)
- Avondster - 5M
- Barrakuda Point
- Black Coral Wreck - 40 M (wreck)
- Blue Water Dive Center
- Cargo Wreck - 20 metres/65 feet (wreck)
- CHIEF DRAGON - 33m (wreck)
- CHRYSSOPIGI CROSS - 10m (wreck)
- Crow Island - 10m (reef)
- Dakune Gala
- Diyamba Gala - 33m
- Eel Rock
Nearest Dive Centres to Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
- Dive For You - ["PADI"]
- Divinguru Unawatuna - ["PADI"]
- Island Scuba - ["PADI"]
- Lanka Sportreizen - Marina, Bentota - ["PADI"]
- Pearl Divers - ["PADI"]
- Polhena Diving Center - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Hikkaduwa & South Coast
Home to 95 recorded species including 65 reef fish, 6 whales & dolphins, 6 hard corals, 5 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 other, 2 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)
- Orange-lined Triggerfish (Balistapus undulatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - Reef Fish
- Barracuda (Acanthocybium solandri) - Reef Fish
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Black-headed Leatherjacket (Pervagor melanocephalus) - Reef Fish
- Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) - Reef Fish
- Black-lined Blenny (Istiblennius lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Honeycomb Filefish (Cantherhines pardalis) - Reef Fish
- Sand-dusted Cone (Conus arenatus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- marbled spiny eel (Mastacembelus armatus) - Reef Fish
- Striped Triplefin (Helcogramma striata) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora hyacinthus) - Hard Corals
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
Recommended Packing List for Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Based on average water temperature of 28.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories