Pigeon Island - Trincomalee & East Coast
Pigeon Island is a good spot for a relaxed dive, especially if you’re just getting comfortable in the water. It’s pretty shallow, topping out around 15 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to scout around the coral. We often see blacktip reef sharks cruising through, and the smaller stuff like Bicolor Blennies and Pale-spotted Combtooth-Blenny are always darting about. It's an easy drift or a potter around, perfect for newer divers or anyone keen on a leisurely photography session.
- Location
- Trincomalee & East Coast, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 8.728000, 81.196000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-15m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Paravi Dupatha National Park
Best Time to Dive in Trincomalee & East Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Trincomalee & East Coast occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- February: 27.4°C (air: 26.3°C)
- March: 27.4°C (air: 27.3°C)
- April: 27.4°C (air: 28.2°C)
- May: 27.4°C (air: 28.9°C)
- June: 27.4°C (air: 29.6°C)
- July: 27.4°C (air: 29.4°C)
- August: 27.4°C (air: 28.9°C)
- September: 27.4°C (air: 28.7°C)
- October: 27.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
- November: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
- December: 27.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Trincomalee & East Coast
- Angel Diving Center
- Bar Reef (reef)
- Bar Reef (reef)
- BRITISH SERGEANT - 20m (wreck)
- CITY OF MARSEILLES (POSSIBLY) - 6m (wreck)
- CITY OF MYSORE - 5m (wreck)
- Coffin Ray Point
- Condolidated Catalina PBY-5A Aircraft Wreck - 42m (wreck)
- CORDIALITY - 14m (wreck)
- Fort Frederic - 18m (reef)
- HMAS VAMPIRE - 50m (wreck)
- HMS DIOMEDE - 22m (wreck)
- HMS Hermes - 48-55m (wreck)
- HMS Hermes (wreck)
- HMS HOLLYHOCK - 60m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Pigeon Island
- Coco Diving Trincomalee - ["PADI"]
- Dive For You - ["PADI"]
- Epic Ocean Adventures - ["PADI"]
- International Diving School Trincomalee - ["PADI"]
- Poseidon Diving Centre - ["PADI"]
- Sri Lanka Dive School
Marine Life in Trincomalee & East Coast
Home to 259 recorded species including 205 reef fish, 16 hard corals, 14 sea snails & nudibranchs, 7 sharks & rays, 6 seagrass & algae, 5 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Giant trevally (Caranx ignobilis) - Reef Fish
- Big-eye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) - Reef Fish
- cloth-of-gold cone snail (Conus textile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Jack (Selar crumenophthalmus) - Reef Fish
- Silver Sillago (Sillago sihama) - Reef Fish
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Ea (Enhalus acoroides) - Seagrass & Algae
- Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Small-eyed Squirrelfish (Myripristis murdjan) - Reef Fish
- Necklace Cone (Conus monile) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
- Manini (Acanthurus triostegus) - Reef Fish
- Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) - Reef Fish
- Blue-lined Surgeonfish (Acanthurus lineatus) - Reef Fish
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Five-lined snapper (Lutjanus quinquelineatus) - Reef Fish
- Herring Scad (Alepes vari) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue and Gold Fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Pigeon Island
Based on average water temperature of 27.4°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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