Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Whale- & Dolphin-Watching
Sri Lanka is fast gaining a reputation for being a world-class whale-watching location. The
big attraction is big indeed - blue whales, the largest of all creatures.
Mirissa
is the best
place from which to organise a whale-watching trip. On the east coast, Uppuveli and Nil-
aveli offer quieter but less-reliable whale-watching and in the northwest the
Kalpitiya area
is popular, although here schools of dolphins are more common than whales.
In all these places local boat tours are available, but it pays to go with someone who
really knows what they're doing.
Eco Team Sri Lanka
( 011-583 0833;
www.srilankaecotourism.com
;20/63 Fairfield Gardens, Colombo)
is first-rate and offers whale-
watching (and dolphin-watching) tours to all of these places.
The season for whales (and dolphins) off the south coast and Kalpitiya is from January
to April, while on the east coast it runs from May to October.
Dolphins
SARANGA DEVA DE ALWIS / GETTY IMAGES ©
Diving & Snorkelling
There are plenty of opportunities to live like a fish in Sri Lanka. Dive schools can be found
all along the coast (except the far north) and you can slap on a snorkel almost anywhere.
Diving and snorkelling in Sri Lanka is more about the fish than the reefs, but there are a
