Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
A shallow marine sanctuary off Hikkaduwa beach where coral gardens, tropical fish and sea turtles can be seen by snorkelling or from a glass-bottom boat.
Set almost in the central stretch of Hikkaduwa's Long Beach, the coral reef here gave the entire town its reputation, and remains, even in its diminished state, the reason Hikkaduwa became one of Sri Lanka's most established beach destinations in the first place. Protection efforts stretch back decades, the surrounding rocky islets were declared bird sanctuaries in 1940, territorial waters gained fisheries protection in 1961, and the full Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary was formally gazetted under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance in 1979, eventually growing into today's Hikkaduwa National Park.
The reef itself holds around 60 coral species, staghorn, elkhorn, cabbage, brain, table and star coral among them, alongside roughly 170 species of reef fish and marine life ranging from sea turtles to the occasional dugong sighting. Glass bottom boats remain the classic way to take it in without getting wet, gliding directly over the coral formations, while snorkeling gear rents cheaply right along the beach for anyone wanting a closer, hands on look. It's worth knowing going in that decades of heavy foot and boat traffic have visibly worn down parts of the reef, some visitors today find the coral less vivid than older accounts describe, though turtles still return here reliably enough to make a visit worthwhile regardless.
November through April brings the calm, clear conditions that make snorkeling and diving genuinely rewarding, while the southwest monsoon from May through October churns the water rough enough that most marine activities simply pause until conditions improve again.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Boat or snorkel hire fee applies
- Opening hours: Daylight hours
- Time needed: 1 to 2 hours
- Best time: Morning, for the clearest water
Getting there
Directly off Hikkaduwa beach, about 20km north of Galle.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary?
- Boat or snorkel hire fee applies.
- What are the opening hours at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary?
- Daylight hours.
- How long should I spend at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary?
- Plan for 1 to 2 hours.
- When is the best time to visit Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary?
- Morning, for the clearest water.
- How do I get to Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary?
- Directly off Hikkaduwa beach, about 20km north of Galle.