Scuba diving · SRI LANKA
The 7 best scuba diving trips, with what each costs, how long you spend underwater and who it suits. Number one is there for a reason; start with it.
Meet at the PADI 5 Star centre in Unawatuna for one or two guided boat sessions at one of 16 underwater sites. Equipment, tanks, weights, snacks, and free Nitrox are included. Small groups of up to five make it easy to stay close to your guide while looking for turtles, nudibranchs, rays, wrecks, and reef fish.
“2 dives, one shallow (around 8 m.) and one deeper (about 25m). Small boats and small groups (2 divers per guide).”
Spend about three hours learning basic scuba skills with Sun Diving Sri Lanka in Unawatuna. You will practice in a 1-metre lagoon before taking a 10-minute boat ride to Rock Island, where an instructor guides you around reef life and a small wreck. Instructors including Wishva and Manush are known for patient, safety-focused support.
“Amazing experience! My husband and I are both beginners and they were so reassuring. They had an instructor each for us and a third additional one. Lovely team, super friendly and supportive. And they are more reasonably priced than other diving experiences in the area”
Join Divinguru Nilaveli for one or two boat-based scuba sessions at reefs, rocks, wrecks, or Pigeon Island. Certified divers can use supplied gear, 12-liter tanks, and free Nitrox, with guides such as Ellie and Norbert. Expect small groups, snacks, water, and about four hours at sea.
“Great dive center! We dived for 7 days with Nilaveli Divinguru. The dive center is great. Very spacious, well designed and built to a high standard. The dive center also has its own restaurant. Great place for lunch after the dives. One of the best we have dived in. I have travelRead more”
Learn scuba skills at Divinguru Nilaveli with classroom study, pool-style training, and two open-water sessions. The course takes about two to three days, includes equipment, transport, snacks, tea, and bottled water, and is taught by PADI instructors such as Ellie, Norbert, Gita, and Yannis, subject to availability. A €70 PADI fee is extra.
“We went as a couple- one of us completing their license and the other doing free dives. A bonus is that they offer refresher dives if you are licensed but have not dove in a while. The dive shop was fantastic- from picking us up at our hotel to an easy sign in process, the whRead more”
Meet an English- or Sinhala-speaking instructor, get picked up in Mirissa, and spend three hours exploring Sri Lankan reefs, rocks, or wrecks by boat. Beginners receive guidance, while experienced divers can choose sites suited to their level. Equipment, safety gear, snacks, water, and return transport are included.
“Alles war perfekt! Wurden direkt an der Unterkunft abgeholt & wieder zurückgebracht. Das Equiment war ordentlich & gepflegt. Es waren 2 Tauchlehrer für 4 Personen. Es war optimal, sie haben nach uns geschaut & sich gekümmert. Man hat sich sehr sicher gefühlt. Es waren zwei Tauchgegänge vom Boot aus mit Snacks & Wasser. Definitiv zu empfehlen”
Spend three hours learning scuba basics with a certified English-speaking instructor at International Diving School, inside Coral Sands Hotel in Hikkaduwa. You will practice in calm water, then take a guided open-water trip to see coral and marine life. Equipment, insurance, snacks, and drinks are included. No previous experience is needed.
You’ll make two supervised underwater visits off Colombo’s west coast, focusing on shipwrecks rather than reef scenery. The two-hour private outing includes scuba equipment, safety gear, and an English- or Sinhala-speaking instructor. You need at least a Level 1 license, and November through April is the best season.
“very good well supervised incredible diving sites I recommend”
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