Liveaboard Diving in Sri Lanka

Considered the ‘‘pearl in the Indian Ocean', Sri Lanka offers excellent scuba diving. An abundance of tropical fish, vibrant coral reefs and well preserved ship wrecks are waiting to be discovered.

Liveaboards in Sri Lanka are incredibly luxurious and have something for everyone underwater. Sri Lanka Liveaboards take you to the stunning reefs for drift diving over staghorn corals, brain corals and flower corals at the same time as allowing you to visit some of the hundreds of wrecks in local waters. There is diving for all when choosing liveaboard diving in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, a small island off the coast of India, is best known for its history during WWII as an important part of the Silk Route, however the cultural background of Buddhism now gives it a peaceful charm.

It is a popular destination for tourists seeking interesting wildlife and culture of the beaten track. The marine life that can be seen when scuba diving here is a great reason to select a Sri Lanka cruise. Whilst diving here you will have the opportunity to spot whales including: sperm whales, blue whales, pilot whales and Bryde's whales. You can also encounter Great Basses, grey sharks and Tuna as well as pods of dolphins. The Sri Lanka itinerary includes a week of two halves. One half is spent diving the wrecks and the other the reefs of Sri Lanka. 


Visit Sri Lanka on a liveaboard to make the most of the diving here and take in all that the seas have to offer with up to 4 dives a day you will not be disappointed. Your dive trip will include western buffet style meals and on board luxury. Feel free to sunbathe, chill out with your new dive buddies or sleep in your cabin between dives. After a boat introduction on Saturday you will take a check dive in groups to ensure all divers are placed within groups that match abilities and length of dives. From there onwards you will enjoy scuba diving in Sri Lanka with your group of dive buddies and Dive master or instructor. The Sri Lanka tour will take you to many wrecks and reefs during your stay. If you have opted for the Tech Special dive liveaboard you will make some deep wreck dives and the 600m HMS Hermes, the first ever British aircraft carrier built, which is now resting at a depth of 54m. Share your experience sailing in Sri Lanka with 25 other passengers being hosted in air-conditioned, ensuite cabins and all the luxuries of a hotel room.

Dive Sites and Areas of Sri Lanka

Dive safaris of Northwest Kalpitiya will offer incredible opportunities to both divers with experience and beginner level divers. The larger mammal species start to arrive in November and stick around until March. Here you will have the opportunity to visit the fringe of the Bar Reef and see some of the more rarely visited sights. The reef here has regenerated since El Nino in 1990 and so the vast amount of life here will impress most divers. Expect to sight Parrot fish, Groupers and Black Tip Reef Sharks as well as blue whales, humpbacks, sperm whales and more.

West Colombo The best Sri Lanka liveaboard options include this site in contrast to the reefs seen at Northwest Kalpitiya, you will have great wreck diving opportunities in West Colombo. Distinctively different dives offer you wrecks of the Thermopylae Sierra (23m), Chief Dragon (20-34m), Taprobane (26-40m) and Trug (32m) all of which have become artificial reefs for marine life to inhabit. Expect sightings here of all manner of marine life from grouper to blue whale!

When To Go

Luxury liveaboard tour options for all recreational divers in Sri Lanka set sail during the months of November to February. The waters are temperate at around 28 degrees celsius and offer great visibility during this time (up to 40 meters). Specialist tech wreck weeks are offered in the months of May and June on the East coast for those who have the experience.

Tips For Travellers

Local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) at about 145 to the 1 USD. You will need to remember your travel adapters for D/G plug types (230V) if you wish to charge the all important camera so you can take your memories away with you.

How To Get There & Ports Of Departure

Most people take indirect flights into Colombo airport from India and other countries. Liveaboards departing Sri Lanka leave from either the port of Columbo on the west of Sri Lanka or Trincomalee on the east for tech dive special liveaboards, check your itinerary for details. The boats leave on a Saturday and return a week later.

Considerations

For world-reknowned luxury in liveaboard diving the aggressor fleet is available for budgets in the region of $300 per person per night including marine park fees, port taxes and fuel charges. Sri Lanka is a place to visit as a beginner diver as well as some sites for the more experienced divers needing a challenge, snorkellers are also welcome. You can customise your trip to include enhancing your skills with tailor made teaching packages available onboard. When visiting Sri Lanka you will need passports with at least 6 months validity on entry, a spare page for a stamp and you must check with your home country's government website about visa requirements.