Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka · Southwest Coast
Hikkaduwa on Sri Lanka's southwest coast is the country's longest running dive scene — shore diving on shallow reefs, the SS Conch wreck, and macro on bommies just offshore. Diving here is the warm up; the headline is wrecks and whales further south.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Southwest coast reef MPA, heavily impacted by 1998 and 2016 bleaching. Slow recovery.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Protected on paper, but boats are still busy nearby.
Sources · GCRMN reef surveys · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across surveys in 2014 and 2024, live coral cover here has fallen from 36% to 32%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 36% |
| 2024 | 32% |
What you will see
14 species across the dive sites here
Green turtle
Seen 3 months ago
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Sea Turtle
Seen 3 months ago
at Earl of Shaftesbury
Least concern
Blacktip reef shark
Seen 5 months ago
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Vulnerable
Hawksbill turtle
Seen 5 months ago
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Critically endangered
Moorish idol
Seen 7 months ago
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Powder-blue surgeonfish
Seen 7 months ago
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Bluestripe snapper
Seen Mar 2025
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Giant moray
Seen Mar 2025
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Butterflyfish
Seen year round
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Foster's Barracuda
Seen year round
at Earl of Shaftesbury
Least concern
Parrotfish
Seen year round
at Hikkaduwa Coral Sanctuary
Least concern
Silver Batfish
Seen year round
at Earl of Shaftesbury
Least concern
Stingray
Seen year round
at Earl of Shaftesbury
Sweetlips
Seen year round
at Earl of Shaftesbury
Dive sites
What divers say
Easy diving with a beach town vibe. Combine with whales out of Mirissa and you've got a great week.
Good to know
Whales nearby
Mirissa (1h south) runs blue whale tours December–April.