South Reef
Pigeon Island · Sri Lanka
South Reef wraps around the sheltered southern flank of Pigeon Island, offering a more intimate dive through coral bommies and sandy channels in depths of 5 to 15 metres. The site is a macro photographer's delight, with nudibranchs, ghost pipefish, and ornate ghost pipefish tucked among the coral rubble and soft coral patches. Leopard sharks occasionally rest on the sandy bottom here, and the protected aspect makes this the go-to site when northeast winds kick up chop on the northern exposures.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 15 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually still
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
18 to 28 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
27 to 31°C
3mm shorty
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 12 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Indian Garden Lizard
Last confirmed Oct 21, 2025 · 31 records
Very likely
Most dives
House Crow
Last confirmed Jul 7, 2026 · 12 records
Very likely
Most dives
Yellow-Billed Babbler
Last confirmed Aug 29, 2025 · 13 records
Very likely
Most dives
Moray Eel
Last confirmed May 10, 2026 · 2 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Titan Triggerfish
Last confirmed May 11, 2026 · 4 records
Likely
About 6 in 10 dives
Leopard Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Ornate Ghost Pipefish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear