Hikkaduwa, on Sri Lanka’s south-west coast south of Galle, is home to one of the most accessible coral reefs in the country. The Hikkaduwa National Park protects a section of fringing reef running approximately 4 kilometres along the shore in water between 1 and 8 metres deep, supporting populations of green turtles, hawksbill turtles, and diverse reef fish including parrotfish, pufferfish, moray eels, and numerous species of wrasse and butterflyfish. Coral cover was significantly impacted by bleaching events in 1997â98 and 2016, with recovery ongoing.
Snorkelling equipment is available for hire from operators along the main beach. Guided tours are offered by glass-bottom boat operators, who provide a surface-level view of the reef before allowing participants to enter the water. The shallower inner reef sections â in 1 to 3 metres of water close to the shore â are accessible even to non-swimmers using flotation equipment. Sea turtles in Hikkaduwa are habituated to human presence and are regularly encountered at close range; they are legally protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance and must not be touched, ridden, or impeded.
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