Sri Lanka offers a vast range of water sports for tourists who seek real adventure during their holiday.
So, here we have listed down the best water sports in Sri Lanka and ideal locations that will lift your spirit and stir your soul.
Take a look at the amazing combinations of water sports available in Sri Lanka and fill your itinerary with these.
- Snorkelling
- Scuba diving
- Kayaking
- White water rafting
- Canoeing
- Jet Ski
- Wakeboarding
- Windsurfing
- Deep-Sea fishing
- Seaplane ride
Snorkelling
One of the best water sports in Sri Lanka is Snorkelling, swimming near the water surface with the help of a breathing tube called Snorkel, to witness the stunning views of colourful fishes and coral reefs.
Best Time Period – all around the year
Recommended Snorkelling hotspots
Pigeon island, Hikkaduwa, Kalpitiya, Unawatuna, Passikudah, Mirissa, Kirinda, Bentota, Negombo, Weligama, Nilaveli, Polhena Reef, Koggala
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is an advanced level of snorkelling where you can go deeper into the sea with the help of underwater breathing equipment, to enjoy the ultimate marine universe with the panoramic underwater view for the shipwreck and swim with the fishes.
Recommended hotspots – Kalpitiya, Hikkaduwa, Nilaveli, Unawatuna, Weligama and Colombo
Best Time period - November to May
Recommended hotspots – Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Negombo, Great and Little Basses Reefs, Kirinda
Best Time period – May to October
Kayaking
One of the best, safest and thrilling water sports in Sri Lanka is Kayaking. Everyone who visits Sri Lanka will definitely experience Kayaking during their trip. Kayak will be low to the water and by paddling with double paddles, you can go a long way along with beloved one, also you can make it sporty if you are travelling as group of friends or family.
Canoeing
Canoeing is one of the must-do water sports activities in Sri Lanka. It is something like a romantic water sport activity while enjoying it with your romantic one on a honeymoon and adventurous experience when it comes to a group of friends. Especially Honeymooners going to Sri Lanka will have this in their Itinerary as a must-do activity.
Recommended hotspots – Unawatuna, Wilpattu, Negombo, Kalutara, Belihuloya, Mahaweli
Best Time period – All year around
White water rafting
White water rafting, also known as river rafting, is one of the most popular water sports in this country. It is a difficult recreational activity as well as a thrilling water sport. White Water Rafting is not recommended for anyone with cardiac conditions, epilepsy, or who are uncomfortable with rough waters.
Recommended hotspots – Kithulgala - Sitawaka River off Avissawella, Ulapane – Gampola, Hatton – Nuwara Eliya
Best Time period – All year around
Jet Ski
Jet ski is one of the most adventurous water sports in Sri Lanka. It will be very sporty and thrilling to explore places in Jet Ski and that’s the reason most of the youngsters, family, couples and a group of friends will definitely add Jet ski to their Sri Lanka itinerary.
Recommended hotspots – Bentota, Trincomalee, Pasikuda, Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Negombo
Best Time period – All year around
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding – As per its name of the activity will wake your soul up by skipping one of your heartbeats. You will be buckled up with the surfing board and tied with a boat with some medium rope, while the boat moves you will start surfing all the way through the waters.
Recommended hotspots – Bentota, Hikkaduwa and Negombo
Best Time period – All year around
Windsurfing
Surfing through the waves is one of the thrilling water sports but Windsurfing is similar to surfing through the wind all over the water with the help of a Surfer board. You will enjoy every moment of you sailing your own surf like a boat.
Recommended hotspots – Kalpitiya, Negombo, Bentota, Arugam Bay, Pasikuda and Nilaveli
Best Time period – All year around
Deep-Sea Fishing
Most of us love the hobby of fishing, don’t we? We might have done fishing in lakes, ponds or even in rivers but deep-sea fishing is something which will be a more fun-filled experience where you can directly catch fish using the fishing net and other equipment along with the members in your boat. Most of the families with kids and a group of friends will plan out a day for this experience.
Recommended hotspots – Hikkaduwa, Mirissa, Negombo, Arugam Bay and Trincomalee
Best Time period – All year around
Seaplane Ride
Flying over the water is something more exciting. A beautiful view from the air over the water will make your day remarkable during your stay in Sri Lanka. This experience is completely different from the plane ride and the taking off and landing in the waters will be more thrilling moments.
Recommended hotspots – Sri Lankan Airlines air taxi service between Colombo International Airport, Koggala, Dickwella, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Dambulla
Best Time period – All year around