Colombo can be a hectic place. Rush hour traffic, the constant noise and masses of people will leave you wanting a break sooner rather than later. And what better than a quick dive trip to a tropical reef or an exciting shipwreck.
Sitting on a boat on the Indian Ocean the hustle and bustle of the city feels like a distant memory, with only the Colombo skyline as a reminder of the madness you left behind. Whether you’re a business visitor, a tourist or local diver Colombo Divers gives you the convenience of diving right off the city. We can even organize an early morning dive so you can get back in time for that important meeting.
So what is the diving like? Many people are surprised that there is even decent, let alone some very good diving right outside Colombo. But numerous reefs and some excellent wrecks offer endless diving possibilities, including a few great offshore dive sites.
In fact we think that the best dive sites in Colombo are as good as some of the better
known diving areas in Sri Lanka. Our dive season runs from October to April. The start and end of the season can change and depends on what the monsoons are doing, and they love being annoyingly unpredictable at times! The sea is at its best in the morning, and occasionally strong winds may prevent us from going to some of the offshore sites or diving late in the day. Visibility is variable and depends on many factors but averages 10-15m on the inshore sites and around 20m on the offshore sites. Generally the best conditions are in February and March.
Diving in Colombo is a truely rewarding experience. Our wrecks are great and the reefs are interesting.
Gale Reef South – Gorgonian Gardens
Do you remember your first exploratory dive, to a “reef” location provided by fishermen, we really didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know the depth. Perhaps it was another barrier reef of rocky ledges that seem to line the coast of Sri Lanka like multiple defense lines and providing for great dive sites.
At slightly over 35 meters the site is a flat sea bed covered by fans of various sizes as far as the eye can sea. A midst the sea fans are hundreds of Red Tooth Triggerfish against a deep blue canvass of clear open ocean. The whole reef is in pristine condition. The Gorgonian’s seem healthy and thriving.
Because of very strong currents, rapid head down descent is required or the site will be missed. You should not use Anchors here they would damage the beautiful fans. Given the depth and conditions this dive is recommended for experienced divers. A Surface Marker Buoy is mandatory.
Barracuda Reef
Barracuda Reef is a long reef formation located a few kilometers off Colombo. Our favorite area to dive it is the southern end. Small schools of Fusiliers and Barracudas often hover above the reef and greet you as you descend along the anchor line. Once on the bottom, the large limestone blocks that form the reef are covered in thousands of small blue sea fans and other soft corals. A few sea whips reach towards the surface while Damselfish flutter around them like butterflies.
The reef itself has large cracks and ledges which provide shelter to millions of Glassfish and Sweepers. Hunting Blue Line Groupers move stealthily among the rocks looking for prey. Many display a lazy, uninterested attitude, lulling the Glassfish into complacency before pouncing on them. A large Honeycomb Moray Eel looks out from its hiding place surrounded by soft corals. It truly has a beautiful garden many of us would be proud of.
The reef top is at around 19 M with a maximum depth of around 24 M so there is adequate time to explore before your dive computer starts getting angry with you! For a fun, relaxed Sunday morning out in the city, this is surely hard to beat.
