Snorkelling at Pigeon Island

About Snorkelling at Pigeon Island

Go snorkelling with schools of tropical fish and explore the mysteries of an underwater paradise among the coral reefs. This is your chance to have one of the most memorable aqua adventures on offer.

Meet our team at the previously designated location after which you will be taken on a 15 minute boat ride to the island.

Begin an amazing underwater tour of Sri Lanka’s most beautiful corals and fish. Enjoy a two-hour snorkelling expedition on the island’s reef and explore its splendour.

The white sandy beach and the crystal clear blue waters provide the perfect backdrop for this relaxing activity. The ideal time for snorkelling is between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is directly above and visibility is at its peak.

Our tour package contains everything you need including all essential equipment, boat fees and instructors. All underwater activities are conducted by fully trained UDI (United Diving Instructors) and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) instructors to ensure your safety at all times.

Overview

• Pigeon Island is one of the most popular marine national parks in Sri Lanka. It is brimming with some of the country’s most breathtaking coral reefs and is also home to a stunning array of exotic marine species.
• It is called Pigeon Island due to the thousands of Rock Pigeons that use it as their breeding ground.
• It is located just a kilometre off the coast of the famous Nilaveli beach in Trincomalee on the eastern coast of the island.
• More recently though, the island has become famed for snorkelling and diving as it is a hotbed of hundreds of species of coral and around 200 species of dazzling fish.
• The spectacular Blacktip Reef Shark and several kinds of turtles including the Hawksbill Turtle and Green Turtle often visit this island.
• A must-do activity in Trincomalee.
• Guided by a well-experienced local guide.

Highlights

• Availability - May to October
• Best Possible Times - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Meeting Point - Could be mutually agreed upon.
• Children 6 to 12 years of age will be charged 50%.
• Not recommended for children under 6 years.
• Possible to extend the activity with accommodation and other activities like fishing and diving.
• Avoid walking or resting your legs against the bottom of the seabed in the shallow waters as it can destroy corals as well as cause injury to you.

Cost Includes

• Professional instructor
• Boat fees
• Entrance fees to the Pigeon Island National Park
• Hire of snorkelling equipment
• Government tax

Cost Excludes

• Any transportation up to the point
• Any tips to the staff
• Any extra equipment hired beyond what we provide

Important Facts

• Pigeon Island, a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers, is a national marine park and the second marine sanctuary in Sri Lanka and is situated off Nilaveli beach in the Indian Ocean, approximately two kilometres away from the shore. It is considered to be one of the most iconic and important tourist attractions along the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. It was first declared a sanctuary in 1963 and upgraded to a national marine park under in 2003
• The park consists of two islands and is the only national park in the country to harbour a colony of the beautiful blue rock pigeons and contains some of the best remaining coral reefs in the country. There are around 100 types of coral reefs and 178 species of fish on this island. This is where many an observer would find both the juvenile and adult Black Tip Reef Shark as well as a variety of turtles such as the Hawksbill, the Green Turtle and the Olive Ridley
• Historically, the British army used this island as a place for shooting practice during the world war
• The Pigeon Island National Marine Park consists of around five hectares of land area and about 1000 metres radius into the sea with the coral reef as the national park boundary (471.429 hectares). In 2002, the island was opened for tourism and is visited by large groups of local and foreign visitors
• If you can climb up the rock of the island through the nature trail, you would see the real owners of the island – the rock pigeons. Some time you can capture the wonderful view of a bunch of small fish moving around the island. You can also enjoy having a sea bath. Do not forget to wear footwear as the sharp edges of the dead corals may hurt your legs