Imagine starting your morning in Unawatuna around 9 AM. The sun is warm but gentle, the sea breeze carries a salty freshness, and the horizon stretches endlessly in shades of blue. Unawatuna is one of the best tourist places in Sri Lanka, especially known for scuba diving.
Nervous? Probably. Excited? Definitely. But once you take the plunge, you’ll discover a whole new world hidden beneath the waves! Before we begin a detailed, first hand scuba diving experience by one of our very own team member – Zaida Rawoof, click here to go through some guidelines for scuba diving in Sri Lanka.
Getting Ready
At the dive center, the instructors hand you your gear — wetsuit, mask, fins, and oxygen tank. You slip into your attire in the shower area, feeling the weight of the equipment and the anticipation building. Before heading out, you’ll step into the shallow side of the sea for a quick training session.
Here, you’ll learn the basics: how to breathe calmly through the regulator, how to clear your mask if water sneaks in, and a few hand signals to use underwater. The first breaths feel strange — like your brain doesn’t quite believe you can breathe underwater — but with the instructor right by your side, you’ll soon start to relax. And then, just as your confidence builds, it’s time to head deeper.
Boat Ride to the best tourist places in Sri Lanka
It is about a 20 minute ride into the sea on a speedboat that cuts smoothly across the waves, carrying you toward the dive spot. The sea stretches endlessly in every direction, sparkling under the sun. There’s a hush in the air — a mix of nerves and excitement — as the instructors check everyone’s gear one last time. Then comes the moment: one by one, you’re guided gently into the water.
Under the Sea
The instant you dip below the surface, the world transforms.
Sunlight filters down through the water in shimmering beams, lighting up a scene that feels almost unreal. Tiny, colourful fish swim around in perfect synchrony, and coral formations in shades of orange, pink, and violet rise like natural sculptures. The silence is profound, broken only by the soft rhythm of your bubbles.
Then, something even more overwhelming — the remains of a small shipwreck. Covered in coral, surrounded by fish, it adds an edge of curiosity to the calm beauty around you. You pause, take it in, maybe even capture a few photos. The dive lasts about 30 to 40 minutes – down here, there’s no rush. Just slow movements, vibrant colors, and the weightless feeling of floating in a secret world.
Back on the Surface
When you return to the boat, reality greets you again. The waves rock gently — or not so gently — and seasickness might sneak up on you. It’s not the prettiest part of the journey, but with a few laughs (and supportive instructors), you’ll shake it off.
What You’ll Carry With You
Scuba diving in Unawatuna isn’t just about what you see — it’s about what you feel. The nerves, the heavy gear, even the seasickness fade into the background once you’ve floated weightlessly among coral, fish, and silence – thus adding it to the list of best tourist places in Sri Lanka for adventure and thrill seekers.
You leave not just with memories, but with a sense of wonder — like you’ve been let in on a secret world that’s always been there, just waiting for you to discover it.
How to include Unawatuna in your Sri Lanka holiday package
Located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, Unawatuna is easily accessible from popular destinations such as Galle, Hikkaduwa, Ahangama, Weligama and Mirissa. Unawatuna itself has several hotels and resorts to base yourself when exploring the coastline. Get in touch with our team at Travel Treasures and we will carefully curate a tailor made Sri Lanka holiday package including the best tourist places in Sri Lanka, based on your requirements and preferences.