Diving & Whale Watching
Trincomalee, Uppuveli and Nilaveli on the eastern coast have rapidly emerged as internationally-significant diving and whale-watching destinations. Blue whales (plus smaller numbers of sperm whales) can regularly be spotted around 6-8 nautical miles east of Trincomalee (about half an hour by boat).
Dolphins are also regularly seen with the Spinner Dolphins being the most frequently spotted while most sightings occur between March/April and August/September. Even though the exact population numbers of whales around Sri Lanka is unknown, the chances of spotting them during the season is as high as 90%, making it one of the best locations in the world for whale watching. Sri Lanka is also situated within the International Whaling Commission’s protected zone while Trincomalee is commonly regarded as the best place for this seasonal activity in the country.
February to November
Diving and whale watching operators are located on Nilaveli and Uppuveli beaches
For moderate to advanced divers, night time diving offers rare glimpses to see glowing plankton