Sri Lanka, also known as the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’, is a small island located below its giant neighbour, India. Travelling towards the country’s south, you will arrive at Hikkaduwa. Beach Hotel properties, bars and eateries line the beachfront making this the ideal location for your tropical getaway. This is Sri Lanka’s ‘party beach’ and it is transformed into a party venue during the holiday season. With a backdrop of crashing waves and an endless expanse of beachfront, get front row seats to the festivities at Bansei by Hotel J.
Hikkaduwa also has natural wonders to marvel at, namely, the coral reefs. The calm, shallow waters and proximity to the shore make Hikkaduwa’s reefs easier to explore than others along the southern coastline. The main reef begins close to the fishing harbour and extends four kilometres to the south. In addition to providing a home for the abundance of marine life in the surrounding waters and promoting the town’s reputation as a destination for snorkelling and scuba diving, this reef plays a vital role in protecting the coast from sea erosion. There are many different types of coral to be seen and as many as sixty species of hard coral. Large stands of Montipora corals, small stands of branching Acropora corals, boulder type coral and encrusting corals are some of the varieties that have been recorded. The Hikkaduwa reef lost some of its corals when seawater temperatures rose in 1998 as a result of El Niño but scientists believe there now are signs of recovery.
The best time to take to the seas around Hikkaduwa is between November and April when the waters are at their calmest and visibility is good. The easiest way to explore the reef is by snorkelling but for divers who want to venture out into deeper waters there are interesting dive sites like Kiralagala, Godagala and Black Coral Point.
Shehera Fioni is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Catalina Forbes. Her content is based on many thrilling escapades offered to travellers across the world.