Sri Lanka · SNORKELING

The 15 Snorkelling Trips in Sri Lanka That Earn Their Price

29 tours  ·  from $16

Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 snorkelling trips justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa - A private hour in the water
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

1.Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 268 reviews · from $25Our pick

Meet at Araliya Restaurant near Mirissa, walk about five minutes to the beach, and spend an hour snorkeling with a private guide. Look for turtles, coral, and fish from shore, with equipment, safety help, and underwater photos and videos included. Guide Punsara is one named contact.

“The guide was very kind and helpful. It didn't take many minutes before he could show us the first turtle. We saw several turtles, both small and large. We were also offered to swim out to look at the fish in the coral reef, which we accepted. We ended up swimming in the middle of a large shoal of fish. Although the water was not completely clear, it was certainly an experience to recommend!”

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Mirissa: Snorkeling Experience with Turtles - The boat ride from the beach to the turtle area
Mirissa Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Mirissa: Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

2.Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 123 reviews · 1 hour · from $29

Join a small group of up to eight for a one-hour turtle snorkeling trip near Mirissa. Guides such as Amil, Pasi, and Sandesh provide gear, safety help, seaweed for turtle viewing, and boat photos or videos. Tuk tuk pickup from Mirissa is included.

“5 stars - was a great experience! Would definitely recommend.”

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Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles - The short lesson before entering the water
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

3.Mirissa Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 120 reviews · from $24

Meet the Mirissa Adventure team for a two-hour private snorkeling trip near Mirissa. Your instructor provides gear, a short lesson, water guidance, snacks, and a freshwater rinse. Expect close turtle encounters, small fish, some coral, and possible pickup from Mirissa-area hotels.

“It was fun swimming with the turtles. However, there is nothing else to see as such apart from the turtles and some little fish. Quite crowded also.”

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Trincomalee: Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour - Free underwater photos and videos
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours, Trincomalee Tours, Whale Watching

Trincomalee: Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour

4.Whales Watching and Navy Island Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 81 reviews · 5 hours · from $84

Start early at Trinco Bay Dive Center with tea or coffee, then watch for whales and spinner dolphins offshore before snorkeling near Navy Island. Your guide provides equipment, safety support, fruit, and free underwater photos and videos. Whale sightings depend on season and sea conditions.

“Great experience! We strongly recommend. The staff was extremely professional and friendly, we saw everything that we wanted and even more (whales, dolphins, sea turtles etc.). 100% must in Sri Lanka.”

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Snorkeling at Pigeon Island - Three hours among coral and reef fish
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling at Pigeon Island

5.Snorkeling at Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 66 reviews · from $42

Take a round-trip boat from the Nilaveli area to Pigeon Island National Park, then snorkel for about three hours in a marked area. Gear and boat transport are supplied, and groups are capped at seven. Add hotel transfers, a guide, or lunch if needed.

“Booked at the last minute and it turned out I was the only one on the boat from the location south of Nilaveli… a restaurant on the beach. The trip to Pigeon Island was a 10 min hop.”

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From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour - What happens when you reach Pigeon Island
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours, Trincomalee Tours

From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour

6.From Uppuveli Beach: Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 3 hours · from $50

Meet at Trinco Bay Dive Center near Uppuveli Beach for a guided boat trip to Pigeon Island. Snorkel among coral, tropical fish, turtles, and Black Tip Reef Sharks in a small boat of up to seven people. Bring shoes, a towel, sun protection, and LKR 13,000 for park entry.

“We swam with turtles and sharks. Amazing! The ocean was a bit bumpy but besides that we still had the chance to see many fishes. The guides have been really good too!”

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Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa - Leaving Mirissa Beach in a small group
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Whale Watching

Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa

7.Snorkeling with Whales in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 42 reviews · from $348

Set out from Mirissa in a boat limited to 10 people to look for blue, fin, Bryde’s, sperm, and pilot whales. Your package includes snorkeling gear, snacks, bottled water, and tuk-tuk pickup from Mirissa hotels. Swimming is allowed only when sea and wildlife conditions permit.

“Well it was one of our most looking forward moments on our Sri Lanka Tour. The booking and booking personal was smooth. 1 Star for this. The pickup was file as well. Just arrived we got a quick welcome and our mask and flippers. FlippeRead more”

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Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island - Meeting at Pigeon Island Tours
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Trincomalee Tours

Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island

8.Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 38 reviews · 3 hours · from $17

Spend three hours snorkeling around Pigeon Island Marine National Park near Nilaveli. Shared boat transport, mask, fins, safety jacket, and water are included. You snorkel without a guide, with chances to see turtles, blacktip reef sharks, rays, colorful fish, and surviving coral.

“L’activité est plaisante, mais le rapport qualité / prix n’est pas bon. C’est trop cher pour une prestation qui, au final, se résume qu’à nous amener et nous ramener à 5min de bateau et prêter des masques. En plus de payer la prestation il faut payer « l’entrée de l’île » qui s’élève au moins à 70€. Sinon une fois sur place rien à dire, l’endroit est magnifique et on y voit réellement beaucoup de requins et quelques tortues !”

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Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa - A private hour in the water
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

9.Snorkeling with Turtles in Mirissa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 28 reviews · from $35

Travel from your Mirissa hotel by tuk-tuk, board a boat, and snorkel above coral reef where sea turtles and tropical fish gather. ZRI Adventures provides masks, snorkels, fins, a swimming guide, and return transport for your private group. The trip lasts about two hours.

“This was an amazing experience, really enjoyable. You get close up to the turtles and the crew filmed us which was a good memory”

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Snorkeling Trip To Pigeon Island - Meeting at Pigeon Island Tours
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling Trip to Pigeon Island

10.Snorkeling Trip to Pigeon Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $42

Join Divinguru Sri Lanka from Nilaveli for a small-group snorkeling trip to Pigeon Island Marine Park. A 10-minute boat ride leads to 2 to 3 hours in shallow water among corals, reef fish, and possible turtles or Blacktip Reef Sharks. Gear, snacks, and water are included.

“A nice day to snorkel, my family and I were picked up at our hotel by a Tuktuk (who also brought us back in the late afternoon)!”

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Snorkeling in Unawatuna - Starting with the lesson and safety gear
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling in Unawatuna

11.Snorkeling in Unawatuna

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · from $40

Meet at Weliwatta House in Unawatuna for a two-hour, small-group snorkeling trip capped at five people. Your instructor provides equipment, safety guidance, and a boat ride to shallow reef areas where you can look for coral, fish, and other sea life.

“The guides and organisation of the trip was really good but the reef they took us to was really disappointing. No corals, very few fish and nothing else.”

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Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included) - What the swim feels like in practice
Galle Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included)

12.Snorkeling with Sea Turtles in Mirissa (Pickup and Drop included)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 16 reviews · from $45

Meet at 7:30 am for a guided snorkel near Mirissa with Aja, who leads you to a turtle area between the reefs. Gear, fins, wetsuit, towel, life jacket, snacks, and selected pickup and drop-off are included. Expect about three hours, with turtles, fish, and a firm request not to touch wildlife.

“We had a fantastic time. Saw loads of turtles and colourful fish. The guide was fabulous. Would highly recommend this experience.”

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Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles - What the three-hour outing looks like
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles

13.Pigeon Island Snorkeling – Swim with Sharks & Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 13 reviews · from $16Best value

Meet Pigeon Island Tours in Nilaveli for a roughly three-hour boat trip to the national park. Snorkel over coral among parrotfish, butterflyfish, eels, turtles, rays, and possible blacktip reef sharks. Gear, safety equipment, and the return boat are included, but park entry costs extra.

“Had a great experience with this tour. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking to explore the beautiful pigeon island”

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Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka - Getting equipped before the swim
Mirissa Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka

14.Snorkeling Trip from Polhena Beach, Matara, Sri Lanka

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 11 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29

Start at Polhena Beach with a small group of up to five. Your English-speaking guide fits clean masks and fins, then leads you through coastal water where turtles, fish, coral, and shells may appear. Guides including Dilip and Supul are noted for patient help with first-time snorkelers.

“Ich habe heute zum ersten Mal geschnorchelt. Mein Diver Dilip war sehr geduldig mit mir und hat sich schnell meinem Tempo angepasst. Wir haben mehrere Meeresschildkröten sehen können und sind mit ihnen zusammen geschwommen. Dilip hat mir wunderschöne Fische, Koralen und Muscheln gezeigt. Es war eine einzigartige Erfahrung! Ich kann es nur jedem empfehlen!”

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Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach - Coral, fish, turtles, and sharks
Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours

Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach

15.Pigeon Island Snorkeling Tour From Uppuveli Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 8 reviews · from $50

Set out from Trinco Bay Dive Center at 8:30 am for a guided boat trip to Pigeon Island. You will snorkel over coral, look for turtles and Black Tip Reef Sharks, enjoy snacks and water, and return after roughly three hours. Bring water shoes and budget for the park fee.

“Great trip! Saw many sharks and turtles. Beware of the park entrance costs as per the description. The guide was very helpful in guiding us through the marine life and helping us take great videos of the experience.”

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