Coral Sanctuary
Coral Sanctuary
3.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
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3.5
186 reviews
Excellent
48
Very good
60
Average
35
Poor
21
Terrible
22
AmranAthas
Colombo53 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
This is one out of many places to snorkel in Sri Lanka. The best period is from December to April because of the south-west monsoon from May to November. There are so many species found here including sea turtles. Try to snorkel during mid day if you want to swim with turtles.
You can rent out snorkels from the small wooden booths on the beach for about 300/= LKR (local price), no idea for tourists. Might be the same price for tourists as well, you never know.
Cheers!!!
You can rent out snorkels from the small wooden booths on the beach for about 300/= LKR (local price), no idea for tourists. Might be the same price for tourists as well, you never know.
Cheers!!!
Written August 25, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gopinath Prabhu
Belthangady, India2,506 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
If your are in Hikkaduwa then one must try the glass boat ride. As you reach the beach early you are surrounded by a few boat operator, bargain is possible. Just ask the right price at the hotel you stay.
Its a half hour ride when one can see various coral, fishes and a big turtle. Being the first time I was on a glass bottom boat, it was worth an experience.
Its a half hour ride when one can see various coral, fishes and a big turtle. Being the first time I was on a glass bottom boat, it was worth an experience.
Written April 11, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jolly_gardener
Buckinghamshire, UK58 contributions
Apr 2015 • Family
Echoing other comments, this is a special place. The reef is damaged but there are signs of it trying to rejuvenate.
Education is urgently needed...tourists walking on and knocking the delicate structure is sad to see, and there is no need for it. Worse still are graffiti carvings, with names scrapped in some of the coral, shameful behaviour of some.
The local dive school (in front of Coral Sands Hotel) are caring & excellent, they have an appropriate attitude to the reef. Why not hire a guide from them (and snorkelling equipment) for an hour or two.
The water here is only about 1-2 metres deep and no more than 20-30 meters from the beach, but if going alone watch out for rough water (depends on tides and time of day and season) the currents will drag you around. Fine for kids when calm and clear (still need to be good swimmers and accompanied).
Turtles come regularly (they have been 'tamed' by feeding) but seeing tourists trying to 'ride' them saddened me, they should 'policed' and that behaviour banned (in my opinion).
The worst however are the boat trips, some who carelessly drive over snorkelers.
(This happened to me, I was snorkelling with no boats around, then 15 minutes later four boats headed my way and at one point I had to duck-dive deeper to avoid being hit. Thankfully my kids were not with me at that time.)
The turtles show the scars of having been hit in the past by propellers.
Go and enjoy, but please go with caution and respect too.
Education is urgently needed...tourists walking on and knocking the delicate structure is sad to see, and there is no need for it. Worse still are graffiti carvings, with names scrapped in some of the coral, shameful behaviour of some.
The local dive school (in front of Coral Sands Hotel) are caring & excellent, they have an appropriate attitude to the reef. Why not hire a guide from them (and snorkelling equipment) for an hour or two.
The water here is only about 1-2 metres deep and no more than 20-30 meters from the beach, but if going alone watch out for rough water (depends on tides and time of day and season) the currents will drag you around. Fine for kids when calm and clear (still need to be good swimmers and accompanied).
Turtles come regularly (they have been 'tamed' by feeding) but seeing tourists trying to 'ride' them saddened me, they should 'policed' and that behaviour banned (in my opinion).
The worst however are the boat trips, some who carelessly drive over snorkelers.
(This happened to me, I was snorkelling with no boats around, then 15 minutes later four boats headed my way and at one point I had to duck-dive deeper to avoid being hit. Thankfully my kids were not with me at that time.)
The turtles show the scars of having been hit in the past by propellers.
Go and enjoy, but please go with caution and respect too.
Written April 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pavel Fusek 10
88 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
Very interesting! Better you call and ask a best time to see the coral! Some of people think 24 hours anytime they can see coral hahah! Everything have time! If you go prefect good time you can see nice color color!
Written November 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tal
Tel Aviv, Israel99 contributions
Apr 2014
I was very skeptic about the possibility to actually swim with turtles but was proven wrong. There are four turtles that made this beach their home, probably they are constantly fed by the locals. So don't expect a sanctuary of any type, the locals walk on the corals, pet the turtles and feed them weeds.
No need for the expensive glass bottom tour to meet the turtles, they are about 30 meters in the lagoon, easily spot by the crowd of snorkels and boats around them, in shallow waters.
There are actually two prime locations where they can very often be seen - a bit north of the international diving school or in front of the shallow coral reef of hotel chaaya tranz.
No need for the expensive glass bottom tour to meet the turtles, they are about 30 meters in the lagoon, easily spot by the crowd of snorkels and boats around them, in shallow waters.
There are actually two prime locations where they can very often be seen - a bit north of the international diving school or in front of the shallow coral reef of hotel chaaya tranz.
Written April 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nishan P
Colombo, Sri Lanka134 contributions
Jan 2012 • Solo
As a reef its in a sorry state compared to what it used to be. Most f the corals are in bad shape after coral bleaching, pollution and damage by glass bottom boats and people walking on the reef. If you visit please avoid the glass bottom boats. Most are unlicensed and have no regard for the reef or snorkelers. Several people have been severely injured by careless boat drivers who have also damaged the reef extensively over the years. But if you are in Hikkaduwa its still worth snorkeling as you can see quite a number of reef fish.
Written May 16, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom D
1 contribution
For the sake of the environment all tourists should boycott this reef. It is pretty much dead unfortunately after the tsunami and with the locals/and government lack of education and conservation this once amazing place has little or no chance of recovery. With many people walking and standing on reef coral, feeding fish food like bread and biscuits, and surrounding and almost herding as well as handling large sea turtles. The boats, supported by the government, as they are expensive only serve to generate profit and to the damage and generate pollution and offer nothing back to the reef by way of education or conservation. This was an expensive lesson of have money from tourism can be a very damaging problem from the environment and just left me feeling sad. In what is such a beautiful island with amazing people and culture do everybody a favour and keep clear of this reef and don't contribute to the damage. Go snorkelling in a secluded bay and respect the marine life or go for a walk in the jungle forests and experience a wealth of flora and fauna in a respectful way.
Written January 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcus
Lomma, Sweden543 contributions
Mar 2017 • Solo
The name is very misleading and if you go here just to see corals you will be terribly sorry because here is noooo corals at all.
The tsunami 2004 and el nino has killed all corals here.
I have given this place a 1 because it is so misleading.
BUT the animal-life as in fish, seaturtles and squid is pretty decent. I have been snorkeling with seaturtles here twice so far and I have seen alot of squid playing around. The variery of fishspecies is'nt huge but there are some pretty big ones and very colourful too. But below it all is dead corals, rock and sand...
The currents are pretty hard, not in a scary way though, and can make the snorkeling pretty tiresome. Just be prepared for that.
All in all a decent "rock fishiary".
Hikkaduwa should change the name for this area - so people don't get their expectations up... Better to tell things as they are and work on that!
The tsunami 2004 and el nino has killed all corals here.
I have given this place a 1 because it is so misleading.
BUT the animal-life as in fish, seaturtles and squid is pretty decent. I have been snorkeling with seaturtles here twice so far and I have seen alot of squid playing around. The variery of fishspecies is'nt huge but there are some pretty big ones and very colourful too. But below it all is dead corals, rock and sand...
The currents are pretty hard, not in a scary way though, and can make the snorkeling pretty tiresome. Just be prepared for that.
All in all a decent "rock fishiary".
Hikkaduwa should change the name for this area - so people don't get their expectations up... Better to tell things as they are and work on that!
Written April 1, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelBear87
United Kingdom157 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
My boyfriend and I visited this place a few days ago to go and snorkel.
THIS PLACE IS NOT A SANCTUARY!
When we arrived the first thing I noticed was lots and lots of beach boys and boat drivers wanting to sell you tours and glass bottom boat rides. There is no official office to buy tickets, or at least nothing obvious that stands out but we didn't look as we were there to snorkel. Our hotel manager advised not to buy anything from the beach boys as they charge you double so thats a tip if you do decide to go on a ride.
If this place is a sanctuary then I feel it should be monitored at all times with a lot of educational signs, facts etc about the coral and how to protect it. There was one sign way up from the coast line that we saw only when we left.
A few reviews I have read are complaining about the bad visibility etc but for us it was how poorly educated people were before entering the water and how there is no one to monitor people going in and out. There was people standing all over the coral, touching it etc and then a women stood in the sea feeding bread to a huge school of fish! This is so bad because firstly in coral like this there should not even be huge schools of fish, they are only there because people feed them. They then become reliant on humans and forget how to feed for themselves! If this place was truly a sanctuary then there would be conservation going on but instead its a place to make money. If they really wanted to protect the coral and let it recover from the Tsunami then they shouldn't be allowing people in to the water.
For these reasons I will not be returning.
If you decide to go here and snorkel and you care about Marine life then please DO NOT touch, break, stand on the coral and PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE FISH!!
THIS PLACE IS NOT A SANCTUARY!
When we arrived the first thing I noticed was lots and lots of beach boys and boat drivers wanting to sell you tours and glass bottom boat rides. There is no official office to buy tickets, or at least nothing obvious that stands out but we didn't look as we were there to snorkel. Our hotel manager advised not to buy anything from the beach boys as they charge you double so thats a tip if you do decide to go on a ride.
If this place is a sanctuary then I feel it should be monitored at all times with a lot of educational signs, facts etc about the coral and how to protect it. There was one sign way up from the coast line that we saw only when we left.
A few reviews I have read are complaining about the bad visibility etc but for us it was how poorly educated people were before entering the water and how there is no one to monitor people going in and out. There was people standing all over the coral, touching it etc and then a women stood in the sea feeding bread to a huge school of fish! This is so bad because firstly in coral like this there should not even be huge schools of fish, they are only there because people feed them. They then become reliant on humans and forget how to feed for themselves! If this place was truly a sanctuary then there would be conservation going on but instead its a place to make money. If they really wanted to protect the coral and let it recover from the Tsunami then they shouldn't be allowing people in to the water.
For these reasons I will not be returning.
If you decide to go here and snorkel and you care about Marine life then please DO NOT touch, break, stand on the coral and PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE FISH!!
Written February 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa Hayes
Plymouth, UK49 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
Most of the coral is dead due to pollution from the unregulated tourist boats, no sign of concerted efforts to protect the reef or the wildlife. Ignorant tourists seem to think it's okay to touch, manhandle and feed wild animals. I never knew fish ate biscuits, who'd have thought it?! Honestly. It was shocking and embarrassing to see tourists trying to outdo each other with Instagram pictures of themselves with sea turtles. Sri Lanka, your government needs to address this issue properly.
Written March 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there a good snorkelling tour that you can recommend for people over 75? We would want personal attention, as we are not strong swimmers.
Written September 20, 2018
anisajasmine92
Colombo, Sri Lanka
I would like to know how much cost to see coral & boat ride.?
Written August 22, 2017
for the local and foreign , 10 people for local 2050 rs , life jacket with 30 minute boat ride ,,,,, 6 people for 4000 rs with life jacket with 30 minute boat ride ,,
Written August 29, 2017
There a various sizes of boat with different passenger numbers for each trip. It's best to ask a few boat operators and negotiate the price. If your party is small , ask others in your hotel to share with you.
Written October 28, 2016
Hello - I will be here middle of August - will the sea be too rough to snorkel or go on boat rides? Will we be able to see the turtles? Thank you :)
Written July 11, 2016
Tide was strong in March when we were there. Suggest you look also at the websites for weather and advice for the region. Always take local advice before going into the water for anything.
Written July 11, 2016
Hi there, would like to know if it is possible to swim with the turtles in the morning? Are they in front of chaaya all day or at specific times? Thanks a lot
Written April 22, 2016
Once the sun is up, they come around. The locals have been feeding them, so the visit is kind of habitual. Them sill being wild animals, the visits are not guaranteed. While you wait walk down the beach, past the Chaaya tranz, towards Hikkaduwa town, and you will get to the "Swimming Spot" where you can do shallow skin diving where herds of fish and beautiful coral formations are guaranteed. Simply, visiting there will not be a waste at all.
Travel safe...!
Written April 23, 2016
Hi , my partner and I were wanting to visit Hikkaduwa in December to see the turtles and swim with them, will they be around? Is this a good time of year?
Thanks
Sammy
Written March 2, 2016
Well I think as Sri Lanka doesn't have much of seasonal effects and the water is warmer throughout the year, the turtles too should be there. We saw a big one when we went there and there's this local person who comes and let tourists feed the turtle and also take pictures with him.. then he will also ask money (That's so pathetic because he doesn't own the turtle) few bucks would do. And swimming along with them, I think you have to be lucky for that!!! Have fun ...
Written March 4, 2016
Naina P
Kent, United Kingdom
The cost to travel to visit coral sanctuary from Chaaz Trans hotel
Written February 1, 2015
Naina P
Kent, United Kingdom
How much does it cost to visit viral sanctuary from chaaz Texans hotel
Written February 1, 2015
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