Sri Lanka Facts
It is natural that, being an island, Sri Lanka is surrounded by an ocean that is home to its own breed of life. The turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean host a rich variety of tropical aquatic life, ranging from fish, to coral to marine mammals.
An exciting array of activities awaits visitors for whom the sea is a favourite element, such as boating, scuba diving or snorkelling.
Five out of the seven species of turtles come ashore to nest in Sri Lanka, such as the Green Turtle, and the Leatherback Turtle, making it an ideal destination for turtle lovers. The peak turtle nesting season in Sri Lanka is said to be from January to July.
A vibrant and colourful coral reef surrounds Sri Lanka from North to South, at intervals. The coral world is inhabited by an incredible number of beautiful species – ranging from rays, eels, clown fish, porcupine, moorish idol, unicorn and moorish angel to name a few. Several species of coral dominate the ocean floor, making for unique homes and shelters for other forms of life: such as Staghorn Corals, Brain Corals and Flower Corals.
The ultimate experience is Whale and Dolphin watching, and Sri Lanka has become one of the world’s top destinations for whale and dolphin watching with an unparalleled success rate. Several species of whales and dolphins can be spotted in their migratory path off several coastal areas, including the Southern and the Eastern coasts. The best months for whale and dolphin watching off the South coast are said to be December, January and April, and the best for the East are said to be November to April. Whales seen include: Common Blue Whales, Bryde's Whales, Sperm Whales, Killer Whales, Melon Headed Whales, Cuvier's Beaked Whales and even the elusive Indian Blue Whales. Dolphins seen include: Spotted Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Fraser's Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins and the Bottlenose Dolphins.
