Joanna James
Weligama town, situated on the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka, harbours a natural bay that provides the perfect environment for several water sports activities.
Guided canoe and kayak tours is always a fun way to spend an afternoon. You can opt to cruise along the Weligama Bay or take a tour of the lake, which is located nearby. Exploring the bay takes you to various, fascinating points of interest along the beach and offers some magnificent views of the town, the golden sanded shores and the luscious palms. The lake tour is the best way to see much of the charming Weligama town.
Stand-up paddle boarding is the new, up and coming water sport available in Weligama. It makes a splendid alternative to surfing, and is a great way to get your balance in check before actually trying out surfing itself! Paddle your way along the coast past the gorgeous, vibrant beaches lined with colourful people, charming fishing huts and many an alluring villa. In Sri Lanka, most popular tourist beaches are equipped with water sports centres where you can rent out surfboards and other water sports equipment should you need it. Beach hotels and resorts, especially luxury ones have equipment for hire, along with experienced guides and instructors.
Weligama is especially popular among surfers as the waters along the coastal town provides fantastic, world-class surf all year round. The waves can be attempted by individuals of any skill level, and, if you want to learn the sport, there are plenty of surf schools littered along the beach that can teach you how! Most hotels in Weligama, like We Escape hotel, is in close proximity to the beach so surfing is just a matter of picking up a board and catching a wave. For more thrilling waves, you can travel down to Ram's point, Kabalana, Plantation point, Midigama and Two Secrets Point, all of which offer exposed beach breaks that are faster and carry higher power.
Whale and Dolphin Watching is a very popular activity offered by several water sports centres and hotels along the coast and is particularly good in Weligama. The waters around the coastal town host several cetacean species including Blue whales, pilot whales, the elusive sperm whale and even the occasional killer whale! There are massive pods of spinner dolphins that absolutely love to cruise the waves of the boat's bow! Whale and Dolphin Watching is best attended between the months of October and April when the seas are much calmer.
Weligama offers some of the best diving in Sri Lanka from locations ranging from outer reefs to wrecks. Some of the best spots include Hithi Thila, Rasfari and the Hembadhu wreck. Hithi Thila is an 8 to 30m drift dive where you can see white tips, nurse sharks, turtles, napoleons and if you visit between December to April, Manta Rays. Rasfari is about 50-minutes off shore by boat, drops from 24 to over 40 metres, and is a breathtaking spot where you'll encounter grey reef sharks, barracudas, white tips, big eye trevally and eagle rays. Hembadhu wreck is located on a house reef just off the Weligama coast and houses a spectacular myriad of marine life from stingrays, turtles, Wrasses, frog fishes and multi coloured nudibranchs. Numerous dive sheds are available along the Weligama coast and diving tours are offered by various luxury hotels in the town as well.
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A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
