Water Sports in Trincomalee - Get wet and wild in Trinco!

The waters off the coast of Trincomalee are generally clear and home to vibrant coral formations, numbering over the hundreds; making it an amazing place for snorkelling. The coral reefs are teeming with around 300 species of vibrant tropical fish. Snorkellers will see plenty of clown fish, eels, rays, groupers, as well as a variety of sea turtles. The docile black tip reef sharks are a common sight, however, they are typically shy of people so getting near them without spooking them off can be challenging. The reefs near Pigeon Island are perhaps the most famous snorkelling site, however, there are plenty of other places to try it.

Trincomalee has the best diving locations on the east coast, and many of them are shallow, making them suitable for all skill levels. The waters off the coast of Nilaveli consists of several well-known dive sites like eel rock and knife rock which offer interesting dives. More adventurous divers will enjoy exploring the shipwrecks that lie north of Irakkandy. Although heavily damaged, the wreck is home to plenty of small fish species and invertebrates. Pigeon Island also offers plenty of opportunities for diving.

The waters are rich with an abundance of big game fish such as grouper, snappers and kingfish, so it's no surprise that fishing is common livelihood for many families in Trincomalee. Travellers who want to try their skill at reeling in a prize catch can easily organise day excursions with a tour operator or a hotel in Trincomalee that caters to excursions, such as Jungle Beach by Uga Escapes, for instance. When deep sea fishing, you can either choose to stay near the coast or head further out and try your hand at catching tuna, barracuda, marlin and even shark.

You can't visit Trincomalee and not catch a glimpse of the largest mammals on earth. Blue whales and small pods of sperm whales are common sights off the coast. Most sightings take place between the months of March to April and then again between August to September, as the whales migrate around the island from the south to east coast. Several tour groups, can be found offering early morning whale watching expeditions, so if you're interested in joining, just ask around.

Mount a jet ski and speed across the calm waters, wind in your hair and the exhilarating rush coursing through your body! Jet skiing is a speed junkies dream come true, not to mention a great way to experience Trincomalee's beautiful beaches. Once you've learned the basics and feel more comfortable on your jet ski, try your hand at sharp twists and bends to create bigger waves and make it even more exciting!