Joanna James
One of the best day trip options from Pasikudah is spending a day snorkelling off the coast of Pigeon Island. This marine life sanctuary is officially known as the Pigeon Island National Park and is also accessible from Trincomalee Beach. If you love snorkelling, then this place is a must-visit destination. Apart from its marine life heritage, there are other highlights on the island worth exploring. Here's a guide to help you plan a memorable trip.
Although Pigeon Island National Park is breathtaking and accessible all year round, visitors do need to time their trip to coincide with the best weather conditions. The period between April and October is considered the perfect time to head to the island as this is the dry season in the northern reaches of Sri Lanka. While this period is not the peak travel season for Sri Lanka (December to March), it is the ideal time to head to the northern beach hubs of the island as clear and tranquil water conditions prevail. This means that the environment is also conducive for snorkelling and scuba diving activities.
Those who are based at Amethyst Resort or any of the other Pasikuda hotels in Sri Lanka will find that the easiest way to reach Pigeon Island is via Trincomalee. Just 200m away from the Trincomalee coast, Pigeon Island is also barely a kilometer away from Nilaveli Beach. The only way that tourists can travel to Pigeon Island National Park is via a boat tour or a boat rental from either Uppuveli Beach or Nilaveli Beach. There are tour operators providing both boat transfers as well as snorkelling expeditions on Pigeon Island and these typically include a diving or snorkelling guide and equipment. Travellers who wish to simply travel to the island, however, can hop on a motor boat from Nilaveli Beach or Uppuveli Beach.
It is important for tourists to keep in mind that there is an entrance fee required for admittance to the Pigeon Island National Park, much like most national parks and wildlife sanctuaries around Sri Lanka. As this is a protected marine park, visitors must purchase entrance tickets through a tour operator before visiting the island. If you book a snorkelling or diving tour on Pigeon Island National Park, the entrance fees are typically included in the package price, which also covers the cost of gear, boat transfers, and refreshments.
While there are coral reefs and marine species occupying the off-coast areas of Pigeon Island, seasoned divers consider it a better snorkelling destination than a hub for deep sea exploration. The main reasons behind it include the fact that the reef surrounding the island is too shallow for a deep dive and snorkellers can easily come across sea turtles, reef sharks and other tropical fish species without donning diving fins and an oxygen tank. Those who do wish to go diving during a trip to Pigeon Island can head over to the northern region of the island as the reef is deeper in this area but the downside is that visibility is low and sharks and turtles are much harder to spot.
When heading out for a day trip to Pigeon Island, it's important to pack an extra set of dry clothes apart from a bathing suit and a towel. Ensure that the sunscreen that's packed into the day bag is "reef-safe" so that the marine life is not negatively impacted by chemicals in beauty products. A hemp bucket hat and sandals will also come in handy while a bottle of water is also essential as there are no restaurants, bars or snack kiosks on the island.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
