Hikkaduwa

Hikkaduwa was the first place on the south coast to draw travellers in numbers, from the 1970s, because of the coral: a shallow reef inside a sanctuary lies a short swim from the beach, with turtles that come in to feed on seagrass close to shore. The reef has suffered badly from bleaching, boat damage and visitor pressure, and what is there now is much reduced. Surf breaks work through the season and the town is busy and built up.

What you actually see

• The coral sanctuary - a shallow protected reef a short swim from the beach.
• The green turtles - animals coming close inshore to feed on seagrass.
• The surf breaks - several reef and beach breaks along the town's shore.
• The glass-bottom boats - trips over the reef from the beach.

When to go

November to April is the season on this coast. The southwest monsoon closes the water from May to September. Turtles come inshore year round.

Honest expectations

The reef is in poor condition and visitors expecting healthy coral are disappointed; bleaching and trampling have taken most of it. Glass-bottom boat operators anchor on the coral and touts are aggressive. Feeding turtles from the beach is common and harmful.

Nearby

Ambalangoda is north, and Galle is south.