Being an island, Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean in all of its glory; packed with marine life. The largest creatures to ever live on this planet thrive beneath these blue waters, and are a beautiful sight to see. With this activity you will get the chance to see the creatures that occasionally rise to the surface; whales and dolphins.
The whales in Sri Lanka don’t seem to be migrating away from its waters, but instead they move around the coasts. This makes Sri Lanka the ideal place for whale watching as it can be done all year round.
Anything you should know
You will be provided with a boat, a driver, a guide, and life jackets when you go whale watching. It would be an overall better experience if you are someone who doesn’t mind spending a few hours on a boat in the middle of the sea alongside the salt and sun. Some of these boats even have toilets, and may provide snacks for your journey. If you tend to get sea sick, purchase some seasick tablets from any pharmacy.
The largest blue whale colony in the world was found in Sri Lanka. These whales must be protected, as they are endangered; which is why it is requested that you keep your distance from them while you are on your boat ride. It is important that we respect all the life in the sea, and maintain certain boundaries. This also means that everything you take in to the sea should come back to the land with you.
Where to go
The Southern, Eastern, and Western coasts of Sri Lanka are all well known places when it comes to whale watching.
The best place to go whale watching would be Dondra Point, which can be accesssed from Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna, Weligama, Tangalle, or even Mirissa; which would be the closest of the lot. It is situated in the southernmost part of the island, and would be perfect for whale watching within the months of December to April. This spot is known for sights of plenty of sperm whales, blue whales, and even spinner dolphins.
Kalpitiya is in the Northwestern part of the country, and is a great spot to look at hundreds of dolphins at a time. Not only will you see spinner dolphins, but you may also see Indo-Pacific, bottlenose, Risso, and pink dolphins. Sperm whales, dwarf sperm whales, blue whales, and Melon headed whales can also be sighted in this area. The best time to visit would be from November to March.
Trincomalee is on the Northeastern coast of the country, and is known to be the spot for blue whales. Sperm whales and spinner dolphins can also be seen in this area. The best time to visit would be between March and April, and July to September.
Mirissa is situated in the southern part of the country, and has different species of whales varying from sperm whales to blue whale and even orcas and flying fish. The best time to visit would be from November to April.
Whale and dolphin watching is a great way to observe the marine life in Sri Lanka, but protecting these lives should be prioritized so that we don’t end up being the reason for their extinction. Overall doing this activity is bound to guarantee that you have a whale of a time!
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