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Beginner

North Reef

5–22 m22 min by boat📅 May to October

About this dive site

North Reef is a long, sprawling reef system that runs from very shallow (5 m in places) down to about 22 m, which means you can tailor the dive to whoever's in the water. Advanced divers work the deeper sections while Open Water students explore the shallower bommies — everyone dives at the same site without anyone being out of their depth. Literally or otherwise.

The reef here is diverse in a way that rewards multiple visits. Hard corals dominate the shallow sections; the deeper areas have more sea fans and soft corals. Marine life is varied: turtles near the top, barracuda in the water column mid-reef, moray eels and lionfish tucked into the deeper rocky sections. On calm days the visibility can reach 20 m or more, which makes the scale of the reef really apparent.

This is a good site for a mixed group — say, an Advanced student and a couple of fun divers on the same boat. Everyone can dive together and still have an appropriate experience.

What you'll see

  • Hawksbill turtles
  • Barracuda
  • Moray eels
  • Lionfish
  • Hard corals in shallow sections
  • Sea fans and soft corals deeper
  • Reef fish — mixed tropical species

Site highlights

  • Variable depth — suitable for all certification levels
  • Large, diverse reef system
  • Visible from shallow to 22 m
  • Good for mixed-level groups

Currents & Visibility

Variable current. Calm in the shallows. Visibility 10–20 m.

Recommended courses for this site

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Depth5–22 m
Boat time22 min
SeasonMay to October
LevelBeginner
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Equipment included · Local guides · Small groups

Photos — North Reef

Scuba diving in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Coral reef dive site in Trincomalee
PADI instructor guiding divers underwater
Blue whale watching boat trip in Trincomalee
Questions

Questions about North Reef

Guest experiences

Swami Rock is something else entirely. The statues on the reef, the turtles, the sheer amount of life on the wall — I've dived in Thailand, Indonesia, the Red Sea, and this is right up there. The guides know every inch of these reefs. Highly recommended.

J

James T.

United Kingdom · Fun Diving

Did my Advanced here after getting my Open Water in Koh Tao. The Klathipa deep dive and the wreck dive were both incredible. Small groups, attentive instruction, and the equipment was in excellent condition. I'll be back for the specialty courses.

A

Aiko N.

Japan · Advanced Open Water Diver

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