Is there an entry fee for Pigeon Island National Park?

Yes — the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation charges a park entry fee. We include this in the price of the Pigeon Island dive trip, so you don't need to arrange it separately.

Can we snorkel at Pigeon Island instead of diving?

Yes — the shallow lagoon at Pigeon Island is one of the better snorkel spots in Trincomalee. The coral is healthy and the fish are bold. We can arrange snorkel-only trips to Pigeon Island, or combine snorkellers and divers on the same boat.

Are the reef sharks dangerous?

No. Blacktip reef sharks are small (typically 1–1.5 m), shy, and uninterested in divers. They'll swim away if you approach them, which is the right instinct to have. The intimidating name doesn't match the actual behaviour — they're one of the most beginner-friendly shark species.

Is there an entry fee for Pigeon Island National Park?

Yes — the Sri Lanka Department of Wildlife Conservation charges a park entry fee. We include this in the price of the Pigeon Island dive trip, so you don't need to arrange it separately.

Can we snorkel at Pigeon Island instead of diving?

Yes — the shallow lagoon at Pigeon Island is one of the better snorkel spots in Trincomalee. The coral is healthy and the fish are bold. We can arrange snorkel-only trips to Pigeon Island, or combine snorkellers and divers on the same boat.

Are the reef sharks dangerous?

No. Blacktip reef sharks are small (typically 1–1.5 m), shy, and uninterested in divers. They'll swim away if you approach them, which is the right instinct to have. The intimidating name doesn't match the actual behaviour — they're one of the most beginner-friendly shark species.

Beginner

Pigeon Island

↓ 7–21 m⏱ 20 min by boat📅 May to October

About this dive site

Pigeon Island National Park is the kind of place that makes people want to become divers. It's a national park, which means the reef is protected — and you can tell. The coral is thick, the fish are bold, and the blacktip reef sharks that cruise the outer edge don't seem particularly bothered by bubbles.

The site breaks into two distinct zones. The shallow section (7–12 m) is a coral garden — hard corals in good shape, clownfish in their anemones, parrotfish doing their thing. This is where we take beginners and snorkellers. Drop down to the outer wall (14–21 m) and it opens up: bigger fish, sea fans, the occasional reef shark. The wall is where the Advanced course deep dive happens — good visibility, interesting topography, and just enough depth to feel like you've done something.

Being inside a national park means there are rules: no touching, no taking, no anchoring on the reef. We brief everyone on this before we get in the water. The reef has survived because people have respected it, and we intend to keep it that way.

What you'll see

Blacktip reef sharks
Clownfish and anemones
Parrotfish
Hawksbill turtles
Grouper
Barracuda
Coral gardens (hard corals)
Sea fans on deeper wall

Site highlights

✓National park — protected reef in great condition
✓Blacktip reef sharks on the outer wall
✓Vibrant coral garden for beginners
✓Snorkelling accessible from the island beach

Currents & Visibility

Generally calm inside the lagoon. Slight current on the outer wall. Visibility 15–25 m.

Recommended courses for this site

Open Water Diver →Advanced Open Water Diver →Discover Scuba Diving →

Book a dive here

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Depth7–21 m

Boat time20 min

SeasonMay to October

LevelBeginner

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Equipment included · Local guides · Small groups

Photos — Pigeon Island

PADI instructor guiding divers underwater

Blue whale watching boat trip in Trincomalee

Questions

Questions about Pigeon Island

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.”

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.”

Aiko N.

Japan · Advanced Open Water Diver

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