Questions

New to scuba? Start here.

Do I need to know how to swim to try scuba diving?

You don't need to be a strong swimmer, but you do need to be comfortable in the water. For our Try Diving and Discover Scuba experience, we ask that you can swim 10 metres and float for a minute or two. That's it. We're not looking for Olympic-level technique — just enough confidence that you're not panicking on the surface before we've even left the boat.

How old do you need to be to scuba dive?

For Try Diving and most beginner courses, the minimum age is 10. The Bubblemaker experience (pool only, no ocean diving) can be done from age 8. Professional courses like Divemaster require you to be 18. If you're booking for a child, just mention their age when you enquire and we'll confirm which options are right for them.

Is scuba diving safe?

Honestly, yes — when done properly with qualified instruction. Scuba diving has a good safety record, and the risks that do exist are well understood and manageable. We follow PADI protocols for everything, we brief thoroughly before every dive, and we check equipment before every single session. The main variable is your own behaviour underwater, which is exactly why we spend time teaching proper technique rather than just getting people wet.

What equipment do you provide?

Everything. BCD, regulator, wetsuit (3 mm), fins, mask, and weights are all included in every course and fun dive. You don't need to bring anything except a swimsuit and a towel. If you have your own equipment you're welcome to use it — just let us know in advance so we can check it meets current standards.

What's the difference between the Scuba Diver and Open Water Diver courses?

Scuba Diver is the shorter route — two days, certifies you to dive with a professional to 12 m. Open Water takes four days and gives you full independence: you can dive with any certified buddy, anywhere in the world, to 18 m. If you've got four days in Trincomalee, Open Water is almost always the better call. Scuba Diver is really only worth it if your time is genuinely tight.

Seasons, marine life, visibility, and what makes this place special.

When is the best time to dive in Trincomalee?

May to October is the Trincomalee diving season. The northeast monsoon brings rough seas from November through April, so we don't operate dive trips on the east coast during those months. Peak conditions — calmest water, best visibility, warmest sea temperature — fall roughly June to September. The whale watching season overlaps with early diving season (April–May) which is a nice bonus.

What marine life can I see?

Quite a lot, honestly. Hawksbill turtles are almost a given on most dive sites. Moray eels, lionfish, reef sharks, barracuda, parrotfish, triggerfish, stingrays — all common. Blue whales pass through on migration (best in April–early May, viewed from the surface, not underwater). Dolphins — spinner and bottlenose — are regular around the bay. On deeper sites like Klathipa, there's a chance of napoleon wrasse and occasional hammerheads. We're not in the habit of over-promising on wildlife, but Trincomalee consistently delivers.

Is Trincomalee good for wreck diving?

It's exceptional. The bay has WWII history — HMS Hermes (a Royal Navy aircraft carrier, now at 45–53 m) is one of the largest diveable wrecks in the world. The SS British Sergeant sits at 18–24 m and is accessible to recreational divers. Irarakandy is a shallower option at 6–10 m, good for Open Water divers. If wreck diving is your main interest, Trincomalee might be the best destination in Asia.

How's the water visibility?

In season (May–October), visibility ranges from about 10 m on a slower day to 20–25 m on a good one. The outer sites like Klathipa Deep and Pigeon Island tend to have the clearest water. Shallow sites and wrecks can be lower — especially if someone disturbs the silty bottom, which is why we spend time on buoyancy before every dive.

How to get here, how to book, and what to expect when you arrive.

How do I book a course or dive?

Call us on 0743 945 010, WhatsApp us, or use the booking form on the website. We don't take deposits through the site — we prefer to have a quick chat first to make sure you're booking the right thing. Multi-day courses especially are worth a five-minute conversation so we can confirm dates, your swimming ability, and any medical considerations before we put anything in the calendar.

How do I get to Trincomalee?

From Colombo, you've got a few options. The train from Colombo Fort to Trincomalee takes about seven hours and is genuinely scenic — worth it if you're not in a rush. By bus it's similar. By car it's about five to six hours on good roads. There are domestic flights from Colombo to Trincomalee (Batticaloa airport) which cut it down to 40 minutes, though availability is limited. We can point you towards transfers if you need help getting from town to Sandy Cove.

Do you offer accommodation?

We don't run a guesthouse ourselves, but Sandy Cove and Nilaveli have a good range of accommodation from budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels, most of them right on the beach. We're happy to recommend places depending on your budget and preferences — just ask when you enquire. A lot of our guests stay within five minutes' walk of our base.

Can non-divers or family members come on the boat?

Yes — if you've got someone who wants to watch, read, or snorkel from the boat while the divers are in the water, that's fine. We ask that there's at least one diver in the group, and we charge a small boat fee for non-diving passengers. Snorkelling equipment can be provided at extra cost if they want to explore the surface while you're below.

What we do to keep you safe and the reef intact.

What if I feel nervous or anxious underwater?

That's completely normal — most people feel some nerves on their first dive, and honestly, a little apprehension shows good awareness. Our instructors are used to working with nervous divers. We'll go at your pace, and if you need a moment at 5 m to settle your breathing before going deeper, that's fine. There's no timeline underground. If something doesn't feel right, you signal and we surface. No pressure, no embarrassment.

Do you follow eco-friendly diving practices?

We try to. We're PADI AWARE-aligned — we don't allow touching corals or marine life, we don't anchor on reefs, and we run our boats with proper waste disposal. We participate in occasional reef clean-up dives when we have the capacity. It's not just policy; most of us have been diving these reefs for 15 years and genuinely care what happens to them. If you see us slipping up, call it out.

What medical conditions affect diving?

A few things can prevent or complicate diving: serious respiratory conditions (like asthma that's not well-controlled), recent surgery, ear problems, pregnancy, and certain heart conditions. Before any course, we'll have you complete a PADI medical questionnaire. If anything flags, we'll ask you to get clearance from a doctor. Most conditions don't rule diving out entirely — they just need assessment. When in doubt, check with your GP before travelling.

What safety measures are in place on boats and dives?

We carry oxygen on every dive boat, along with a first aid kit and emergency contact information for the nearest decompression facility. Every guide dives with a surface marker buoy (SMB). We do a dive brief before every single dive — conditions, site layout, emergency signals, and planned depth/time. We keep group sizes small (max 5 divers per guide) so everyone gets proper attention.