Aquatic Life

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Stalking Dolphins and WhalesSurrounded by sea on all sides and blessed with thundering water falls and more than 100 rivers meandering between the bosky banks, Sri Lanka is home to a rich variety of aquatic life. Of these, the amphibians and the reptiles account for the highest number of endemic species. Of the 107 species of fish found in the island, most have found a safe heaven in the marshes and the rivers. The trout was introduced by the British into the streams rippling down the Horton Plains. It is possible that the largest number of endemic amphibians in the world may soon be found in Sri Lanka, going by recent research reports. At present, out of the total 54 species of amphibians found in island, 33 are endemic to it. The Nannophyrus, an endemic genus with three species, which live on rock ledges trickled by water is commonly found in the wet zone.


Marine Turtles
Out of the eight species of marine turtles living today, five are spotted in the sandy beaches in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the island. They generally come to nest in the soft sand. Turtles can best be seen at night time.

Stalking Dolphins and Whales
Whale watching is fast emerging as a favourite past time in Sri Lanka. Sea expeditions to watch dolphins and whales in all their nuances are undertaken off “Kirinda” and “Bentota”. Whales are also spotted around the islands of Batticaloa, Weligama, Negambo and Chilaw. Generally they are found 20 - 30 miles off the coast.

Commonly Seen Whales:
Common Blue Whales , Bryde's Whales , Sperm Whales , Killer Whales , False Killer , Dwart , Melon Headed Whales, Cuvier's Beaked Whales. If you are lucky enough you may have a glimpse of the Indian Blue Whale which is an elusive creature.

Dolphins:
Spotted Dolphins, Spinner Dolphins, Fraser's Dolphins, Risso's Dolphins, Common Dolphins and the Bottlenose Dolphins.

Common Marine Species:
The coral reefs host numerous species such as Rays, Eels, Clown Fish, Porcupine, Moorish Idol, Unicorn and Moorish Angle. The common species belonging to the families of Aroporidae (Staghorn Corals), Poritidae (Donnie Corals), Mussidae (Brain Corals), Faviidae (Ster Corals) and Pocelloporidae (Flower Corals) are also found here.

Fishing in the Deep Blue Sea
Some mind blowing experiences await the anglers in the island kingdom. The vast expanse of seas have a profusion of game fish species such as Marlin, Sail Fish, Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Grat Trevallie, Benito, Queen Fish Barracuda, Grouper, Cobia and Tuna.

Water Sports
Sri Lanka offers a whole world of water adventures such as scuba diving, underwater photography and fish identification.

Just have a taste of the island! It beckons everyone.