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Bar Reef Marine Sanctuary — Puttalam

Cover photo: NEOM (Unsplash)

District

Puttalam

Province

North Western

Best for

Snorkellers and divers; Sri Lanka's largest reef with corals, turtles and reef fish

Map

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About this place

Half-hour boat ride from Kalpitiya across open sea; operators run trips in calm season roughly November to April. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and confirm marine-sanctuary fee plus gear hire before boarding. Beginners should pick a guided snorkel, divers a licensed centre.

Visitor brief

Good to know before you go

• Sri Lanka's largest reef with corals, turtles and reef fish; reached only by boat across open sea.
• Go in calm season roughly November to April (clearest February-April); trips are cancelled in rough seas.
• Confirm marine-sanctuary fee plus mask/fin hire before boarding; beginners should pick a guided snorkel, divers a licensed centre.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen; never touch or stand on corals.
• Non-swimmers and small children should skip this; it is an offshore boat trip with a sea swim.

How to travel there

Kalpitiya town is the base (~3 hrs from Colombo via Chilaw/Puttalam); operators run ~30-min open-sea boat rides to the reef from Kalpitiya jetties in calm season.

Where to stay

Kalpitiya Dutch Bay/Alankuda strip — kite camps, eco-lodges and mid-range beach resorts; book reef trips through your stay.

Nearby places

Kalpitiya Dolphin and Whale Watching, Kalpitiya Kitesurfing Lagoon, Kalpitiya Dutch Fort, Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary

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