Sri Lanka Diving

[onejubb]

Hi,

Im travelling to Sri Lanka in mid December and would like to do a couple of fun dives, either in Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna. Any recommendations on which dive shops to go to and any other poiters would be of great help.

Cheers

 

[Phuket diver]

Hi,

I would recommend you Diving in Sri Lanka with Submarine Diving School Unawatuna , excellent dive center, Shirly the owner has been diving for more than 15 years in this area, excellent wreck dives, possibility to see whale sharks, massive turtles around.

Enjoy your trip to Sri Lanka, it's a wonderful country.

 

[Luko]

possibility to see whale sharks, massive turtles around.

Well, not that many... that would be VERY lucky for them...

I have dived Unawatuna a few years ago and quit after one day : the fish and coral life (non life?) was really far from impressing me. I would say there are lots of better things to see and do topside in Sri Lanka.
Probably the wrecks in Galle bay should be better and also the east coast diving (Trinco, Batticaloa). Nishan, the local specialist in SB might shed some light on that.

 

[Phuket diver]

Still recommend you that dive center, Shirly has 15 years of diving experience in that area and confirm you there are lot's of beautiful sites around that area. I have been there myself.

 

[Luko]

, Shirly has 15 years of diving experience in that area and confirm you there are lot's of beautiful sites around that area. .

Of course she will say it's good!!!! That's her business!!!! duh...
Would you Scubacat say for instance that your platform boat is old and doesn't stand the sea; that Racha Yai is a beginner site not really worth spending time?

Still recommend you that dive

You already said that.
I have been there too and I don't recommend : no more corals in Hikkaduwa, poor fish life in Unawatuna.

I will quote Nishan THE local expert, independant from any dive shop, in a discussion we had a few years ago :
"Yes the south has been devastated by the dynamiters. The navy has finally started cracking down on them recently but it remains to see if it will be a long term effort. In any case, it will take a few years to recover. Sadly many tourists diving in Hikkaduwa and Unwawatuna often never see the better dive sites in Sri Lanka. Right now there are only a few sites I consider worth diving in the south. "

I would like that professionals stop the sales rep. bombarding, and rather provide unbiased information warning about pros and cons. They should know it's couterproductive promising BS (whale sharks...!!!) , reading some of the responses, I am just about to throw away my yellow Scubacat shirt..

 

[Phuket diver]

Luko,

This website is to give personal opinion not to bash others, when you say "she", first it's he and secondly Scuba Cat does not own dive center in Sri Lanka. Before you give a judgment about one person, you should make sure you know that person.

Shirly is just a very good friend of mine, his father (passed away in the tsunami) opened a dive center there 20 years ago, so I really believe they have a good knowledge of the area. He just did not spend a few days there and did a couple of fundives around to become an expert like some blog users are.

I would ask you to restraint your personal opinion about dive centers, it's always easy to criticize others when you seat down in front a computer thousands of miles away, very different when you are face to face.

Anyway, enjoy diving wherever you are!

 

[Luko]

To Mr.Scubacat,

This website is to give personal opinion

Exactly, you're spot on... I would even say UNBIASED opinions.

I am not sure some recent "come dive with us" sales campaign in every forum has remotely anthing to do with a "personal opinion". Sounds more like free advertizing to me... see what I mean?

I would ask you to restraint your personal opinion about dive centers

Says who, buddy? Is that an advertizing or an information board?

I mean : WHO are you to order me anything? Is your name Phuket W. Divers?...
May I remind you that I am one of the customers that make your business live... you should thank me for that instead.

As a customer I am voicing my personal opinion on the basis of my personal experience : you looked at my profile, you saw where I dived... and yes, that's a lots of places, which allows me some comparison (incl. Similans & Phuket on Scubacat and of course... Sri Lanka).
AFAIK this board is made for giving first hand information, I will then give the good and the bad as well : have you heard lately about something called web 2.0 ?

it's always easy to criticize others when you seat down in front a computer thousands of miles away, very different when you are face to face.

It isn't different for me, that's my job.

There are at least two dive centre managers in Cambodia and Labuan Bajo who can testify they would have rather been elsewhere for 10 minutes than in front of me :shocked2:. I believe saying things as they are helps goodwill people who listen ...about the others, well, I am still wondering why they're here...

Those two prefer to be in a denial, I can stand when I am paid for, I do not accept when when I am paying for... That's the difference between you and me.

 

[Phuket diver]

In this forum, people are asking advise, others give advise, that's what I like in this kind of forum, but certain people are just bashing other opinion because they don't accept or agree with a different opinion.

I should not give my personal opinion about a place, which has nothing to do with the business I am working for because I work in the dive industry? I cannot recommend a friend because I work in the dive industry? But one thing I would not do, it's bashing somebody else even if it's my direct competition just because I do have respect for others even if they do not agree or accept my opinions.....

Just to remain you the topic of that page....: Im travelling to Sri Lanka in mid December and would like to do a couple of fun dives, either in Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna. Any recommendations on which dive shops to go to and any other poiters would be of great help.

Did i say something wrong for my answer? Whale shark? (they spot whale shark over there...) all that story because I mention the name of a fish you did not see when you went there?

I would like to apologize to onejudd for destroying his message with unrelated information regarding his request.

I really thought travelers had a very open mind...

Anyway, enjoy diving wherever you are

 

[Phuket diver]

To Onejudd,

You are going to have a wonderful time in Sri Lanka, absolutely beautiful.

Enjoy your vaccation

 

[Phuket diver]

To Luko,

btw you've got some beautiful photos on moalboal