Shaka Sign Tours, Mirissa, Sri Lanka

Shaka Sign Tours is a beach sports company operating along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, offering training in surfing and snorkeling as well as coastal sightseeing boat rides. Based around four carefully selected locations — Madiha, Mirissa, Weligama, and Welikanda (Polhena) — the company caters to everyone from seasoned surfers chasing powerful waves to first-timers looking for a gentle introduction to the ocean.

Beach sports have long carried a reputation for excitement and a certain element of risk, and that combination is a large part of their appeal. While the lifestyle has been popular worldwide for decades, it is only beginning to take hold in Sri Lanka under what Shaka Sign calls "The Beach Attitude". The beach sport season along the south starts in September, and the selected locations draw both international tourists and local enthusiasts in considerable numbers.

Madiha

Situated in the city of Matara — roughly a three-hour ride from Colombo — Madiha is a quieter spot on the Sri Lankan surf map, valued by professional surfers for the sense of calm it offers. The location features two distinct surf points. The left point produces waves of up to eight feet and is best suited to experienced surfers, while the right point generates gentler, more forgiving waves that are ideal for beginners.

Mirissa

Just ten minutes from Madiha in the direction of Galle, Mirissa is often described as a paradise. Known as the "surf point by the mountain", it is particularly well regarded for snorkeling and offers a wide stretch of beach well suited to sunbathing. The area also has an active beach nightlife, with a number of cabanas lining the beachfront.

Weligama

A half-hour ride from Madiha, passing some of the coast's most scenic stretches, Weligama sits within a natural bay framed by a beautiful mountain ridge. Its long, gentle waves make it another excellent choice for beginner surfers, and the bay's wind and geographical conditions are well suited to both wind surfing and kite surfing. The clear, sky-blue water also makes it one of the better snorkeling spots in the region.

Welikanda (Polhena)

Only a five-minute drive from Madiha, Welikanda — also known as Polhena — is regarded as a snorkeler's paradise. The waters here are home to many species of marine fish and a variety of corals, offering an experience that is hard to match anywhere along this stretch of coastline. Shaka Sign considers it an essential stop for any serious beach lover visiting the south.