A glass-bottom boat is the simplest way to see the reef at Hikkaduwa without getting wet. You sit on the benches either side of a glass panel set into the hull and look straight down through the water at the coral and the fish moving over it, while the boat works slowly across the shallows.
The reef here is a shallow fringing reef lying just off Hikkaduwa Beach, protected as Hikkaduwa National Park and managed by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. It was declared a sanctuary in 1979, which made it the first marine protected area in Sri Lanka, and it became a national park in 2002. Around 60 species of coral and over 170 species of reef fish have been recorded on it.
Sea turtles are the sight most people hope for. Hawksbill, green and olive ridley turtles all visit the reef, and when one surfaces near the boat or passes beneath the glass, it is the moment of the trip. They are wild animals, though, so a sighting is never certain.
The boat is private to your party and a guide goes with you to point out what is below and talk about the reef. Entrance fees and all taxes and service charges are included. The water is often clearest in the morning, so an early ride is worth considering.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and you make your own way to the beach at Hikkaduwa. Food, drinks and personal expenses are also not included. Corals in the park are protected, and touching or taking them is not allowed.
