Nilaveli Beach

Nilaveli Beach is a broad, sandy beach, lined with palm trees and dotted with fishermen's boats. This tiny island has calm beaches with gentle surf due to its own small reef. Between May and September, when the shallow ocean laps gently onto the beach, Nilaveli becomes Sri Lanka’s deep-sea diving and whale-watching hub. Just offshore lies Pigeon Island’s protected marine park – home to turtles and blacktip reef sharks, it’s one of the best sites for snorkeling and diving in the country.