Frequently Asked Questions
First time? Don't worry.
Absolutely. Most of our guests dive with us for the very first time. Safety, comfort and understanding each person's individual needs are core to how we work. You'll get a full briefing on land before you enter the water, and your instructor stays with you the entire time.
Ready to take the first step? Check availability →
Not necessarily. Whether you're a confident swimmer or have never swum before, we always adapt the experience to your pace and comfort level. In Mirissa, snorkeling with turtles takes place from the shore: no boat, no deep water. In Nilaveli we go out by boat to Angel Rock and Coral Island. Both are suitable for non-swimmers who are comfortable wearing a life jacket and following the guide's instructions. We've had many guests with no swimming experience at all who've had an incredible time with us.
Not sure if it's right for you? Get in touch →
It depends on the activity. Snorkeling: from 6, and children under 12 swim with a parent or guardian. Whale and dolphin watching: from 4 in Mirissa (we recommend 5+, as the trip starts early and takes about 4 to 5 hours) and from 6 in Nilaveli. Kayak at Garadu Lagoon: from 8, and every paddler must be able to swim at least 100 metres. Fishing: from 6. Diving: the PADI Bubblemaker is for ages 8–10, Discover Scuba Dives and fun dives are from 10, the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course is for ages 10–14 (with a parent or guardian's consent), Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver are from 12, the standard Open Water and Scuba Diver courses are from 15, and finishing your Open Water course with us on a PADI referral is from 10 (booked by a parent or guardian for ages 10–14). Night dives are from 18.
What's included
Everything you need for the activity is included. Here's what you get:
Diving and snorkeling, Mirissa and Nilaveli
Full equipment (for diving: regulator, BCD, wetsuit, mask, fins and a 12-litre tank of air; for snorkeling: mask, snorkel, fins and a life jacket), an experienced instructor or guide, the boat when the trip goes by boat, and refreshments after the trip. GoPro photos and videos are included on snorkeling trips and Discover Scuba Dives.
Whale & Dolphin Watching, Mirissa and Nilaveli
An experienced crew and refreshments on board. In Mirissa, tuk tuk pick-up is part of every booking and is priced by distance.
Fishing Trip, Mirissa
The boat and captain, all fishing equipment, life jackets and refreshments.
Kayak, Garadu Lagoon, Mirissa
Kayak, paddle, life jacket, dry bag for your belongings, mosquito repellent and refreshments. A guide is an optional add-on.
For PADI courses, course materials and certification fees are included in the price.
It's included on snorkeling trips and Discover Scuba Dives (DSD) at both Mirissa and Nilaveli. We bring a GoPro along and capture photos and videos for you in the water. There's no extra charge and nothing to sign up for. It just happens. Several of our guests have been pleasantly surprised by this, which tells us we should say it louder.
No, all equipment is provided and included in the price. If you have your own diving gear and prefer to use it, you're welcome to bring it: tick the own-equipment box for each diver when you book, and we take LKR 1,675 off per diver. It applies to fun dives, the 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 fun dive packages (once per package), night dives and Quick Refresh, but not to Discover Scuba Dives, the PADI Bubblemaker or PADI courses.
Yes, in Mirissa. When you book selected dives and PADI courses, you can add "Stay for lunch": a classic Sri Lankan rice and curry with the crew at the dive centre. Pick your days and your dish (chicken, egg or fish); the price is shown when you book. Already booked? Reply to your confirmation email and we'll add it, and you pay at the dive centre on the day. Our lunch is cooked fresh in a local Sri Lankan kitchen, so we can't cater for food allergies or promise a dish is free from any ingredient. If you have an allergy, you're very welcome to bring your own lunch and still sit down with the crew.
Practical requirements
No prior experience is needed for a Discover Scuba Dive or snorkeling. To join fun dives from the boat you need at least an Open Water certification or equivalent. We accept PADI, SSI, CMAS, NAUI and other recognised agencies, so an SSI Open Water card is fine. Bring your certification card or digital card on the day. Not sure which activity is right for your level? Get in touch → and we'll help you figure it out.
Book a Quick Refresh: a short session in calm, controlled water with a PADI professional, then one or two dives the same day. Booking a fun dive package instead? You can add a Scuba Refresh to the package, and it runs on the morning of day one before your first dive. If you'd also like your knowledge brought up to date and a new card with the date on it, choose PADI ReActivate. When you book a fun dive, we ask when you last dived, and if a refresh is needed, the booking tells you.
Diving requires you to complete a PADI Medical Questionnaire before your dive. This takes just a few minutes and is done digitally when you book. If you answer yes to any medical questions, we'll ask you to bring a doctor's certificate on the day. This is a PADI requirement and exists to keep you safe, not to stop you from diving.
Snorkeling, whale watching, kayak and fishing have no formal health requirements, though we always recommend consulting your doctor if you have any concerns.
Diving & snorkeling: swimwear, towel, and sunscreen.
Whale & dolphin watching: light clothing, sunscreen, and if you're prone to seasickness it's worth taking standard over-the-counter medication beforehand. Off Mirissa the trip takes about 4 to 5 hours.
Kayak: comfortable clothes you don't mind getting wet and sunscreen. Your belongings go in the dry bag we provide.
Fishing trip: light clothing and sunscreen.
If you're diving with us, please make sure you allow enough time before your flight. PADI recommends waiting at least 12 hours after a single dive and 18 hours after multiple dives before flying. We'll remind you of this in your booking confirmation, but it's worth planning ahead, especially if you're diving in the last few days of your trip.
Booking & payment
You can book directly on our website: pick your activity, choose a date, fill in your details and pay online. Your spot is confirmed instantly. If you have questions before you book or need help choosing the right activity, you're welcome to reach out to us by email at hello@mirissacollective.com or on WhatsApp.
Online payments are charged in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR). You can view prices in USD, EUR or GBP using the currency switch at the top of the site. If you pay in person at the dive center, we accept Sri Lankan Rupees, USD cash, or card.
For most activities, yes: you pay the full amount when you book. For PADI courses (Open Water, Junior Open Water, Scuba Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and ReActivate) we take a 50% deposit when you book online. The remaining 50% is paid on Day 1 at the dive centre, in USD cash, Sri Lankan Rupees, by card or via a payment link.
Yes. Use the currency switch at the top of the site to view prices in USD, EUR or GBP. It's a live, approximate conversion for reference; online payments are charged in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR).
We recommend booking as early as possible, especially during peak season. Popular dates (particularly for DSD and snorkeling) can fill up weeks in advance. That said, if you're already in Mirissa or Nilaveli and want to dive tomorrow, it's always worth checking availability. Last-minute spots do come up.
We don't have child prices or child discounts: the price is the same for children and adults. The only exceptions are the two PADI programmes made for young divers, the PADI Bubblemaker (ages 8–10) and the PADI Junior Open Water Diver course (ages 10–14), which have their own prices.
Yes. On both coasts we have a 3 Fun Dive Package (three dives in one day: two in the morning, one in the afternoon), a 4 Fun Dive Package (four dives over two mornings), a 5 Fun Dive Package (five dives over two days), a 6 Fun Dive Package (six dives over three mornings) and a 10 Fun Dive Package (ten dives over four days, or over five mornings if you prefer). The price per dive goes down the more you dive, and the packages include the same as our single dives: full equipment, the boat, a guide and refreshments. You'll find the current prices on the Mirissa and Nilaveli pages.
Check availability in Mirissa → Check availability in Nilaveli →
Seasons & locations
The Mirissa diving season runs from October to April, when conditions on the south coast are at their best: calmer seas, good visibility and warm water. At the very start of the season the sea can still change from one day to the next, so we decide each morning whether and where to dive, and it's worth keeping a little flexibility in your plans. Whale watching and fishing follow the same season, while snorkeling with turtles and kayaking on Garadu Lagoon run all year. You can already book any date in the coming season.
The Nilaveli season runs from 30 April to 30 September. This is when the east coast of Sri Lanka offers ideal conditions: flat water, excellent visibility and rich marine life around sites like Angel Rock and Coral Island. Outside of season you can still pre-book activities for when the season opens.
Mirissa is one of the best places in the world to see blue whales, the largest animal on Earth. Fin whales are also seen regularly, and spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins are frequent throughout the season. Sperm whales, Bryde's whales and orcas are rare but possible. They are wild animals, so no sighting is ever guaranteed.
Whale and dolphin watching runs throughout the Mirissa season, from October to April.
Nilaveli is particularly known for fin whales, the second largest animal on Earth. Spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins are seen regularly. Blue whales, sperm whales, Bryde's whales and orcas are rare but possible. They are wild animals, so no sighting is ever guaranteed.
Whale and dolphin watching runs throughout the Nilaveli season from 30 April to 30 September.
Both locations offer diving, snorkeling and whale and dolphin watching, but they feel quite different.
Mirissa is on the south coast. It's our original location, home to our turtle hatchery and the base for our kayak tours at Garadu Lagoon. The south coast is world-famous for blue whale sightings, some of the most accessible in the world.
Nilaveli is on the east coast, close to Trincomalee. The diving here is around beautiful reef sites with rich marine life. It's quieter, less crowded and has a different character to the south, and it's one of the best places in Sri Lanka to spot fin whales.
If you're visiting both coasts, we'd love to dive with you at both.
Not for dates outside the season. Mirissa's season runs from October to April and Nilaveli's from 30 April to 30 September; outside those dates activities are closed for booking. The exceptions are snorkeling with turtles and kayaking in Mirissa, which run all year. You can already book any date in the coming season: your spot is secured and payment is taken at the time of booking.
PADI courses
These are three different entry points into diving:
Discover Scuba Dive (DSD): no certification, no commitment. A guided introduction dive for anyone who wants to try diving for the first time. You'll dive with an instructor who stays with you the entire time. One or two dives, same day. No e-learning required.
PADI Scuba Diver: a real certification. Approximately half of the full Open Water course. E-learning completed before you arrive, followed by in-water training with us. Certifies you to dive to 12 metres with a PADI professional.
PADI Open Water Diver (OWD): the world's most recognised diving certification. E-learning completed before you arrive, followed by confined water training and at least four open water dives with us. Certifies you to dive to 18 metres independently anywhere in the world.
Not sure which is right for you? Get in touch →
PADI e-learning is the knowledge development part of your course: videos, knowledge reviews and a final exam completed online at your own pace before you arrive. You'll receive your personal e-learning link from us after booking.
It's important to complete it before Day 1. Your instructor cannot begin the in-water training until the knowledge development is done. That's a PADI requirement, not just our preference.
We'll send you a reminder 5 days before and again 2 days before your course starts.
For PADI Open Water, Junior Open Water, Scuba Diver, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and ReActivate, and the Open Water Referral when you finish your open water dives with us, we take a 50% deposit when you book online. The remaining 50% is paid on Day 1 at the dive centre, in USD cash, Sri Lankan Rupees, by card or via a payment link. No surprises.
The AOWD is the natural next step after your Open Water certification. You complete five adventure dives: two required dives (deep diving and underwater navigation) plus three specialty dives of your choice. It extends your depth limit from 18 to 30 metres and opens up a whole new range of dive sites.
Each specialty dive you complete can earn credit toward PADI specialty certifications.
Available at both Mirissa and Nilaveli. Already certified elsewhere? You're welcome to continue your AOWD with us.
The Open Water course runs over three days, with your e-learning done before you arrive. In Mirissa, day 1 is 14:30 to 17:30 with the briefing and a confined water session, and days 2 and 3 run from 07:30 to about 13:30, with the first dive at 08:30. Advanced Open Water is five dives over two days, Scuba Diver takes two days and Rescue Diver three days. Each course page shows the day-by-day times, and you get them again in your confirmation email. PADI courses are performance based, so your instructor focuses on you becoming a confident diver, and the sea has its say too: we always put your safety and learning before the schedule.
Yes, that's exactly who these courses are designed for. No prior experience needed. You'll start in shallow, calm water, build your skills gradually and only move to open water when you and your instructor agree you're ready.
Yes. If you did your e-learning and pool training at another PADI centre, you can take your four open water dives with us over two mornings, in Mirissa or Nilaveli. Bring the referral form your first dive centre signed: it is valid for 12 months from your pool training. You can book online from age 10, with a 50% deposit, on the PADI Open Water Referral page of each coast.
Getting here & practical
Yes. In Mirissa we offer tuk tuk pick-up from hotels and guesthouses as an optional, paid extra, priced by road distance from the dive centre (per tuk tuk, up to 3 guests each). You enter your pick-up address when you book and see the exact fare before you confirm. Pick-up is available within 12 km of the dive centre, and for multi-day courses it covers every course day. Staying further away? Write to us before you book and we'll find a solution.
In Nilaveli there is no pick-up: our dive centre is right on the beach, and most accommodation is within easy walking or tuk tuk distance.
Whale watching in Mirissa is the exception: pick-up is required, so our driver can take you straight to the right boat in the harbour.
Your booking confirmation has the exact meeting point, with a map link, and your meeting time. Please arrive 15 minutes before your activity starts, so there's time for registration, briefing and equipment fitting. With tuk tuk pick-up, your driver is scheduled so you arrive in good time. If you can't find us on the day, call or WhatsApp us on +94 76 030 5657.
Your pick-up time depends on how far you're staying from us. We work it out from the driving time to our centre and send it to you in your booking confirmation, so you arrive about 10 minutes before your activity starts. Please be ready at your pick-up point at that time.
Only if you choose it. When you book, add tuk tuk pick-up and choose One-way or Round trip. A round trip also drives you back to your accommodation after your activity, and the price is included in what you pay online. For Mirissa whale watching, pick-up is part of every booking and the driver takes you straight to your boat in Mirissa harbour.
Safety always comes first. If conditions at sea make it unsafe to go out, we'll contact you as early as possible (ideally the evening before) and offer you a full refund or the option to reschedule. For PADI courses, the PADI eLearning amount (LKR 49,500 per participant) is not refunded once the code has been bought.
Weather cancellations are always at our discretion. We've been operating on both coasts for years and we know these waters well. If we say it's not safe, it's not safe.
As a general guide:
Diving: a Double Fun Dive runs from about 08:30 to 13:00 and a Single Fun Dive from about 14:00 to 16:00, including the briefing, the boat and the dives. Night dives run from 18:00 to 20:00. Courses and packages have their own day-by-day times on each activity page.
Snorkeling: typically 2–3 hours.
Whale & dolphin watching: about 4 to 5 hours off Mirissa, about 2 hours off Nilaveli.
Kayak: one hour, two hours or a half day, any start from 06:00 to 19:00.
Fishing trip: 06:00 to 09:00.
All times are approximate, because nature sets the pace. Your booking confirmation has the exact times for your activity.
Our dive boats are open fibreglass boats with a shade canopy and a 40 hp outboard. We head out from the beach right in front of the dive centre, and most sites are around 20 minutes away. Groups stay small: at most 8 people on a one-dive trip and 5 on a two-dive trip, guides included, plus the captain. There's no cabin or toilet on board, so the trips are kept short.
Cancellation & refund
It depends on the activity:
All activities except PADI courses:
Free cancellation more than 72 hours before your activity. 50% refund if you cancel 48–72 hours before. 25% refund if you cancel 24–48 hours before. No refund within 24 hours or for no-shows.
PADI courses:
Free cancellation more than 7 days before Day 1. If you cancel 3–7 days before, your deposit is forfeited. No refund within 3 days of Day 1. LKR 49,500 per participant covers the PADI eLearning code and is non-refundable once the code has been bought (straight away if you book less than 48 hours before Day 1).
Documented illness, injury or accident always qualifies for a full refund regardless of timing, except the PADI eLearning amount for PADI courses. We'll ask for proof.
Refunds are returned by the same method you used to pay: to your card, or in cash at our dive centre if you paid in cash.
If we cancel due to weather or unsafe sea conditions, you always receive a full refund or the option to reschedule. The one exception is the PADI eLearning amount for PADI courses (LKR 49,500 per participant), which is not refunded once the code has been bought. We'll contact you as early as possible, ideally the evening before.
Yes. Use the reschedule link in your confirmation email, or get in touch on WhatsApp or email. Rescheduling is subject to availability and must be requested before the cancellation window for your activity closes.
You'll find a refund request link in your booking confirmation email. Fill in your booking details and reason for cancellation. If you're cancelling due to illness or injury, please attach documentation. We'll review your request and get back to you promptly. Approved refunds are returned by the same method you used to pay.
Before you dive in
It depends on the location and activity, but here's what our guests regularly encounter:
Mirissa, diving and snorkeling: green and olive ridley turtles, reef fish, moray eels, lionfish and octopus, around natural rocky reefs and large rock formations. Rays turn up now and then, and whale sharks pass through occasionally but are rare.
Nilaveli, diving and snorkeling: coral gardens around Angel Rock and Coral Island, dense reef fish, turtles, blacktip reef sharks, octopus and moray eels.
Whale & dolphin watching, Mirissa: blue whales and fin whales, with spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins seen regularly. Sperm whales, Bryde's whales and orcas are rare but possible.
Whale & dolphin watching, Nilaveli: fin whales, with spinner, spotted and bottlenose dolphins seen regularly. Blue whales, sperm whales, Bryde's whales and orcas are rare but possible.
Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, and that's what makes each trip unique.
We fish the coastal reefs off Mirissa with rod and reel, so this is inshore fishing rather than offshore big game. Trevally, barracuda, snapper, grouper and Spanish mackerel (“seer fish” locally) are the regular catches, with smaller tuna on some mornings. Nothing is guaranteed, and whatever you land is yours to take home.
It depends on your certification level. A Discover Scuba Dive (DSD) typically goes to around 12 metres. Open Water certified divers go to 18 metres. Advanced Open Water certified divers go to 30 metres. Our instructors always plan dives appropriate to your level and experience.
No, diving during pregnancy is not recommended. This is a firm PADI guideline and applies regardless of how far along the pregnancy is. If you are pregnant and would like to join us, snorkeling, whale watching, kayak and fishing are all available to you.
Our team speaks English, Sinhala and French. Booking confirmations and emails are available in English and French: book on the French version of the site and your emails come in French. If you'd like a French-speaking guide, let us know when you book and we'll do our best to arrange it.
Yes, we carry a full range of equipment to fit most body types. If you have specific concerns about fit, reach out to us before you book and we'll let you know what we can accommodate.
Yes, contact lenses are fine for diving. We recommend daily disposable lenses as the safest option in case of any water contact. If you wear glasses, standard masks won't fit over them, but you're welcome to dive without visual correction or bring your own prescription mask if you have one.
Visibility varies by season and conditions, but both locations offer excellent diving when conditions are at their best.
In Mirissa, visibility typically ranges from 10 to 20 metres during the October to April season, with the clearest conditions often in the earlier months of the season.
In Nilaveli, visibility is often exceptional, frequently 15 to 25 metres during the 30 April to 30 September season, with calm, clear water around Angel Rock and Coral Island.