Diving in Mirissa
Opens November1 November – 10 AprilMirissa is on Sri Lanka's south coast, and the reef starts just off our centre — close enough that green turtles are usually the first thing you see, sometimes minutes after you get in. It's where a lot of people take their very first breath underwater, and where certified divers come back for the turtles, the moray eels and sites like Athula Gala.
Never dived? You'll do a session in the pool first, then head out to the ocean once you're ready — the way it should be done. Discover Scuba Diving and the full PADI Open Water course both start that way. Already certified? Fun dives run single or double, a short speedboat ride to the sites, with relaxed, patient guides — plus night dives, refreshers and Advanced Open Water. Kids aged 8–10 have their own shallow, supervised Bubble Maker.
It's a friendly, unhurried crew who'll film your dive if you like and treat the reef and its turtles with real care.
Book your dive or course
Single Fun Dive
One tank, a short speedboat ride to a south-coast reef like Athula Gala. You're certified, so skip the briefing marathon — drop in and let a guide who dives here every week take you to the turtles and the moray eels. Back on the boat by lunch.
Double Fun Dive
Two dives in one morning off Mirissa, a surface break in the sun between them. Two sites, more bottom time, better odds on the big turtles and a passing ray — same relaxed guide leading both.
DSD — 1 Dive
Never dived? You start in the pool with an instructor beside you — not straight off a boat — and head to the ocean only once you're comfortable. One dive on a calm south-coast reef, and the turtles usually find you. No certification, no experience.
GoPro photo & video included
DSD — 2 Dives
The full first taste: a pool session, then two ocean dives off Mirissa with an instructor at your side the whole way. One to find your breathing, one to actually look around — and, this being Mirissa, to meet a turtle or two. No licence needed.
GoPro photo & video included
Night Dive
The south-coast reef after dark. Certified divers only — torches on, and the night shift comes out: crabs, hunting fish, and the odd sleeping turtle.
Quick Refresh + 1 Dive
Been a while? A quick refresher in the pool to shake off the rust, then one dive off Mirissa. No re-doing your whole course — just you, back where you belong, probably with a turtle.
Quick Refresh + 2 Dives
Refresh your skills, then two dives off the south coast. One session to get comfortable again, two dives to remember why you got certified — turtles and moray eels included.
Kids Bubble Maker (8–10)
Real breathing underwater, built for ages 8–10. Shallow, calm and fully supervised off Mirissa — and with turtles on the reef right off the centre, they'll surface talking a mile a minute.
PADI Open Water Diver
The world's most recognised dive certification, earned in the open ocean off Mirissa — pool first, then real reefs, not three days in a swimming pool. You leave with a licence that works at every dive site on earth, and probably a few turtle photos.
PADI Advanced Open Water
Already certified — now go deeper. Five dives over two days off Mirissa: navigation, deeper water, and three adventure dives you choose. It changes how you dive the south coast.
PADI Scuba Diver
Halfway to Open Water, the quickest way in officially. Two days off Mirissa, a pool session and two ocean dives, one certification — always under the guidance of a PADI Pro.
Diving in Mirissa — FAQ
Almost certainly. Green turtles feed on the reef right off our centre, and for most people they're the first thing they see.
Discover Scuba Diving — a pool session with an instructor first, then one or two dives in the ocean. No certification, no experience.
The south coast dives best roughly November to April; outside that we move to our east-coast centre in Nilaveli.