A belt of coral
To really know an island, you have to get to know its coastline. Here, the shores are fringed by a beautiful coral reef. It is home to a beautifully diverse fauna: anemones, octopuses, lobsters, moray eels and a good hundred fish species common to all the tropics: parrot fish, surgeon fish, clown fish, angel fish, stone fish, several species of rays, barracudas and of course, the animal itself, the coral, with 140 species. One of them, round and perforated like a lace doily, is famously found in the Gorgonian Gardens, a splendid and fragile diving spot off Colombo.

Sometimes condensed in rich underwater massifs, such as those bordering the Pigeon Island National Park, they form a world much appreciated by divers. You can also discover them by taking a boat and, if you're a less experienced visitor, simply get into the water to admire them comfortably from the surface in dive fins, mask and snorkel.

Legendary animals

One of the most magnificent animals is the sea turtle, of which there are five species in Sri Lanka. They can be seen swimming around gracefully underwater, but try not to disturb them too much, as they value their peace and quiet. On the island's beaches, several local institutions record and protect their nests. The offspring are then placed in ponds so that they can grow up safe from birds, monitor lizards, poachers and fishermen's nets. Once the young turtles are old enough to fend for themselves, they are released into the wild.

Another extraordinary but slightly scarier animal is the sea snake, of which there is one fearsome-sounding species, the sea cobra - but it is far too shy to give swimmers any trouble. Speaking of legendary animals, the island is home to around sixty species of sharks - including the island's little darling, the black tip, recognisable by its dark spot at the end of the dorsal fin. Most sharks are harmless if you don't have the bad idea of feeding them fish, which is sure to get them worked up. Many of them remain in deeper waters.

As for marine mammals, there are about ten types of dolphins, which can be easily spotted when sailing or motor boating. Most whales can also be seen, but they are more fearful, very nomadic and each species follows a different calendar. We even come across the world's largest animal, the blue whale, at 30 meters long. A word of advice: avoid encouraging the anarchic and unprofessional excursions offered by some. A whale or dolphin must not be approached at less than 100 m, otherwise there is a significant risk of injuring it with the hull or propeller.

The amazing world of shipwrecks

Because of its links with the British monarchy, Ceylon was exposed to the devastation of two world wars. Trinquemalay harbor has a particularly high number of warship wrecks. The colossal ore carrier MV Cordiality , which sank in 1997, is also located here, as well as several Japanese Zeros that were shot down in flight during raids on the port during WWII.

The older HMS Diomede sank in the 18th century. You can also explore the world's largest shipwreck, the Admiralty Floating Dock, sunk by an unfortunate leak in a ballast tank. It is over a kilometer long and 200 meters wide and was intended for the supply and maintenance of Her Majesty's largest warships.

Off Colombo, the steamer SS Perseus sank to the bottom in 1917 after hitting a mine. A short distance in front of Galle Fort, to the southwest, lies the cargo ship SS Rangoon. Easily accessible at a depth of 20m, the tanker SS British Sergeant was sunk by Japanese bombs in 1942. It is one of the most visited wrecks in the world. Advanced divers can also venture into the underwater maze of the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes, the first to be built by the British and also sunk by the Japanese. Finally, for a really unique experience, you can also explore a Hindu temple buried under sediment, with its Ganesh, thrown into the sea by the Portuguese Catholics, not exactly known for their religious tolerance.

In passing, sailing or simply scanning the sea from the beach is an opportunity to discover one of the world’s unique professions : that of the stilt fisherman. These anglers set up their stilts every morning, to climb up on them and catch herring or mackerel at high tide. This is one of the most stunning images of the Galle region. This tradition is said to have originated from the idea that being in a fixed position with more depth - and therefore more fish - was more effective than fishing from the gently sloping beach or a pier.