Things to do in Nilwella

Camping on Blue Beach Island

Blue Beach Island, Nilwella

Spend the night on the island in a tent. Camping is arranged with the landowner as a package – tents, food and drinks, a bonfire and stargazing – usually for groups of 8–18 people.

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Snorkelling at Blue Beach Island

Blue Beach Island, Nilwella

On calm days the bay side of the island is clear enough for snorkelling. Just off the island is the Nilwella Underwater Gallery, a sculpture reef opened by the Sri Lanka Navy in 2021 – best for confident swimmers.

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Hiri Divers

Blue Beach, Nilwella

A PADI dive centre at Blue Beach Island, with fun dives, snorkelling and courses from Try Scuba and Open Water up to Divemaster. The reefs here have turtles and plenty of reef fish.

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Blue Beach Island

Nilwella, next to the fishing harbour

A small rocky island joined to the mainland by a sandbar you can walk at low tide – with the sea on both sides.

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Hiriketiya Bay

Hiriketiya, Dikwella

The horseshoe-shaped surf bay that made the area famous – just west of Nilwella.

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Nilwella Fishery Harbour

Nilwella

Nilwella's fishing harbour, right next to Blue Beach Island.

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Hummanaya Blowhole

Kudawella

A sea blowhole at Kudawella, a short drive east of Nilwella.

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Dickwella Beach

Dikwella

The beach in Dikwella, just west of Hiriketiya.

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Nilwella Minikirula Viharaya

Nilwella, by Blue Beach Island

A Buddhist temple by the sea, a short walk from Blue Beach Island – not to be confused with Minikirula Raja Maha Viharaya up on the hill. As at any temple in Sri Lanka, cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes before you go in.

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Minikirula Raja Maha Viharaya

On the hill above Nilwella

A Buddhist temple on the hill above Nilwella – locals call it the highest point in Nilwella, with a wonderful view over the area. It is a different temple from Nilwella Minikirula Viharaya by Blue Beach Island. Cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes before you go in.

Nilwella Beach

Nilwella

The quieter beach on the Nilwella side, also called Blue Beach – by the fishing harbour and the sandbar out to Blue Beach Island, 20–30 minutes on foot from Hiriketiya. Clear water on calm days, but currents and the tide can make swimming tricky.

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