Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef.

west coast of Sri Lanka, a popular tourist destination is a also a breeding ground for turtles. Legend say that Unwatuna was created from a piece of earth from Himalaya, that had fallen from Hanuman in the Ramayanaya epic. Unawatuna is about 2km away towards Matara from Galle. Unlike the other resorts to the north Unawatuna is still a very quite place and a excellent location to enjoy the tropical beauty in relative recluse. Ideal for snorkeling and swimming.

Arugam Bay is a bay situated on the Indian Ocean in the dry zone of Sri Lanka's southeast coast. The bay is located 320 km due east of Colombo. It is a popular surfing and tourist destination. Many of the buildings were destroyed in the 2004 tsunami. Due to its popularity among tourists, the area has managed a slow recovery by private initiatives only. As late as 2010 no help has been received from any official source or international organizations.

South of Beruwala, Bentota is another major beach resort of the island with many large hotels with beach fronts, beautiful sandy beaches and shallow waters. There is a popular fresh water lagoon which is a popular water racing location.

14 km. from Trincomalee, Nilaveli was the venue for the 1985 International Fun board Championships and all water sports are available. All water sports are available here including fishing and sea angling. Whale watching in the sanctuary is a specialty.

Fine sandy beaches of Negombo has been mostly unexplored but less crowded as most tourists use the town for the first or the last night of their stay in Sri Lanka. That is where the advantage where you have the beach mostly to your self. Nevertheless those who have identified it's secrets have been visiting the town year after year. Fine beach stretches are superbly maintained by the hotels while some are always busy with fisherman and their equipment.

5.6 km of South of Colombo, Beruwela marks the beginning of a 130 km. stretch of beaches where resort development has taken immense strides in the past few years. Good bathing may be had in the bay all year round.

About 15 kM from Matara towards Galle and 27 km from Galle is a popular resort town of Weligama. Here are many recently built hotels for visitors in search of the sun and sand. The rest house at Weligama is one of the oldest rest houses in Sri Lanka. The Aggrabodhi Vihara about 1 Km from the rest house towards inland is an ancient temple established in the 3 century BC.