Trincomalee is another place for observing dolphins and whales. Trincomalee, 257KM north-east of Colombo, is one of the world’s best deep-water natural harbors. It is also home to many eye-catching beaches where you can discover your favorite marine mammals in their own beautiful habitats.
Likewise, watching whales and dolphins has been, and still continues, a most interesting leisure activity in Sri Lanka over the previous few years. The best season in Trincomalee for viewing whales and dolphins is from May to October. You will be able to spot different species of dolphins and whales during your trip, for example: bottle nose dolphin, spinner dolphin, fraser dolphin, blue whale, including the killer whale, which is a rare sight.
Trincomalee, on the island’s eastern shore, has also quickly emerged as an internationally significant whale-watching location after whale-watching in Mirissa suddenly grew in popularity in the Southern Coast.
Blue whales (plus smaller sperm whales) can be found on a regular basis about 6-8 nautical miles east of Trincomalee (about half an hour by ship). On occasion, these beautiful beasts can even be found from the coast – with the greatest point of view offered by Swami Rock.
Dolphins are also regularly seen with the most frequently spotted spinner dolphins, while most sightings take place between March / April and August / September. Whales continue to migrate from the southern shore around the island (where they primarily gather from December to April), meaning that whale watching is an excursion accessible in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka is positioned in a unique manner on the map of the world in that its continental shelf is in very close proximity to the shore in three areas around this little island, which is meant that the sea falls to depths of close to a 1000m a stone’s throw away from the shore.
This offers the ideal habitat for whales looking for profound waters but taking advantage of the nutrient discovered near the coast. While the precise number of dolphins in Sri Lanka is unknown, the likelihood of catching them during the summer is as high as 90%, making it one of the best dolphin viewing places in the globe.