+94 75 865 7380
Contact Us
Let’s Talk
Open
-
Monday - Sunday
8 AM - 5 PM - Sun Diving Centre, Yakdehimulla, Unawatuna, Sri Lanka
FAQ
What activities do you offer at your centre?
We are a PADI scuba diving centre and offer scuba diving try dives and courses, snorkeling tours, surfing lessons, fishing tours, jet-ski experience, boat tours and kayaking rental.
I have never dived before but want to experience it, what do you offer?
You have 2 choices.
The first one is we have a non-certification program for beginners called Discover Scuba Diving (DSD). It will take about 3 hours duration and we will introduce you to SCUBA diving equipment, teach you the basic techniques and skills about SCUBA diving, and how to communicate underwater. After that we will go for training in the shallow water lagoon up to 2m depth, there we will practice breathing and 3 main skills. After training is complete, we will go to dive at Rock Island where you will dive maximum 10m depth and be able to see rocky reefs, beautiful reef fish and a small part of an ancient ship wreck.
The second option is you can get certified as an international PADI open water diver. This course will take approximately 3 days duration and allows you to complete the e-learning section at home in your own time. You will complete four open water dives and once you are certified, this will allow you to dive up to 18m deep anywhere in the world.
I am a certified diver and want to book dives with you, which dive sites will we visit?
We have 17 different dive sites available from Unawatuna beach including beautiful reefs, rock pinnacles and ship wrecks with depths ranging from 10m to 32m. Usually, we will decide on the day depending on ocean conditions and your certification level; we will always decide the site we believe to be the best visibility and safe for you on that day. If you have any special requests such as ship wrecks or deep dives, you can contact us on Whatsapp to chat further.
What does it mean 'Pay just 10% online now to book your spot' when I make a booking?
When you make an online booking through our website, you are charged only 10% of the total amount as an advanced payment and this is the amount you will see after selecting date, time and any other specifics. Please understand this isn’t the total amount of the activity you have chosen.
You will need to pay the rest at the dive centre on the day of your activity via cash, card or online bank transfer.
The total amount of the activity is written on the first page & the activity page. If you have any queries about the price, you can message us on WhatsApp.
When is the best time to dive in the South/Unawatuna?
The southern season runs from November to May, and the best time to dive is around December – February. From our experience these months bring the best visibility and ocean conditions.
Where is the best place to dive in Sri Lanka?
The most recommended in the South is Unawatuna and Hikkaduwa. In the East, Trincomalee is highly recommended for coral life.
Where are you located?
We are Sun Diving Centre and located in Unawatuna (Galle) on the beachfront. You can easily follow our location on Google Maps. Also, we are located next to the popular ‘Kingfisher Restaurant/Hotel’ and opposite ‘Skinny Toms’ café.
When should I arrive at the dive centre for my reservation?
We have a dive meeting schedule to follow and you can choose from four time slots – 8.30am, 10.30am, 13.30pm and 15.00pm. This is the meeting time at the dive centre, not the time of the dive. We kindly ask you to arrive on time as we have a boat schedule to stick to, we need to sign you up, set up your equipment and we can get busy in the season.
This is also relevant to activity bookings made.
Can I still dive in the off-season?
Off-season in the South runs from May-September, and although its classed as ‘off season’ it is certainly still possible to dive and complete courses. We are fortunate in Unawatuna to be able to still operate boats during this time, unlike other southern locations like Hikkaduwa, where the currents are too strong to go out on diving trips.
Additionally, being ‘off season’ means that most days we can’t expect amazing conditions with visibility usually ranging between 2-6 meters, and we will only operate if it’s safe to do so. However, we can also get occasional periods of good visibility and conditions, so we always advice you to contact us beforehand to get an update about conditions where we will be as open and honest as possible. It’s also important to note that we can’t give you an exact report of visibility on the day unless we have already been diving, so we will base our information off previous days and observations of the sea.
Do you provide lunch?
Food is not included in your reservation; however, we’re connected to the beach restaurant ‘Seaforest’ or many other restaurants close by, where you can order all types of food from Sri Lankan cuisine to Western dishes. Otherwise, you can look at our ‘Full Packages’ page to choose from our all-inclusive diving packages.
Is my PADI certification included in the course price?
Yes. You will receive an e-card at the end of your course, otherwise you can order a physical card from PADI which vary in cost (check PADI website).
Do you have accommodation?
Yes, we have a self-catering apartment complex with private double A/C rooms and shared kitchen at ‘La Canopee’ located approximately 10minutes from the dive centre. We offer packages inclusive of accommodation, or rooms at a discounted price for customers.
What all-inclusive packages do you offer?
Take a look at our packages under ‘Diving’. Here you will find special offers for beginner divers, certified divers, those looking to enhance their skills or enjoy some watersports, along with food and accommodation and extras!
I’m a certified diver and haven’t dove in a while, I feel a little nervous about diving but I’d like to dive while in Sri Lanka. What do you recommend?
That’s not a problem. PADI suggests doing a refresher course if you haven’t been diving for 6 months. We offer a refresher program where we review the basics of scuba diving, including equipment, hand signals, and more. After that, we’ll do a short practice session in the shallow lagoon before taking you on a shallow dive. Please look at our refresher package under ‘Diving’ for more info.
Are you a licensed PADI dive centre?
Yes, we are a fully licensed PADI 5 star dive centre. You can find our dive centre (Sun Diving Centre) on the PADI website.
I have an entry level diving certification from a different organization. Can I still dive at your PADI dive centre or complete further courses?
Yes sure. All we need is evidence of your certification to dive with us.
You can also continue your diving certifications with us if you want to do further courses. For example, if you have the SSI open water diver certification, you can complete your Advanced open water certification with a PADI dive centre.
Can my children try out scuba diving?
Children from as young as 8 can experience scuba diving by joining on to our ‘Bubblemaker Course.’
At the age of 10 children can sign up to PADI courses and gain their entry level PADI junior open water diver certification.
Do you offer pick up/drop off services?
If you are within a 2km radius to our dive centre, we can offer transport depending on how busy we are. You can request transport via our WhatsApp and we can let ou know.
I am a qualified dive master/diving instructor, can I join your team?
We may be looking for instructor/dive masters during our peak season period (December-March).
Please apply via our email system and send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]
Can I see whale sharks when I dive?
We can sometimes spot whale sharks during our seasonal period, however this is not guaranteed. Typically, we spot them 2-4 times from November-April. We wish you good luck!
Do I have to make an advanced booking?
We prefer that you make an advanced booking through our website as this garauntees your spot with us as we can become full on the day, or if you are a group larger than 5 people we require an advanced reservation. You only have to pay 10% of the total amount online, then the rest will be paid at the dive centre.
Sometimes we still have availability on the day and you can find out by messaging us on WhatsApp.
I want to complete a PADI course with you, but want to make sure there are no extra costs for the e-learning/certificate?
All of the prices you see on our website and price list for our PADI courses are the true prices with everything you need included such as e-learning, equipment, instructor and certification. There will not be any extra fees at the end.
