Fun in the sun on the beach with a dip in the sea is a traditional ingredient for the ideal holiday. In Sri Lanka, in colonial days, visitors from Europe would wear lots of garments when going for a sea bath to protect them from the sun’s rays. Now they all seem to want to have lovely bronzed skins like Sri Lankans and wear almost nothing at all. In olden days too, visitors respected the sea, barely daring to paddle in the waves lapping the shore.
Alas, tourists no longer have that fear of the sea. They see the sea as an enormous natural Jacuzzi in which to frolic with gay abandon. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean which seem so inviting, conceal their treachery. In a second, that seductively warm embrace can turn into a deadly cuddle.
Swimming in the sea in Sri Lanka is safe, however, if you are sensible. Don’t let that carefree holiday mood inspire you to silliness.
Swim only where others are bathing calmly, not in a joyful [drunken?] group. There are only a few beaches (such as Bentota and Passikuda) with lifeguards on duty and If a red flag is flying on the beach, don’t even try to brave the waves.
If you do feel a sudden current trying to carry you away, and you’re not a strong swimmer, try not to panic but float with the flow; it will bring you back to shallower water. And call for help; so that makes it more sensible to swim with a companion who can shout too so the lifeguards hear.
There are safer swimming areas in coves at the end of long beaches, such as at the southern ends of the Bentota and Induruwa beaches.
The best beach hotels have swimming pools by the beach and they are actually more enjoyable for swimming than the sea because there are no waves buffeting you as you try a gentle breaststroke
Sri Lanka Holiday Guru’s Tip
West Coast hotels with cool pools are Saman Villas (at Bentota; (with cliff-top infinity pool overlooking the ocean), Whispering Palms at Inuruwa; (with cute pool alongside the beach) and at Ahungalla ; (Heritance Hotel;two pools in garden setting, and Riu Hotel with several pools including one with swim-up bar). Or try Susantha Garden, behind Bentota railway station platform for an intimate swim in a lush garden (with restaurant and bar). And down south near Galle at Calamander Unawatuna Beach Resort, there are two pools: a see-through lap pool and a rose pink one.
Happy swimming!
