Surfing in Sri Lanka || Your Ultimate Guide (2024 & Beyond)

[@justjackman]

For anyone with a shortboard I’d recommend you bring it. The rentals on the south coast are old and battered for the most part. Big mistake not taking my own board

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey mate!! That's good to know, thanks for the advice :)

[@brucesparham9350]

I believe the red and blue buses are in completion for customers first to arrive at each stop gets them.. hence they drive like absolute maniacs Dan is right watch out for them!!

[@DanHarmon123]

Ahhh ok!! That makes perfect/terrifying sense haha!!

[@DanielR-r3u]

Yep..I saw that... bus are in a competition to get new passenger.. crazy driving..lol

[@TheCoolflameboi]

@@DanHarmon123 I think that one of the colors represents private owned busses and the other is the state owned one. Got told this by a local so I think its true! =)

[@chamika1975]

​@@TheCoolflameboi Red color ones are the state owned SLTB (Sri Lanka Transport Board) and other ones are privately owned buses. Yes, there is always competition among the buses to get passengers. The competition is not only between SLTB and private buses. There is competition among the private buses as well. Say for example, there are buses from Galle to Colombo and Matara to Colombo on the same route. If two buses going in the same direction are close to each other, there will be always be competition between them to get more passengers. It is very scary. You got be very careful when you are on the road in Sri Lanka.

[@michaelj8793]

Dan the man Thanks for sharing as always my friend always appreciate and enjoy your content Be well and enjoy the Holidays 👍🤙

[@DanHarmon123]

Thanks, Michael!! Same to you :)

[@surfspearlift8675]

Great video full of practical information- thanks 👍😎

[@ruwanchamara5742]

you have learnt lot of things while visiting in my country, interesting, lot of things correct in your details, great video and this will help for other people who decide to travel Sri lanka

[@DiegoKitzing]

Thanks Dan! good tips! is there any shop for renting or buying a good high performance shortboard? im going to the south now on december and i am not with my surfboards

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey mate! Thank you! I'm not sure about high-performance boards, there are some surf shops in Hikkaduwa and Weligama, but not sure if they stock new boards or latest models!!

[@DanHarmon123]

You can definitely get some older second hand ones though, from other surfers who might leave boards :)

[@justjackman]

I am on the south coast now. If you have your own shortboard I’d recommend you bring it. The boards here are battered. No chance of finding a rental even close to new. You’ll be lucky to find anything that’s even the size you want

[@chaddutoit4394]

Nice! Where’s the best place to stay for an advanced surfer in April? And a entertaining nightlife if waves are flat.

[@DanHarmon123]

April you've gotta head to Arugam Bay! Start of the season there and I think the nightlife is decent...

[@trex-cg6bb]

Hi Dan, do you happen to know anything about the scuba diving in south Sri Lanka? And if there is any way to combine that with intermediate level surfing??

[@Borderlandssrilanka2002]

Excellent breakdown of the island !

[@elenadaenen4087]

Hey thanks for your video!! I will be there around the 24th of March till the 6th of April. Do you think I could go to Arugam bay already or it is too early?

[@woobie1999]

hey my friend. thank you thank you thank you. What do you think about april time for short boarder/?

[@elainefinnerty7398]

Thanks for this, recently discovered your videos and finding them so helpful. 🤙

[@aaronhopkins6697]

G'day Dan, i have an old green single fin made by Kevin Harmon. Any relation ?

[@Maximuswin777]

Don’t forget the Crocodiles, very rarely spoken about but it’s a real risk. People need to be very careful about surfing in Sri Lanka. Was surfing at Mirissa and found out that they recently captured a 12ft crocodile on the main beach.

[@JimmyHayes-k2x]

Hey Dan, thanks for the content. I’m heading to Sri Lanka next week to surf. I have not yet booked anything but was planning to go to Arugam Bay due to it being surf season on East Coast, however the forecast for south coast is looking slightly better. Do you have any advice on whether to go for east coast or south coast based on seasonality and forecast? Cheers

[@hendrikjurrienankoscholten2594]

Thanks for sharing! Question though, does Arugam bay only have rights? Or are there some lefts around as well?

[@DanHarmon123]

Hmm, I think it's all rights!!

[@storm2000808]

Liked your Sri Lanka guide, browsed your channel, and subscribed! 👍🏽 Aloha from Hawaii! 🤙🏽

[@krishnaveganathar]

In India I find that putting your hand out as if it to say “NO”, works really well. 🤚. We are definitely going.

[@DanHarmon123]

Ahh ok!! Good advice :))

[@omolon123]

Very cool. Exactly what I was looking for

[@lesliepreston8898]

Hi Dan, What are your thoughts on going to a surf school there for a week or two, or having surf lessons from a local?

[@DanHarmon123]

Yeah, definitely a good shout! Check out Weligama, there are heaps of surf schools there :)

[@Alvdz]

Great video! What about renting boards there? Are there any decent I can keep for a week or so? Should I bring my own?

[@DanHarmon123]

Hi mate! I'd say definitely bring your own as there aren't tons of places to rent or buy good ones!!

[@robinmacandrew103]

Midigama early April just about ok? First timer here! 🙏

[@craigsmith333]

Hey Dan, great video as always. Thinking of going in April 2024, would you go South or East Coast? Seems like a crossover month. Tempted to say East.

[@zuma3334]

Hi Craig I’m going in able also. Sounds like east coast should do it. Keep me posted and I can do the same

[@TheirHappyTrails]

Awesome video! Did you shoot all the footage?! If so great work 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@mojo_heezy]

what's the train called in Colombo to Weligama? I'm going there on Saturday and I'm confused which train I should take. Thanks

[@DanHarmon123]

Hi mate! I'm not sure of the name! But just head to the station and you'll be able to find out by asking! There's one that just goes along the South coast :)

[@mojo_heezy]

@@DanHarmon123 Thanks for the quick response!

[@noahstephanou-lazarus1168]

very cool. Can you do one on South Africa?

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you!! Yes, I'm going to make a budget breakdown of SA and hope to go there later next year!! :)

[@tommoore8409]

@@DanHarmon123 I travelled the whole(ish) SA coast from Durban to Namibia solo in 2000, would be keen to see/watch an update!

[@gabrieledidato3843]

Hey mate loved watching the vid! Arrived in mirissa today; I usually ride 3-4ft waves on a short board; and still perfecting my turns; do you think these waves are decent for that? Can u recommend any surf school/locals that are cheap to help improve ? Cheers

[@KarlenManaseryan]

Very helpful, thanks so much!

[@icedrum555]

Thank you for the awesome guide!

[@DanHarmon123]

No stress! Stoked you found it helpful :))

[@michaelrobinson5268]

Where would you go in the world for world class waves, low crowds, great food? There would have I be more to do than just surfing.

[@DanHarmon123]

Hey Michael!! Good question. For me, Sri Lanka would be a decent option for that mix, otherwise, Peru has so many sick things to do (hiking and sites) and fun waves. You'd have to explore outside of the major surf towns though to surf anything uncrowded, but there are thousands of miles of coastline over there!!

[@michaelrobinson5268]

Thanks for the reply. I like the look of Sri Lanka. The thing is October is really my best month to travel and I don't want to go all that way for shoulder season mess. I was In Peniche in October. I had some great waves and there is tons of peaks and no crowds. But the town was too quiet for the rest of the non surfing family. Great contect as always. Cheers. @@DanHarmon123

[@surfermag_]

You could give Morocco a try. If October is the best month for you to travel Morocco has a combination of good swell and still warm water that time of the year 🤙🏾

[@hafeezsyed7540]

Hi Dan With your permission can we use your video to promote surfing in Sri Lanka Thanks Travel Next Sri Lanka

[@fitba88]

Awesome! 🔥🔥🔥

[@DanHarmon123]

Thank you :))

[@Bigd0gg]

Awesome report!

[@DanHarmon123]

Thanks a lot!

[@geosmi0]

Is it easy to buy a decent board at Arugam bay/

[@ulrikeschuldt5851]

Precious 🎐 helpful Appreciate Thank you very much 💎

[@DanHarmon123]

No worries! Stoked you enjoyed the video :))

[@yardenifrachhaimovich8172]

Hi Dan, once again great video! I'm travelling to sri lanka in five days and I'm unsure where to stay in order to enjoy the surf and the nightlife as well. Can you please reccomend me the best place to surf as an advanced surfer? Not including arugam of course because it's not the time of the year.

[@DanHarmon123]

Hi mate!! Epic. I'd say in Midigama or down in Hikkaduwa will be your best bet!! There are a few good beachies/reefs in these areas which are pretty consistent!!

[@peacepuffz]

I checked the kabalana cam the other morning there time. Was Zoo'ed!

[@DanHarmon123]

Haha, yeah definitely not uncrowded!!

[@leghdavies5255]

I've been there at least five times and have never been hassled anywhere ! |Your'e obviously putting out the wrong vibes!

[@sujithweerakkody8879]

💟💟🌷🇱🇰👍