Surfing in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the rare destination that never has an off season, provided you are willing to change coast. The north-east monsoon runs from November to April and blows offshore on the south and west, which is where Weligama, Midigama and Ahangama sit and where almost every surf camp on the island is. The south-west monsoon takes over from May to September and does the reverse, cleaning up the long right-hand points of the east coast around Arugam Bay while the south goes messy.

That inversion is the whole planning problem, and it is a simple one once you know it. The water stays between 28 and 30°C all year, so nothing about the gear changes; only the drive from the airport does.

Surf zones in Sri Lanka

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Ahangama
One reef A-frame that breaks both ways, and the cleanest month on the whole south coast.
1 spots
Arugam Bay
The other monsoon: four points over twelve kilometres, working when the south coast has gone flat.
4 spots
Hiriketiya
A horseshoe bay with a beginner side and a reef side, and shelter when the coast is too big.
2 spots
Midigama
Four reefs inside two kilometres, and almost nobody on any of them.
4 spots
Weligama
The bay the whole south coast learns in, and a reef point for when that stops being enough.
2 spots