0 m · The surface
Madiha, where every dive starts
Our boats leave from Madiha each morning. The closer sites are a 15 to 20 minute ride, and the sea decides where we go.
See all our dive sites
Polhena DivingPADI 5 Star Dive ResortMadiha · Matara · Sri Lanka
Swim with turtles. Learn to dive.
Snorkel the turtle lagoon, try your first dive or get certified with a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort. Free pickup for scuba diving guests.
Experiences
Ways to get in the water
Snorkel the turtle lagoon from the beach, take your first breaths underwater, or join a boat dive off Mirissa. Everything is included, and scuba divers get free pickup from nearby hotels.
Going down
From the surface to 40 metres
1–3 m · Snorkeling
Polhena Reef, where the turtles feed
A shallow lagoon behind the outer reef, home to green and hawksbill turtles all year. You snorkel it from the beach.
Snorkel with turtles6–17 m · First dives
Moray Point, our gentlest reef
Moray eels, reef fish and the odd turtle, off Mirissa. Try Diving (5 to 10 m) and Discover Scuba (12 m) start here.
Try your first dive17–23 m · Advanced divers
Rock Wall, where the fish school
A rocky reef with pinnacles and small swim-throughs, and schools of fish following the wall.
Fun dives23–25 m · December to February
The Wombat Wreck, sunk in 1975
A barge off Nilwella, 45 minutes by boat each way. We dive it in the high season only.
The Wombat Wreck trip30 m · Advanced
Advanced Open Water, go deeper
Five adventure dives, including a deep dive, certify you to 30 m.
The Advanced course40 m · The limit
Forty metres, the recreational limit
At 40 m recreational diving draws its line, and Deep Diver certification is how you reach it. Everything above is ours to explore: reef, rock and wreck, most of it shallower than 30 m, all of it waiting on the south coast.
Where we diveWhy Polhena Diving
Family-run and well looked after
Small groups
At most four divers per guide, so your guide knows your name and your pace.
Everything included
Masks, fins, tanks, weights and a life jacket come with every trip. Bring your own full set and save $5.
PADI 5 Star Dive Resort
PADI instructors teach every course. Do the theory in our classroom, or on PADI eLearning before you arrive.
Free tuk-tuk pickup for divers
For scuba diving guests, from hotels within about 5 km of the centre and from Mirissa. Further away is possible at a cost.
We know where the turtles are
We snorkel from the beach at Polhena or Madiha, whichever has the clearer water that day.
Tea and cookies at the briefing
Guests tell us it feels like a family. We speak English and Sinhala.
About us
Welcome to Polhena Diving Center
We are a family-run, boutique PADI 5 Star Dive Resort in Madiha, on Sri Lanka's south coast, teaching and guiding since 2016. Snorkel with turtles from the beach, try your first dive, join a boat dive off Mirissa, or train for your next PADI certification with the same friendly crew.
Our guides know the reef, our boat crew know the coast, and we are always happy to talk through your plans over a cup of tea.
- 2016teaching since
- 4divers per guide at most
- 5 kmfree pickup for scuba divers
Meet the team
The people behind the dive centre
You will see the same friendly faces from your first message to your last dive.
Owner · PADI Assistant Instructor
Chamlie
More than 20 years a scuba diver, and the heart of the centre. Chamlie is full of energy: you will see him running around the dive centre, helping people and getting everyone ready to dive, and out on the boat with our divemasters and instructors.
Your host
Menaka
Chamlie's wife and your main host. Menaka welcomes everyone to the centre with a smile, and makes a mean chai.
PADI Master Scuba Diver · Divemaster
Randunu
You will not see Randunu much at the centre, as he has a busy day job in a software consultancy. He is the one who may answer your WhatsApp messages, and in his spare time he does the behind-the-scenes work: the website, marketing and sales.
Conditions
What the sea is doing
Live time, weather, sea and tide at the reef, and when we are open through the year.
Live time, weather, waves, water temperature and tide for Madiha load here. We are open October to May.
Our dive log
What guests wrote in our dive log
Like what you read? Click or tap anywhere on this page to stamp it.
Dive logEntry 1
I went on the day and night snorkel tours. Both were fantastic. My guide was very knowledgeable knowing where certain species live. I saw much more than I would have on my own. The team is very hospitable and even provided hoppers for after the night snorkel
NameTripAdvisor reviewer★★★★★ · TripAdvisor
Dive logEntry 2
Excellent dive centre. Welcoming and enthusiastic staff. Good kit and fun trip out on the dive boat. Diving experience was excellent with a special mention for Rory who was a great lead. An electric ray and a large honeycomb moray were particular highlights. Then welcome back to a lovely cup of tea from the irrepressible hostess. Strongly recommended.
NameDavid P★★★★★ · TripAdvisor
Dive logEntry 3
Chathuraga was a super friendly dive instructor, and we felt safe underwater at all times. He took plenty of time for the lessons in the course and was always very helpful. You can immediately tell that the dive school has a very family-like atmosphere. Every day, tea and cookies were served during the briefing.
NameOle★★★★★ · TripAdvisor
Gallery
Life around the reef
A PADI 5 Star Dive Resort
Every course we teach is a PADI course, recognised at dive centres around the world. Your certification is registered with PADI the day you finish.
PADI Resort No. S26840
Good to know
Before you book
Do I need to be a good swimmer to snorkel?
No. The lagoon is shallow and calm, we give you a life jacket, and a guide stays with you in the water. Children aged 8 and over are welcome with an adult.
How and when do I pay?
Send a booking request here and we confirm your slot by email or WhatsApp. You pay on the day, in cash or by card. Card payments have a 3% fee. Nothing is charged online.
Can you pick us up from our hotel?
Free tuk-tuk pickup for scuba diving guests, from hotels within about 5 km of the centre and from Mirissa. Staying further away? Pickup is possible at a cost. Ask us for a price. Free pickup is for scuba diving guests only. For snorkeling a paid ride can be arranged: ask us for a price.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancel any time before your activity starts for a full refund. After that, payment is final: for dive trips once the boat trip starts, for snorkeling once you enter the water, and for courses once pool or shallow-water practice begins. PADI eLearning and the PADI eManual are paid to PADI and are not refundable.
When are you open?
We are open every day from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm from October to May. High season is December to February.
Ready to get in the water?
Choose your experience, day and time, and send us a request. We confirm your slot by email or WhatsApp.