Madiha
Boats leave from Madiha every morning. The closer sites are only a 15 to 20 minute ride, and the sea decides where we go.
See the dive sites
Polhena DivingPADI 5 Star Dive ResortMadiha · Matara · Sri Lanka
Swim with turtles. Learn to dive.
A small PADI 5 Star dive resort in Madiha, with free pickup from Mirissa. Snorkel the turtle lagoon, try your first dive or get certified with us.
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 we pick you up for free from nearby hotels.
Going down
From the surface to 30 metres
The turtle lagoon
Shallow, calm and warm, with standing depth in places. Green and hawksbill turtles feed in the seagrass, and you snorkel here with a guide from the beach.
Snorkel with turtlesMoray Point
Our gentlest dive site, off Mirissa. Moray eels in the rocks, reef fish all around, and the place most first dives happen.
Try your first diveWhere Open Water takes you
The depth limit for a PADI Open Water Diver. Three or four days, and you can dive anywhere in the world.
The Open Water courseRock Wall
A rocky ridge dropping away, with schools of fish following the wall. A favourite for certified divers.
Fun dives from $35Limestone Reef and the Wombat Wreck
Limestone formations when conditions allow, and in the high season a wreck toward Tangalle, 45 minutes by boat each way.
The Wombat WreckAdvanced Open Water
The next step down, with the Advanced Open Water Diver course. Start at the top and see how far it takes you.
Go deeperWhy Polhena Diving
Small, friendly 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
Every course is a PADI course, recognised at dive centres around the world.
Free tuk-tuk pickup
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
A small dive centre in Madiha
We are a small, friendly PADI 5 Star Dive Resort 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 small team.
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 tuk-tuk pickup
Meet the team
The people behind the dive centre
A small team, so 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?
Yes. Free tuk-tuk pickup 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.
What if I need to cancel?
Cancel any time before your activity starts for a full refund. Payment is final once the boat trip starts. PADI eLearning is paid to PADI and is 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. We close from June to September, when the south-west monsoon brings rain to Madiha.
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.