Weligama Beach Break

Sand Beach Break – Beginners

Weligama, translated as sandy village, is a great place to learn to surf, about a two kilometre stretch of shallow sandy beach. One of the best places in south Sri Lanka to discover a connection with the ocean and catch your first wave. Get there for first light and surf till sunrise, it usually quiet until 8am so a good time to practice on uncontended waves.

The bay is protected somewhat from the wind, if the rest of the coast is blown it can be better here. 400m ride on a slow, low power wave. Many lefts and rights that appear at different tides the best swell from the south west. Easily be surfed when small, holds up to 5ft. A big swell on a beginners break is kook carnage with boards flying everywhere, very entertaining to watch. Expect learner drop-ins and to make some new buddies out the back.

More advanced surfers can find reef breaks close by in Mirissa just 3km south or Gurubebila just 3km north.

The town and the fisherman are all nearby, the beach can suffer mild pollution at times, and sand fly’s on the beach, take special care of any cuts after a period of heavy rain. Kabalana is 30min north in a Tuk Tuk and is a more exposed beach break with higher power, faster waves. It’s super clean and a great place for beginners working towards an intermediate level.

Weligama Surfcam

Stick No Bills vintage poster gallery in Galle and W15, Luxury boutique Hotel Weligama have organised the first streaming web cam on the south west coastline. Weligama Surf Cam

Local surf schools

2016 has seen an explosion of Weligama surf schools, now neatly organized under the trees at the right side of the bay. It’s a marketplace, take your pick. They have a wide range of foam, epoxy and fibre-glass boards. Rental is 300 to 450 LKR depending on the board, and lessons around 2-3000 LKR. No need to book easy to fix when you arrive.

The is so far one ISA qualified instructor we know about, Manju at Surfing Lanka, also the first surf school in the bay. Some of the other surf schools have competition level riders and have grown up on the local waves so also have great experience, you can ask around and find a teacher you feel comfortable with.

Weligama Surf Video

Some great Go Pro Clips of Weligama Beach Break and Coconuts, Gurubebila. And a catchy tune with explicit lyrics. Creds to the production team, you know who you are, big love!

Surf South Sri Lanka 2014 from eugene francis jnr on Vimeo.

RIP the Catamaran, unfortunately scuppered in the end by beach planning laws, was a great hangout. Hang Time Cafe on the top floor, just over the road is a great improvement. Excellent vibe, great coffee, juices and food.