Mirissa is the new Trincomalee, with whales, gentle ocean giants and dolphins parading their presence in Mirissa’s deep waters.Positioned along the southern coast of Sri Lanka, beyond the coast of Mirissa lies the Indian Ocean, with its vast majesty reaching as far as the Antarctic land mass. These incredible marine mammals migrate across these vast, fertile expanses from December to April, during the annual breeding season. Mirissa itself is a quiet and peaceful coastal town that boasts pristine beaches. Blue whales, Bryde’s whales, sperm whales, fin whales, bottle-nosed dolphins, common dolphins, and spinner dolphins adorn the waters of Sri Lanka’s southern seas, from Weligama to Mirissa, and can be found within just eight to ten nautical miles of Mirissa harbor.Starting from Mirissa, there is a 90 percent chance of sperm whale sightings and a good chance of spotting the blue whale as well. There are believed to be about 26 different species of whales passing through this region, including the much-loved dolphin.Whale movements along Sri Lanka’s southern coast have been the subject of scientific study over the past decade and have been well documented by The Voyage of Odyssey, the second research vessel to conduct marine life research off Sri Lanka’s southern coast in 2003."Seeing a blue whale at sea is something most of us can only dream about. Seeing more than one in a lifetime is a rarity reserved for the lucky few," research crew member Genevieve Johnson quoted in one of the 2003 reports, commenting on the abundance of whales in Sri Lanka’s southern seas.The season for dolphin and whale sightings is from November to April in the southern area. The morning session starts around 6:30 a.m. from the fishing port of Mirissa. The total duration of the trip is 3-4 hours and depends on sea conditions.Almost all boats have a roof, seats and toilets, are equipped with life rafts, life jackets, life rings and communication equipment, and are registered with the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, while passengers are insured by the Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation.
