Aluth Gala is a rock pinnacle 15 minutes by boat from Unawatuna, rising from a base at 25 m to a top at 9 m. Its rich structure draws experienced divers, and its slopes carry a wide mix of reef predators, with manta rays among the larger visitors.
Also known as Aluth Gal, Aluth Gala Rock, Aluthgala.
Where it is and how deep
6.0044° N, 80.2361° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The top of the pinnacle sits at 9 m and its sides descend to 25 m. Scorpionfish, lionfish and morays live on the rock, barracudas and snappers swim around the structure, and manta rays are among the encounters here.
Marine life and season
- Manta rays
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Unawatuna & Jungle Beach: The south-coast season runs from October to April, and whale sharks occasionally pass from January to March.
Dive videos
Aluth Gala, Unawatuna Sri Lanka · Andy Ditchfield on YouTube
Sources
- Unawatuna Dive Sites — Pearl Divers
- Aluth Gala — DivePlanner Pro
More dive sites in Unawatuna & Jungle Beach
Reef
Black and red corals, with whale sharks sometimes seen in February
Wreck
Around 20 iron cannons spread across the seabed
A calm reef below Rumassala Mountain for snorkellers and divers
Wreck
A shallow wreck on the Goda Gala reef with open sections
Reef
A resident giant Napoleon wrasse that gives the reef its name
Wreck
Groupers in the engine room and morays all through the wreckage
Wreck
An 1871 steamship sitting upright with a bow like a Viking ship
Similar dives elsewhere
Up to 30 manta rays reported over one cleaning-station boulder
Barracudas hunting over a pinnacle top carpeted in blue triggerfish
Big granite passages, 20 minutes out from Praslin
A narrow swim-through and mantas on a current-split point