Yala Rock is a cluster of big rock formations off Weligama Bay, rising from a 20 m bottom to a peak just 5 m below the surface. Little caves open swim-throughs between the rocks, and a big school of fusiliers and snappers gathers over the summit, where the safety stop is made.
Where it is and how deep
No published position for this site — the map shows Weligama & Mirissa and its other sites; operators know the mooring.
The dive
The dive works around big rock formations that rise from about 20 m, with the deepest point of the site at 24 m. Little caves between the rocks give swim-throughs, and stonefish and lionfish sit along the rock faces. Turtles and lobsters can also be spotted along the way.
The dive finishes on the top of the formation, whose highest peak is just 5 m below the surface. The safety stop is made up there, where a big school of fusiliers and snappers can surround divers.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows Weligama & Mirissa: December through April is the prime season to dive Yala Rock.
Know before you go
- Stonefish live along the rocks of the formation, so divers keep their hands off the rock faces.
Sources
- Yala Rock - Weligama Bay Dive Centre — Weligama Bay Dive Centre
More dive sites in Weligama & Mirissa
Pinnacle
Barracudas hunting over a pinnacle top carpeted in blue triggerfish
Reef
A sandy-bottomed training site that doubles as a night dive
Reef
The bay's densest cluster of swim-throughs and little caves
Clown triggerfish and honeycomb morays 3 km off Mirissa Beach
Similar dives elsewhere
A circular giri you can swim right round, top at 1 m and coral to 20 m
Two rock peaks breaking the surface, cut through with arches and caves
Turtles and whitetips resting under a quiet 10 m pinnacle
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Endemic sponge snail on a protected thila topping out at 7 m