Is it safe to swim in the ocean at Hikkaduwa Beach (sewage/water pollution)?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 9 days ago
TL;DR
Hikkaduwa's main beach has 2 sewage discharge points right at the edges of the only swimmable area (vs. 1 in Unawatuna). The stream near the main beach doesn't reach the ocean, but the one near Turtle Beach does and can get quite strong at times.
What the community said
One traveler jokingly suggested that if water quality concerns are a dealbreaker, maybe consider India instead — implying no destination is without its own hidden issues.
9 days ago
The river running near the main Hikkaduwa beach never actually flows into the ocean, so it doesn't affect the water there. However, another river closer to Turtle Beach does empty into the sea and can become quite full at times, potentially affecting water clarity in that area.
9 days ago Turtle Beach
Two sewage discharge points were spotted right at the boundaries of the only swimmable section of Hikkaduwa Beach. By comparison, nearby Unawatuna has just 1 such point. This has been disappointing for travelers who expected a pristine beach.
10 days ago 2 leaks in Hikkaduwa vs 1 in Unawatuna