Is shallow snorkelling in Unawatuna actually good?

Shallow snorkelling right off the main Unawatuna beach is less than great because of thick boat traffic, murky water, and some pretty degraded coral. But if you move a little away, the nearby Jungle Beach and the rocky outcrops near the Japanese Peace Pagoda give a much more satisfying shallow snorkelling situation.

The Unawatuna main bay is very commercial, and older sand-pumping projects have covered a lot of the reef close to shore. If you want a proper underwater session, take a brief tuk-tuk ride to Jungle Beach, where the water feels calmer and looks clearer. From there, you can spot bright reef fish, moray eels, and every so often sea turtles in waist-deep water, no need to arrange a boat at all.