Kalpitiya is renowned as a destination for offshore dolphin and whale watching. The coastal waters surrounding the peninsula are often visited by magnificent dolphin pods, and sometimes even superpods, as well as whales. This location is ideal for spotting dolphins and whales because you don’t need to travel far out into the ocean. The continental shelf of Kalpitiya is close to the shoreline, making it possible to spot numerous species of marine life with just a short boat ride from the shore.
Dolphin watching
The best time for dolphin watching is from November to March/April, which is during the monsoon season when the sea is usually calmer, making it easier to spot dolphins. The calm waters also provide better visibility, allowing you to see dolphins from a distance. Winter is the ideal season because dolphins migrate to warmer waters during this time. It’s possible to see superpods with up to 1000 dolphins during this period.
Dolphin watching tours usually take place at dawn and last for 2-3 hours. You can often spot pods containing hundreds of dolphins at the famous Bar Reef, which is about a one-hour boat ride away. The most common species of dolphins in the Kalpitiya waters is the long-snouted Spinner dolphin, as they typically inhabit offshore tropical waters. Bottlenose, Risso, and Indo-Pacific Humpback dolphins can also be seen in Kalpitiya. These charming and playful acrobats are truly a delight to behold.
Whale watching
The best time for whale watching is between December and April, with March and April being the most ideal months. In the deep waters surrounding Kalpitiya, you can find five types of whales. Majestic Sperm whales, also known as cachalot, can be found nearby during this period. You may witness pods of whales of up to 7, 15, 20, or even 50 individuals. Currently on the endangered list, these remarkable mammals are the largest toothed predators on Earth and the largest of the toothed whales. Sperm whales also have the largest brains in existence, weighing four times more than that of a human. Although considered a cosmopolitan species, wandering both tropical and cold waters, many years of whaling have rendered them locally extinct in regions such as Southern Australia. The presence of Sperm whales is sometimes accompanied by sightings of pelagic seabirds.
Sporadic but spectacular sightings of the magnificent blue whale, the largest species known to have ever existed on Earth, can also be experienced in the waters of Kalpitiya. Other species of whales, such as the minke, melon-headed, and dwarf sperm whales, can also be spotted here.
