Pottuvil
When it comes to surfing, Sri Lanka really has it all; and along the East Coast are some of Sri Lanka’s most popular surf spots. Without question, this includes Arugam Bay, and 6km north of it is the next best thing—Pottuvil Point.
Situated about 400km from Colombo, poised on the edge of a peninsula, Pottuvil Point is known for its right-hand waves and sand-bottom points, making it ideal for beginners. Along this peninsula, you can find numerous food vendors and plenty of relaxing places to stay, as an added bonus to its consistent waves.
Pottuvil Point is where the ocean, scenic countryside and the peaceful lagoon meet. It’s a somewhat exposed point break, with offshore winds coming in from the west/southwest. The point also receives a mixture of windswells and groundswells, usually from the south/southeast.
The reef break is hollow, and surf at the sand-bottom point rides on a good south swell, running close to a kilometre towards the shore. In fact, the wave breaks close enough that you can make your way back to point from the shore in a matter of seconds. Though the waves at Pottuvil Point are generally smaller than Arugam Bay’s by a few feet, it still provides good walls. The bigger swells also offer barrels, along with the consistent surf.
Like most other surf points along the East Coast, the ideal time to visit Pottuvil Point is between April and October, at the peak of the coast’s surf season.
When Pouttvil point is working it is a powerful right hander that breaks on a sand break quite close to the shoreline. You can get a 300m ride right onto the pristine sandy beach. The beach itself is a vast empty sandy bay and the break is a short walk from where you can park a car or get dropped off.
Pottuvil Point is currently an undeveloped stretch of beach with a future plan for tourism. At the moment the beach as a few huts dotted about you can stay at if you do not want to make the hour journey for Argum bay.
Pottuvil Point is where the ocean, scenic countryside and the peaceful lagoon meet. It’s a somewhat exposed point break, with offshore winds coming in from the west/southwest.
Pottuvil Point is every surfers dream tropical wave. A long deserted sandy beach doted with some huge boulders at the waters edge, make this wave a favourite with some of the season veterans. Less crowded because of the 30min. tuk tuk ride north from Arugam Bay, Pottuvil point provides 800 meter rides from the outside section right through to the beach on the inside.
The unique thing about this wave is that for most of it you can be working a four foot face and be only a few meters from the beach as the wave grinds down the sandy point. The outside section sucks up and throw’s out as the swell raps into the point giving a 30 meter wall to work with before it fades as it hits deeper water for about 10 seconds. The wave then tends to double up as it hits a shallow sand bottom section that will have you hanging in there for all you worth just to try and make the next 40 to 80 meter section. Failure can leave you standing in knee deep water with a mouth full of sand if you manage not to get slammed into one of the boulder’s first.If conditions are right and you can make it through this section then the wave peels perfectly meters from the beach for an eternity until it closes out in the bay and you begin the long walk back. Pottuvil Point needs a decent size swell before it starts working at all and a large swell before the middle section is makeable.If The Point at Arugam is 6 foot, Pottuvil will be 4.
| # | Location | Surf points | Suited for | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Pottuvil | Whiskey Point | Beginner | Mellow doesn’t quite do it justice here because the wave at Whiskey Point is just about as chilled as it’s possible to get. It’s a beginner’s heaven, with soft, easy-going rights that break off a boulder point. Swells can pick up to 4 metres in heavy ocean storms, but they are virtually never seen in the main Arugam Bay season. Usually, it’s chest- or shoulder-high breakers that offer plenty of time to practice pop ups. |
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