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Great Basses Reef, Little Basses Reef, Lighthouses
- “Maha Ravana” and “Kuda Ravana” lighthouses (Great Basses and Little Basses) are 2 international lighthouses in Sri Lanka. They are located 12 km southeast from the Kirinda coast, near the main sea route of the western world to the eastern world.
These active offshore lighthouses were built on two high points on the 40 km long underwater limestone formation that claimed hundreds of lives and ships. That forced the British rulers in Sri Lanka to build lighthouses in this area to protect their sea born commerce.
Two lighthouses were designed by Sir James Douglass and constructed by William Douglass. Great Basses was commissioned in 1873 and Little Basses was in 1878.
Great Basses and Little Basses are the most famous offshore lighthouses in Asia and the most desirable site in Sri Lanka for diving. However, this unique, strange, fearsome, and magnificent diving site is best suited for diving during the inter-monsoon period from March to mid-April. Even that period morning time is safer because strong current and surge conditions create dive becomes more dangerous and may have a chance to get smashed on the top of the reef.
Having all these uncertainties, the crystal clear water, splendid shapes and forms of limestone formation, and beautiful shoal will mesmerize you underwater.
The British science fiction writer and futurist, Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, and his team discovered a wreck near Great Basses reef, containing sacks of silver coins, which belonged to the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb (1658 – 1707). This incident was based on his book called "Treasure of the Great Reef ".
- “Maha Ravana” and “Kuda Ravana” lighthouses (Great Basses and Little Basses) are 2 international lighthouses in Sri Lanka. They are located 12 km southeast from the Kirinda coast, near the main sea route of the western world to the eastern world.
These active offshore lighthouses were built on two high points on the 40 km long underwater limestone formation that claimed hundreds of lives and ships. That forced the British rulers in Sri Lanka to build lighthouses in this area to protect their sea born commerce.
Two lighthouses were designed by Sir James Douglass and constructed by William Douglass. Great Basses was commissioned in 1873 and Little Basses was in 1878.
Great Basses and Little Basses are the most famous offshore lighthouses in Asia and the most desirable site in Sri Lanka for diving. However, this unique, strange, fearsome, and magnificent diving site is best suited for diving during the inter-monsoon period from March to mid-April. Even that period morning time is safer because strong current and surge conditions create dive becomes more dangerous and may have a chance to get smashed on the top of the reef.
Having all these uncertainties, the crystal clear water, splendid shapes and forms of limestone formation, and beautiful shoal will mesmerize you underwater.
The British science fiction writer and futurist, Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, and his team discovered a wreck near Great Basses reef, containing sacks of silver coins, which belonged to the Moghul Emperor Aurangzeb (1658 – 1707). This incident was based on his book called "Treasure of the Great Reef ".
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