There’s an elder in Nilaveli, born in 1953, who still remembers a version of Pigeon Island that no visitor will ever see again — not because it’s gone, but because of how they used to get there, and what they did once they arrived.
Between 1971 and 1975, before the civil war changed everything on this coast, he and his friends would hire a boat and go out to the island together — not for an hour, not for a photo, but for a full day and a night.
Radio, Swimming, and a Sea You Could See Through
They’d bring a radio with them and play music while the boat crossed over. Once on the island, they swam, just to spend time together as friends. Looking down into the water, he remembers seeing coral, fish, turtles, and even reef sharks moving below — no mask needed, because the water was clear enough that your own eyes were all the equipment you needed.
Fishing, Cooking, and Sleeping Under the Stars
In the evening, they fished — parrotfish, mostly — and cooked what they caught right there on the shore. They stayed the night on the island itself, and only made their way back to Nilaveli the next day. No park entry counter, no scheduled trip times — just a hired boat, a radio, friends, and a night on an island most people today only visit for a couple of hours.
Why This Memory Matters
It says something the brochures can’t: this island was once close enough, and safe enough, and clear enough, that people from this town could treat it the way you’d treat a friend’s garden. Not a destination. Just somewhere good to be.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — overnight stays aren’t permitted under current national park rules. The island now operates with fixed entry hours.
Local fishermen and elders describe clearer water in earlier decades, likely tied to less coastal development and boat traffic at the time. We share this as memory, not measurement.
Not for tourism purposes — modern snorkeling trips run during fixed daylight hours for safety reasons.
His story here is about a group of friends rather than fishing work specifically, though fishing families come up often in our other blog posts.
Our guides grew up around this coast and often share memories like this one during trips — feel free to ask.
Explore more from our Nilaveli base →
Pigeon Island snorkeling trip details →
Whale and dolphin open-sea mornings →
More local guides and stories from our content hub:
- Pigeon Island Guides & Memories —
- Angel Rock & Local Snorkeling —
- Whale & Dolphin Stories —
- Fishing Experiences —
- Marine Conservation & Reef Protection —
- Lagoon Nature & Practical Guides —
- Local Stories & Trincomalee History —
- Taste of Nilaveli —
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