Turtle Beach HPA2 on Xbox 360 – Review and How-to
Turtle Beach HPA2 on Xbox 360 – Review and How-to
This entry was posted on April 18, 2011 by eddebaby, in Hardware, PC, Reviews, Tips and Tricks, Xbox 360 and tagged 5.1, A40, amp, analog, analogue, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, cables, chat, communication, creative, custom, digital, dolby digital, dolby headphone, Ear Force, eddebaby, extigy, Games, has gaming, headset, hpa, hpa2, hpx, hpx-2, list, optical out, PC, puck, sound-whoring, surround sound heaset, turtle beach, war tapes, Wired, x41, Xbox 360, xbox live, z6a. Bookmark the permalink. 26 Comments
There are a number of Surround-Sound gaming headset around from the likes of Turtle Beach, Astro and Tritton, however if you want to use them on your console the pickings are slimmer. The excellent wireless X41 from Turtle Beach are probably the best of a batch of “Xbox 360 Ready” headsets – but they are simulated surround sound. The X41s and the Astro A40s use Dolby Headphone – the market standard in simulated surround sound over stereo. True 5.1 headsets are a rarer beast.
To allow for discrete 5.1 audio you need more than two speakers (at least 6). The HPX-2 headset from Turtle Beach is one of the few headset in the world that has multiple drivers in each ear. 4 on the left and 4 on the right provide a centre and sub-woofer driver for both ears, front and rear left audio in the left ear and front and rear right audio in the right. This is a huge sacrifice in individual driver quality and size to provide more distinct placement of audio.
A Dolby Headphone enabled amp allows you to enjoy surround sound using the highest quality headset you can afford. You can lose critical positioning (especially directly behind you) however atmosphere is not lost.
The important choice when choosing a surround sound gaming headset is audio quality vs positional accuracy.
The caveat with discreet 5.1 audio headsets (like the HPA2) is that they are for PC only.
Or are they?
The difficulty with consoles comes from the fact that they only output surround sound in Dolby Digital via an optical cable.
All 5.1 headsets are designed to be connected to separate analogue jack connections. Common for PC sound cards but completely absent from all video-game consoles.
What you need is something to convert the digital audio into analogue. This is what “Xbox 360 Ready” headsets provide inside their boxes and why they claim to be so ready. If you want to use a different headset you can use your hi-fi or even your PC’s soundcard, but a device like the A40 amp can be far more appropriate. If you don’t have a suitable beefy hi-fi or PC you will probably want something a little more affordable too.
There are a fair few of these devices around but quality can be an issue; so it is rather convenient that there is something perfect for the job – the Creative Extigy.
Creative Extigy
Currently discontinued (eBay it is then) though still readily available, the Extigy is made by PC audio leaders Creative and it is a USB-powered soundcard designed for Laptops.
Originally released in 2002 – it has apparently never been bettered. Essentially an external Audigy 2, it allows you to convert a Dolby Digital signal, via optical, into analogue 5.1. The conversion is done with only a minor delay (the best I have experienced for such a process) and automatically – and you don’t even need to connect it to a Computer. For around £40 it really can’t be beaten.
Another useful feature, particularly so in this case, is its separately amplified microphone input. Combined with a clever bit of wiring this enables you to hear you team mates and enemies on Xbox Live clearly, even when everything is exploding around you. Whilst Xbox-specific headsets are designed with the Xbox Live communication system in mind, PC or vanilla headsets are not.
Without a system like this you are forced to use the Xbox’s own gameplay audio/chat merger which is woefully inadequate.
USB Power adapter
Although you don’t need to plug the Extigy into a PC you do need to power it via its USB connection.
You can use any USB-to-mains plug adapter for this. If you haven’t got one they are extremely cheap on eBay.
The HPA2’s amp also requires USB power. It is highly recommended that you power the HPA2 amp with a USB-to-mains plug adapter, even if you are using it for a PC/Laptop. If you power it from your Computer’s USB slot you will likely receive a lot of interference from your headset.
Xbox Live Chat cables
You will need (minimum requirements):
- Datel Xbox Chat adapter
- 2.5mm to 3.5mm adapter
- 3.5mm stereo to dual-mono splitter cable
The Xbox 360 Controller requires a mono input from your headset’s microphone and transmits a mono output from Xbox Live chat. This output needs to be connected to the microphone input on the Extigy. The volume of this can be amplified to your preference and will be audible in your left ear.
The Datel adapter allows you to mute your microphone and adjust the volume of you friends/enemies on Xbox Live. The splitter cable can be hard to come by as most splitters actually split the stereo giving you two stereo outputs. This is no use. We need to separate the two channels in to two separate mono (or left audio) cables. |
You may be able to use a different configuration of cables (leave a comment if you do) and you can get far cheaper headset adapters from eBay. The Datel is the cheapest solution with mute and volume control from my research though. At the end of the article I have included some pictures and descriptions of 4 different setups.
The image below shows you an example of how to connect your headset to your Extigy and Xbox 360 Controller. (Have a look further down the page for my actual setup).
There is a shopping list at the end of this page with all of these cables as well as eBay search links to buy them.
Turtle Beach Ear Force HPA2/HPX-2
The HPA2 package from Turtle Beach is a combination of their adaptable HPX-2 headset with an in-line 5.
1 USB-powered amp. The HPX-2 is one of the most highly rated gaming headsets. It is frequently suggested as a replacement for the A40 headset, and is compatible with the A40 amp with a simple $10 adapter cable – the HPX-1.
Unfortunately Turtle Beach only offer the HPX-2 and it’s associated cables to the USA. So finding what you want can be quite difficult here in the UK. I luckily managed to find the HPA2 package at ExpansysUK for a very reasonable £65. The HPX-1 lead is available for £10 from limexb360.co.uk. Lime is probably the most comprehensive place to go for all Turtle Beach headset and accessories – though they may not always be the cheapest.
The headset itself has a quality build and should be comfortable for a wide variety of head sizes. They look stylish and there is simply nothing to complain about. The in-line amp has individual volume controls for front, rear, centre and the sub-woofer. It is of reasonable quality and providing you give it USB power as outlined above you will experiencing a minimal amount of hissing – though it is still there.
The sound quality to me is superb, but I am hardly an audiophile. I am sure those with more experienced ears will be able to pick at this, but I cannot.
Overall this headset provides a great audio experience, and by all accounts the best “true” surround sound available via a set of headphones.
Xbox System Settings
| You need to make sure that you have Dolby Digital enabled in the Xbox 360 dashboard to get surround sound out to the Extigy. | You also need to make sure that your chat options are set up as above so that you can here your friends clearly. |
– – –
Once it’s all up and running you can begin sound-whoring with the best of them. I bought this setup with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 in mind and I couldn’t be happier. With the “War Tapes” audio option enabled you can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the battlefield.
I find myself acquiring out-of-sight targets much easier and sniper/anti-sniper tactics have never been simpler, thanks to an increased awareness of bullet trajectory.
When it comes to surround-sound headsets your options are clear. If you want Wireless get yourself some X41s, if you want the best audio quality then pick yourself up the A40 amp and drop a few hundred more on some Sennheiser or something. If you want discrete 5.1 audio and don’t mind cables, then the HPA2 and Extigy combo is the only way to go.
I have taken some pictures of my exact setup to try to a help a little more.
| Click on the picture to see the full-size versions. | |
All the items I have used are:
- Turtle Beach HPA2 headset package (Google) (eBay)
- Datel Headset Adapter (Google) (Amazon) (eBay)
- 2.5mm (Male) to 3.5mm (Female) (eBay)
- 3.5mm stereo jack extension cable 1.
5M (eBay) - 3.5mm stereo to 2 3.5mm mono splitter cable (eBay) <-Direct link
- 3.5mm stereo jack cable 0.2M
- Toslink digital optical cable
- Creative Extigy (eBay)
- USB power adapter [for HPA2] (eBay)
If you use a different configuration these cables may be useful too:
- 3.5mm stereo jack cable 1.5M (eBay)
- 2.5mm stereo jack cable 1M (eBay)
- 3.5mm stereo female-female coupler (eBay)
- You may also need some USB Extension cables (eBay)
I have tried to make sure that the searches on eBay are as accurate as possible, to make sure you get the right devices and cables. Don’t forget to sort by Price (and P+P) to get the best deal.
– – –
Xbox Live Headset connection setups
Datel Headset adapter (recommended)
Generic XBL Puck adapter (made in HK; sold everywhere)
No headset adapter (otherwise setup is the same as with the Datel puck)
Pink Mic IN from your PC headset and a 3.
5mm to 2.5mm adapter cable (not recommended)
Check the comments below for some more helpful advice. Ask if you need any further help.
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The 5 Best Turtle Beach Headsets of 2023: Reviews
- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Review Updates
- Best Headset
- Best Upper Mid-Range
- Best Mid-Range
- Best Budget
- Best Earbuds
- Comparison
- Page Updates
- Conclusion
- Discussions
Updated Nov 24, 2022 at 02:39 pm
By Theresa Ketterling
We’ve tested 15 Turtle Beach headsets. They make a variety of gaming headsets available at most price points. They tend to have some unique features, like active noise cancelling, Bluetooth, dedicated amps, or even in-ears with a detachable boom microphone.
Overall, their microphones typically have a good recording quality, even with their budget options.
Updates
-
10/28/2021
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 reviewed
-
07/30/2021
Turtle Beach Recon 500 reviewed
-
03/04/2021
Turtle Beach Recon 200 updated
-
11/30/2020
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless reviewed
-
11/17/2020
Turtle Beach Recon 70 updated
Best Turtle Beach Headphones
-
Best Turtle Beach Headset
Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp
SEE PRICE
Amazon.
de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Mixed Usage
6.7
Neutral Sound
7.1
Commute/Travel
6.7
Sports/Fitness
6.9
Office
6.4
Wireless Gaming
6.1
Wired Gaming
7.8
Phone Call
7.
6Type
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best Turtle Beach headset we’ve tested is the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2 SuperAmp. These headphones have a wired design, unlike some of the cheaper headphones listed here. They come with a ‘SuperAmp’ USB dongle that allows you to mix audio and control volume on the fly. You have to buy either the Xbox One or PS4 variant for it to work properly with your console, but the amp for both variants is fully compatible with PCs. They have a slightly bass-rich, well-balanced sound profile suitable for action-packed games. The Turtle Beach Audio Hub companion software, also available as an app on your phone, can be used to access EQ presets for sound customization, plus mic monitoring and surround sound settings.
Their detachable mic makes your voice sound clear and detailed, and it does an excellent job of isolating it from background noise. They also have a very comfortable fit, with roomy, well-padded earcups you can wear through long gaming sessions. However, keep in mind their audio reproduction is highly sensitive to their fit, seal, and positioning against your ears. They don’t filter out much in the way of background noise and leak a lot of sound, which makes them poorly suited for gaming in crowded environments.
See our review
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Turtle Beach Headset
Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Neutral Sound
7.
0Commute/Travel
6.4
Sports/Fitness
7.1
Office
6.5
Wireless Gaming
7.1
Wired Gaming
5.7
Phone Calls
6.9
Type
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
Yes
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best upper mid-range Turtle Beach headset for gaming we’ve tested is the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless.
These wireless gaming headphones are well-built, offer a fairly long 16-hour continuous battery life, and come in an Xbox and a PS4/PC version. They also support Βluetooth, meaning you can mix chat or music from your phone with game audio. Their default sound profile adds extra rumble, punch, and boom to audio, which is well-suited for action-packed games. If you prefer different sounds, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets, meaning you can customize them. They also have a boom mic with great recording quality, so your voice sounds clear when you’re gaming with friends.Unfortunately, like many gaming headsets, they don’t isolate you from ambient sound, so they aren’t ideal for use in noisy environments. They also leak a lot of sound, so people around you may be able to hear your game audio if you’re listening at high volumes. Also, while they have a decently comfortable fit, they clamp onto your ears tightly, which can be uncomfortable during long gaming sessions.
They offer low latency, support Xbox Wireless if you buy the Xbox variant, and offer robust sound customization features.See our review
-
Best Mid-Range Turtle Beach Headset
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Neutral Sound
7.7
Commute/Travel
5.5
Sports/Fitness
5.9
Office
6.5
Wireless Gaming
5.
5Wired Gaming
7.2
Phone Calls
6.4
Type
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best Turtle Βeach Ηeadset in the mid-range that we’ve tested is the Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2. This wireless headset is generally around half the price of the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 Wireless and is currently on sale for less. Although they aren’t as well-built, the headphones are similarly comfortable and more lightweight. They also provide nearly 16 hours of continuous battery life and support passive playback with the included audio cable.
The boom mic has a good recording quality, so your voice sounds clear and natural when you’re gaming with friends.They aren’t ideal for use in noisy spaces, as the mic struggles to separate your voice from background noise, and the headphones don’t block out much ambient sound. These headphones don’t have a companion app or an EQ for sound customization, unlike the more expensive picks here. That said, there’s a slider on one ear cup that activates a surround sound feature when you’re connected to PlayStation and Xbox. With this effect on, they have a boomy sound profile suitable for action-packed games. Additionally, elements like voices in cutscenes are reproduced very clearly and accurately.
See our review
-
Best Budget Turtle Beach Headset
Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Mixed Usage
5.
6Neutral Sound
6.6
Commute/Travel
5.0
Sports/Fitness
5.7
Office
5.3
Wireless Gaming
5.2
Wired Gaming
7.0
Phone Call
7.0
Type
Over-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best Turtle Beach headset in the budget range we’ve tested is the Turtle Beach Recon 50X/Recon 50P.
These headphones have a straightforward design without many extra features, but they come at a budget-friendly price and provide a latency-free connection since they’re wired. Their boom mic makes your voice sound clear and natural when you’re gaming with friends and does a good job separating it from background noise. They have a warm sound profile that adds extra punch and boom to your audio, which can help bring out sound effects in games.Unfortunately, their sound is also somewhat muddy, so mixes seem cluttered, and some instruments and voices lack a bit of detail. They also don’t have app support or come with any sound customization features like an EQ or presets. Their build feels plasticky, and they have stiff padding and a headband design that may be uncomfortable when you’re gaming for hours at a time. On the plus side, they’re a versatile choice since you can use them with any device with an AUX port, including PlayStation and Xbox consoles, by plugging them into a controller.
See our review
-
Best Turtle Beach Earbuds For Gaming
Turtle Beach Battle Buds
SEE PRICE
Amazon.de
Unavailable
Missing Store
Mixed Usage
5.6
Neutral Sound
5.4
Commute/Travel
5.5
Sports/Fitness
6.4
Office
5.
5Wireless Gaming
4.5
Wired Gaming
6.5
Phone Calls
6.5
Type
In-ear
Enclosure
Closed-Back
Wireless
No
Transducer
Dynamic
Noise Cancelling
No
Mic
Yes
See all our test results
The best Turtle Beach earbuds for gaming we’ve tested are the Turtle Beach Battle Buds. These wired earbuds are worth considering if you don’t like the fit of over-ear headphones or want something more portable than a typical gaming headset. They have a boom mic that’s detachable for when you want a more casual look.
It has a decent overall performance, so if you’re gaming with friends, they can hear you clearly, even with some noise in the background. They’re adequately comfortable and fully compatible with devices with an AUX port, meaning you can plug them into an Xbox or PlayStation controller.Like other Turtle Βeach headphones, these have a very exaggerated bass response that adds extra thump, rumble, and punch to mixes, which can help bring out sound effects in action-packed games. However, they may not be ideal for games with a lot of dialogue since their very bass-heavy sound muddies mixes and overwhelms vocals and lead instruments. Also, they aren’t extremely well-built, and the cable feels weak, specifically where it connects to the earbuds. However, they offer a solid mic performance and are worth considering if you prefer earbuds for gaming.
See our review
Compared to other brands
-
Unique active features.
Most Turtle Beach headphones have active features that set them apart from other gaming headsets. Their cheapest headsets are more basic, but you don’t have to go up in price very much to start seeing unique features like Bluetooth support, bass-boost effects, or even noise cancelling. -
Mobile-friendly gaming designs.
Even though Turtle Beach makes headsets with a very gamer-centric design, they’re often fairly versatile for mobile use with your phone. The majority of their headsets use a standard 1/8″ audio jack, and some are compatible with Bluetooth. They also have a few models with detachable mics, so they’re a bit less bulky for use with your mobile devices. -
Good microphone quality.
Being gaming headsets, most options from Turtle Beach have good microphones for multiplayer gaming.
Their often shorter boom mics aren’t as good as some other gaming brands like HyperX or SteelSeries, but they still deliver a good recording quality and will be more than suitable for gaming and making calls.
-
Lack of customization options.
Unfortunately, Turtle Beach doesn’t have the best support software for added customization options. Compared to other brands, the Turtle Beach Audio HUB lacks features and customization options. It’s also a bit unreliable and tends to crash fairly often. -
Inconsistent build quality.
While some of Turtle Beach’s more recent, higher-end models feel well-built, most of their headphones feel plasticky and cheaply made, especially when compared to other gaming brands in the same price range like Corsair or HyperX.
Turtle Beach vs SteelSeries
While SteelSeries headsets are generally more expensive than most Turtle Beach options, they often look and feel much more premium and high-end.
Most SteelSeries gaming headphones feel durable and well-built and have good microphones and well-balanced sound profiles.
Turtle Beach vs Astro
Astro gaming headphones generally have well-balanced sound profiles and look and feel well-built and comfortable. They offer some budget options that can compete with headphones from Turtle Beach, as well as some higher-end options designed to compete with more premium brands like SteelSeries.
Overall, Turtle Beach gaming headphones are decent and often have unique features that make them more versatile. Their inclusion of Bluetooth in many of their headsets makes them more convenient for casual use, so you can use your gaming headset as your daily driver headphones when on the go. Unfortunately, their build quality is often lacking compared to other brands like SteelSeries or Corsair. While the majority of their lineup feels plasticky and cheap, some of their higher-end options, like the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas and the Turtle Beach Elite Pro 2, feel decently well-made.
Recent Updates
-
Nov 24, 2022:
Restructured article to make it easier to find what you’re looking for and added the Turtle Beach Recon 200 Gen 2 as the ‘Βest Mid-Range Turtle Βeach Ηeadset’. -
Apr 13, 2022:
Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. -
Jan 14, 2022:
Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock. -
Nov 17, 2021:
Checked our picks for product availability and accuracy. There hasn’t been a change in our recommendations. -
Aug 19, 2021:
Added the Turtle Beach Battle Buds as ‘Best Earbuds For Gaming’.
Conclusion
Turtle Beach makes gaming headphones at several price points that are generally decently affordable. Their headphones often offer unique features like Bluetooth capabilities and ANC. These features make Turtle Beach headphones a good choice to double as your day-to-day headphones. Unfortunately, their build quality is generally lower than similarly priced headphones from other brands like SteelSeries and Corsair, and their app is lacking in customization options and can be downright frustrating to use at times. However, if you’re looking for a single pair of headphones that you can use while gaming at home as well as on the go connected to your phone, then Turtle Beach may be the right brand for your next headset.
Test results
Discussions
Beach in Hikkaduwa: an overview of 6 beaches with photos you will be able to conclude which is the best beach for you in Hikkaduwa.
Sri Lanka can pamper the guests of the island with ~1600 kilometers of beaches, and all beaches are different. When choosing a place to spend your vacation, you should first of all study Google maps.
In those regions of the island where more rivers flow into the ocean, or large cities are located, you should not look for clean water.
The beach in Hikkaduwa stretches for 5 kilometers , consists of 6 main beaches , and is suitable for a variety of pastimes.
This is snorkeling and swimming in calm waters, communication with turtles, surfing, freediving, hiking along the ocean, a beach without waves for children, as well as rocks covered with salt, from where you definitely need to see the sunrise and sunset at least once.
Contents
Seasonal specifics
The width of the beach strongly depends on the season .
From December to May, when there is not much rain, the beach of Hikkaduwa is active .
The width in some places can reach 150 meters .
Since May, with the advent of the Southwest monsoon, the ocean begins to storm and the coastal current “” licks sand from the beach strip and drags it to the depth, covering the reef.
The beach in Hikkaduwa may decrease in width to 5-10 meters, and somewhere there will be a reef bottom at all, and only the walls of bars and hotels will prevent further coastal erosion.
In short, arriving in October or November, you will not see the wide beach of Hikkaduwa from the February and March photos.
In that particular place where you bathe and swim in December, in April you are only going to the water on the sand. The exception is the «beach without waves», where the strip of sand remains the same in any season.
From December to March ocean mostly calm .
In total, 6 main beaches and areas can be distinguished.
I will list them from north to south.
Children’s beach in Hikkaduwa without waves (Hikkaduwa beach)
It is also “ children’s beach of Hikkaduwa ”, “ Rybkin beach ”, “ beach without waves ”. Good for photos.
Location : from the harbor pier and Commercial Bank to Dolphin Cafe.
Children’s beach in Hikkaduwa on the map.
Hikkaduwa Marine Sanctuary is located here. You must not catch or shoot fish, or cause any harm to marine life. You can’t even walk with a fishing rod , otherwise the police will pay attention to you.
Pros of : no waves — the beach is protected from waves by a reef and has a long, about 70 meters, shallow water, with an abundance of fish, some of which swim at the very edge of the water and it is very convenient for children to watch them standing on the beach.
Shade before noon creates palm trees .
This is the best beach in Hikkaduwa for snorkeling.
Cons : on weekends there are a lot of locals, these days the purity of the water is debatable. If you normally swim in the river, you will like it here.
If you like clean water or keep small children safe from any viruses, then it is better not to go to this beach on weekends and swim only at Narigama Surf Beach.
Near the port, from there, too, sometimes some kind of dirt is nailed.
Photo of Hikkaduwa children’s beach
Turtle beach (Hikka Tranz beach)
Turtle beach in Hikkaduwa is located on the stretch from the bridge to the Citrus hotel. Turtle Beach on the map.
Main area — in front of the Hikka Tranz hotel opposite the rocks. Here ocean turtles lay eggs on the beach. There are small waves here, and on the reef you can communicate with several huge turtles , feed them with algae, shoot them on video, and collect shells .
Hikka Tranz has the nearest volleyball net.
Pros : shade of palm trees at almost any time of the day, small wave , beautifully curved coastline, turtles, lifeguard tower .
From February to April this is the best beach in Hikkaduwa to watch turtles .
Cons : during heavy rains in September, November and early December, rainwater from the jungle pours into the ocean along the channel where the bridge is, the water becomes dirty, and it is better not to swim.
Photo of the turtle beach in Hikkaduwa
Wewala beach
From Citrus Hotel to Chill Space Cafe. Beach with bars , many sunbeds , overlooking the crashing ocean waves and surfing. Vevala beach on the map.
On this beach there are several restaurants with Russian hostesses.
In front of the Citrus Hotel, at low tide, there are coral baths without waves, ideal for small children.
This is the best beach in Hikkaduwa for sunset to smoothly flow into evening program .
Pros : traffic, restaurants and bars close to the water, discos .
Cons : mostly reef in the water, strong wave.
Photo of Wewala Beach in Hikkaduwa
Narigama beach
aka surf beach in Hikkaduwa.
Located on the stretch from Sunnys Beach to the Avenra Hotel. Narigama beach on the map.
Here you have surfing , and yoga, and clubs, and long shallow water, beach volleyball and all other active beach entertainment when a wide beach is required.
This is the best beach in Hikkaduwa for family holidays. Dad surfs, mom sunbathes and drinks fresh juices on shady sun loungers (and then vice versa), children are busy in the sand and can swim in the surf, grandparents rest in the shade of palm trees.
Narigama suitable for swimming with children any age .
Pros of : wide beach, clear water , waves for surfing, shallow water at low tide, dampening waves, and you can swim even with children. Not many people .
Cons : in the area of this beach there are not as many housing as we would like.
Photo of Narigama beach in Hikkaduwa
Thiranagama & Pathuwata beach
From Avenra to the rocks and the fishing port. Tiranagama beach on the map.
This beach is perfect for walking and jogging. Nearly 90,003 three kilometers along 90,004 bursting white spray waves crashing against the sandy shore.
Swimming is possible extreme lovers , the rest is better to swim at Narigama beach.
Pros : almost no people, spacious, aesthetic beauty tropical coast, away from people bustle .
Cons : swimming when there are big waves is dangerous.
Hikkaduwa beach photo
Dodanduwa beach
And the last beach I want to talk about is the beach in Dodanduwa.
Dodanduwa beach on the map.
Geographically it is also Hikkaduwa . Rocks, here are very beautiful volcanic rocks , up to 7 meters above the water level, which makes it possible to panoramic view of the ocean.
This is the best beachfront location in the Hikkaduwa area to watch the sunset.
The fishing harbor is also located here , where you should definitely come for fresh seafood .
Photos of Dodanduwa Beach in Hikkaduwa
Conclusion
Hikkaduwa attracts with its versatility and spaciousness.
The beaches are perfect for any holiday format , and the conditions for swimming on the children’s beach are maintained even during the summer monsoon, when the ocean is stormy and the surf beach is only a few meters away.
All beaches are open to the public, there are no closed beaches. If you rent a bike, you can safely park it next to the beach, all parking lots are free.
Turtle beach in Kerch, Crimea — photos, reviews, recreation
In Crimea there are beaches designed almost exclusively for tourists, but Crimeans reserve some recreation points for themselves. Numerous attractions are not so important for them, as silence and relative space. But this does not mean that holidaymakers are not allowed here — it’s all about the surroundings and advertising. For example, Turtle Beach in Kerch is often underestimated by visitors because of the iodine smell and unusual coating. And many Kerchans consider it the best in the city.
CONTENTS
- Location
- Description
- Leisure
- How to get there
Where is Turtle beach located on the map
«Turtle» in Kerch is called a part of the coast adjacent to Komsomolsky Park.
Next to it, the MBUDO Center for Children and Youth Creativity and the Temple of St. Andrew the First-Called are also found. There are several moorings along the coastline nearby.
Creepy gift to the city
Through the adjacent park, proudly called Komsomolsky, vacationers usually get to the beach. Turtles are not found on it — this is a fact. But the reason for the appearance of a strange name is quite material.
3D-panorama near Turtle beach
A certain master, who wished to remain incognito, built an unusual installation at the entrance to this beach of Kerch — a large painted sculpture depicting a turtle, judging by the flat shell, sea turtle. The statue for greater expressiveness was also painted in different colors.
Everyone liked the original gift to the city from the sculptor-patron and quickly became famous. The turtle has become a landmark that allows you to recognize the area. The beach, which had been operating for a long time by that time, began to be named after her.
Do not miss the main city beach of Kerch
Iodine inhalation on the beach
Turtle — a comfortable beach. But it is considered primarily an urban beach area, its improvement is not ostentatious. There are amenities that are really necessary, but there are no advertising «beauties».
So, there are no water attractions. Over a short distance — about 150 m — it would not be easy to place them, but no one tried to do it. There is no rental of umbrellas and sun loungers — for practical reasons, which will be mentioned below.
It often smells of iodine here. The reason is the appearance near the coastline and on it of accumulations of algae brought by the sea. Water also removes them — algae float or lie at the edge of the surf until the wind changes and they are not carried away from the shore. Many tourists are frightened by a sharp and really not too pleasant smell. But the people of Kerch pay no attention to him.
They say that algae are not dirt, they are needed for the survival of small marine organisms, they do not bring harm to humans. On the contrary, the iodine secreted by them is useful, as it heals the respiratory tract, kills pathogens. Consequently, the Turtle beach in Kerch allows visitors not only to relax, but also to receive a free course of iodine inhalation.
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There is no real rubbish on the beach. Its visitors are distinguished by high culture and consciousness — they do not leave «pigsties» in their recreation area. And random garbage is removed and the urns are emptied by employees of the city improvement service. And the reviews of those who came are unanimous: the Turtle is clean.
The greenest beach in Kerch
Turtle is a really unusual beach. The point is its location in the park area. There is almost no traditional beach strip with sand or pebbles. Grass and trees come close to the water.
For this reason, there is no rental of umbrellas — they are not needed, the edge is provided with natural shade, and sitting on the grass is soft and comfortable.
Beachgoers bring towels and bedspreads with them — they are enough for comfortable arrangement. There are also several benches, but you can sit on them, but not lie down. There are several «fungi» near the water, reminiscent of those that decorated playgrounds during the Soviet era — they also provide shade.
Vacationers often combine their rest on Turtle with a visit to Komsomolsky Park. In its central part, you can hide in the hot season, and it’s convenient to go sightseeing from here (the square is located almost in the center of the city, but a little to the east). There are equipped picnic edges on the park territory, a couple of dozen stationary barbecues are installed in the beach area itself (although they are snapped up from early morning).
Swimming on the Turtle is safe, it is convenient to enter the water if you do not pay attention to the algae or if they have been carried away.
Families come here willingly for the whole day. While adults are frying kebabs, children can play on good playgrounds. They are not beach, but park type, but still good. On the grass it is not difficult to find a place to play volleyball or badminton (but without a net).
Changing rooms and toilets on Turtle are equipped. There is also a food stall with ice cream and tasty little things. If you want to eat more substantial, you can walk to the nearest grocery store in a few minutes.
Parking for private cars is arranged next to the Turtle sculpture. It is spacious, usually there are enough parking spaces for everyone. Parents only need to make sure that the smallest passengers get away from the symbol of the beach in time — the kids like to climb on the flat turtle shell, and this spoils its bright coloring.
There is a yacht club near the beach. They sometimes offer excursions by sea for reasonable money.
How to get (get) to the Turtle
The closest stops from here (500-600 m) are «Palace of Pioneers» and «Poshivalnikova Street».