Underwater Diving

Within the seas of Turkey, divers can discover a fascinating submerged world, from underwater caverns to sunken ships and even the remains of ancient cities. The only areas prohibited from diving are military zones, those conducting scientific research and areas under protection.

Regions

Antalya & Provınce

This world famous tourist region has the highest number of diving schools in the country, containing many contrasting dive sites. A French military transportation ship at the entrance of Antalya harbour lies at a depth of 20 - 32m. The islands in the open seas around Tekirova has a wonderful array of sea life including huge thornback rays, and is also a good location for cavern diving. During August and September there is a huge amount of tuna fish and seals, and dolphins can be seen throughout the year. Lying 1km from the Antalya Yacht Harbour is the site of a French battleship, San Didier, which sank during the war in 1942. During excavations in 1946 and 1974, a major part of the ship’s cargo was discovered, including ammunition and medical equipment. Although there is little left in the submerged ship, it is still attracting much interest from divers, and permission is required from the Antalya Goverment and Marine Police Department. The area between the beaches of Lara and Konyaalti, are the two biggest in Antalya, has attractive rock formations and sea life between a depth of 14 – 25m. The small island of Sican, a few kilometres from Antalya harbour, is also a popular diving region.

The coast on the west side is relatively shallow and sandy (maximum 8m) but on the northeast side with rocky seabed descends to 22m, which also has a small cavern. Submerged 200m from the coast near Manavgat, east of Antalya, is a B-24 American war plane named Hadley’s Harem, which came down after leaving its base in Cyprus after bombing over Romania in 1944. The cockpit was removed during studies in 1995, and now lies in a private museum in Istanbul. Diving to this particular site requires special permission. In Gelidonya, at the west of Antalya bay, there are the submerged remains of a cargo ship which sank after crashing on the rocks near to what is now known as Taslik cape. During research performed by divers in 1960 to a depth of 28m, the first completed underwater excavation, it was determined that the ship dates back to the 13th century BC. Research in 1994 revealed its Middle Eastern origins, as deduced from the anchor, and excavated items are exhibited in Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.

Suluin Cavern, in the region of Kirkgoz, used to be a dry area, which is indicated by the stalactites and stalagmites. This plateau around Antalya is travertine, composed of limestone which has dissolved. During research in 1995, the depth of the cavern reaches 83m, with a huge entrance at 45m covered with stalactites, travertine pools and other formations and many water channels off the cave.

Kas

The seas around Kalkan are suited to experienced divers, with species of sea life including sharks, turtles, tuna and thornback rays. Patara has coral and sea sponges, and the Fener waters descend from 11 – 132m, with lively and colourful sights. Oksuz Island is known for its lizard fish, a member of the shark family. 60m off the east coat of Uluburun and 9km southeast of Kas lie the ruins of a cargo ship dating back to the 14th century BC. As a result of dives in 1984 the ship’s cargo, which had slipped to a depth of 61m, was removed and some of it exhibited in the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum today. Near the Greek island of Meis off the coast of Kas, there are the submerged remains of an Italian plane from World War II. Its first sighting is at a depth of 57m, its tail going as far as 70m, and there is still ammunition within the wreckage.

Finike

Gok Cavern near Finike, is one of the deepest in Asia which is accessible to divers. The cavern reaches the seabed and has a wide entrance, and the presence of stalactites indicates that this was once dry.

Kemer

One of the most popular diving areas in the region is the Three Islands, off Tekirova, which has many diver sites and greater depth than Antalya. The wreckage of a submerged ship lying 2km from Kemer Yacht Harbour at a depth of 25m, belongs to a French cargo ship which sank during World War II. It is estimated to have been built in 1896, and has three decks and two warehouses, of which some is still covered in tiles.

Balıkesir&Province

According to rumour, the area around Ayvalik is the location of the lost city of Atlantis – but what is known is the unique diving options especially off Gunes Island, Yuvarlak Island and Kerbela Rocks. The most popular area is the waters off Kiz Island with fascinating underwater fauna from a depth of 19m.

Muğla&Province

Datca

The area around Datca has wonderful diving opportunities with many sharks, dolphins and Mediterranean seals at a depth of between 10-40m, especially around the islands of Kara Incir. There is a good dive point off Esen Island, which is connected to Datca harbour.

Marmaris

There are 52 diving points and a large selection of ancient underwater ruins around the area of Marmaris, including off the coast of Dis (33m), Rodos, Kutuk, Burnu, Cennet Island, Kadirga Feneri and Kargi Island. The steep slope of the seabed off Cennet Island contains especially beautiful plant and animal life.

Bodrum

Bodrum is famous for one of the greatest underwater museums in the world. But it is also known for its great diving opportunities with great depths, colourful sea sponges and caverns. The east wall off Orak Island, exceeding 100m in depth, is a diving haven with beautiful rock formations in the shallow area, which can take easily take a whole day to experience fully. The waters around Kargi and Kocek islands, around 20-30m depth, contain antique ruins, with sea creatures of all sizes and good for macro photography. Catal Island and the coast off Gemitasi are also good dive sites.

Çanakkale&Province

Saros

Saros is a favourite spot for divers due to its proximity to Istanbul, and is full of submerged ruins like Captain Franco, which lies at the entrance of Canakkale Strait in Saros bay. Underwater fauna includes black fauna.

Gokceada and Bozcaada

Because there are no diving schools in Gokceada, the surrounding towns must be used instead. There are submerged ruins from World War I in Kuzu Harbour, and many huge anchors and wrecks of ships between the Mermer Lighthouse and the Anatolian coast. Around these waters are the islands of Orfoz, Karayer and Essek, which are home to a huge range of sea creatures. Canak harbour, Bakla Tasi, Pinar Dere Mermer Cape, and the south of Tuz cape are good points for diving. There is a diving school in Bozcaada, with good tourist facilities, and its waters have interesting plant life and sea creatures.

Mersin

The clear waters of Mersin have many interesting dive sites including the sunken cargo ship at the western cape of Dana island. There is a submerged island northwest of Sancak bay, with large ancient oil jars.

Equipped Diving Rules

Forbidden Zones: Al kinds of diving excluding scientific studies in military forbidden zones as well as regions in which there are Cultural and Natural Wealth Required to be protected underwater according to 19/08/1989 date and 20257 numbered Official Gazette issued Decision of Board of Ministers, according to 35th article of 863 numbered Cultural and Natural Wealth Protection Law.

Certificate: Sportive aimed equipped divers, should have the sufficiency certificate (diving card) issued by Underwater Sports, Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. But certificates issued by organizations educating under international standards, are also valid. These certificates, can be turned into sufficiency certificate (diving card) with application to federation. Sportive dives, diving disciplinary authorizations, technical specifications and authorization certificates of Turks are issued complying with the principles determined and accepted by Youth and sports General Directorate, Underwater Sports Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. For sportive aimed dives of foreign divers, they should be a member of International Underwater Sports Federation or national organizations or have a certificate issued by authorized organizations or institutions of their countries.

Responsibility: Diving and life security of the divers belongs to divers, but all of the responsibilities of course participant's during training belongs to lecturer. In dives of Turks, taking guide skin diver is under request. Foreign divers should take guide skin diver during their dives. During diving, protection of cultural and natural wealth, maintaining of property and life security of divers during diving, are under the responsibility and obligation of guide skin diver.

But all kinds of problems exist before diving and due to the personal mistakes of divers who violates the diving rules is not under the responsibility of skin diver.

Material: There is no equipment limit during sportive aimed dives. Whilst equipped sportive dives, balance vest (life vest, BC), tube pressure monitor, depth monitor and time hour usage is obligatory. But usage of lifting balloon or same aimed materials are forbidden.

Decompressed dives are absolutely forbidden. Presence of high pressurized tube filling compressor in land or in ships, which took required permissions from corresponding authorities during dives is free.

Diving organizing agency, club, establishment, hotel, holiday village, school etc. places as well as ships should provide first aid material in stock. Underwater photographing, video camera usage during dives is free. All kinds of materials for taking picture or video recording can be used.

Material Maintenance: Sportive aimed diving organizing tourism agencies, yacht operators, organizations and institutions as well as underwater clubs should perform the periodic test and maintenance of diving materials (such as tube regulator, balance vest) used and owned by skin divers. These tests can be performed in civil skin diver firm agencies or organizations authorized by Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Ships to be used during dives: During underwater dives, usage of Turk ships is basis. But dives are possible on condition that required permissions should be taken for foreign groups who wishes to dive from their boats as well as foreign divers who come with their ships.

Diving permission: Sportive aimed equipped dives are subjected to permission excluding forbidden zones. Dives, organized to places excluding forbidden zones in group by club, organization or institutions, should be informed to City Tourism Directorates or authorized organization. This information is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by correspondent organization.

All kinds of equipped sportive dives are subject to permission for foreign divers. Authorities which will issue these permissions are City Tourism Directorate or authorized organizations. One copy of permission forms to be issued will be submitted to Harbor Directorate and one copy of it is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by permission issuing organization. Permission certificate, whose one copy remains at permission holding organization, should be shown to authorities during controls. Information submission and permission taking is not obligatory during dives with the aim of training as well as two persons friend system dives (excluding forbidden zones).