12 Best Spots For Scuba Diving In Turkey For An Adventurous Experience In 2024

Do you know the underwater world is said to be equally beautiful to the above-water world? Yes, this is true! Discover the unseen treasures of the mysterious waters by diving in-depth and finding the fragility of our oceans wherever you find an opportunity. An experience of scuba diving in Turkey will allow you all levels to discover its ocean floor. It’s the perfect activity for those of you always looking for adventurous backpacking trips, romantic getaways, family holidays, and everything in between. Let us help you find the best diving spots in Turkey so that you can plan your trip with ease and have an adventure-packed getaway!

12 Spots For Scuba Diving In Turkey

Whether you’re just a newbie looking to get started or a veteran searching for new places to explore, here are 12 best places for scuba diving in Turkey where you can go diving.

• Bodrum
• Kas
• Fethiye
• Marmaris
• Antalya
• Ayvalik
• Mersin
• Gulf Of Gokova
• Kusadasi
• Side
• Datca
• Canakkale

1. Bodrum

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Bodrum is famous for its amazing diving spots with the colorful sea sponges, great depths, and caverns. It is one of the best scuba diving in Turkey spots and also has one of the greatest underwater museums in the world. The east wall off Orak Island of this region is a diving heaven with the beautiful rock formations in the shallow area. It can easily take a complete day to experience for an unforgettable scuba diving experience to the best.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Gokova Bay, Bubble Cave, Dakota Plane Wreck, and Pinnar 1 Wreck
Diving Schools in Bodrum: Dive Academy, Aquapro Diving Centre, Barakuda Bodrum, and The Aegean Pro Dive Centre.

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2. Kas

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Kas is undoubtedly top of all the scuba diving in Turkey spots because of its range, frequency, and quality of dives. You will find plenty of caves, reefs, and wrecks in this region, along with the plentiful marine life such as rays, eel, and turtles amongst others. The seas around Kalkan are perfect for the experienced divers, with species of sea life involving turtles, sharks, tuna, and thornback rays. The main highlight of this region is the Blue Hole, which is home to many kinds of tropical fishes and reef sharks.

Ocean: Mediterranean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Dakota Plane, Heybeliada, Camel Reef, and Pigeon Island
Diving Schools in Kas: Barracuda Diving Centre, Sundiving, Kas Diving, and Likya Diving Centre

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3. Fethiye

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The ocean floor of Fethiye is made up of the swim-through curves covered in the soft corals, enigmatic tunnels and dropping slopes, making it one of the best diving spots in Turkey for those looking for a mixture of adventure and great views under the water. The blue depths off Fethiye hide countless dives. Sheltered coves nest Cuttlefish, lobsters, and octopuses.
Amphorae Bay is this region where the intermediate swimmers can learn how to scuba dive in Turkey as this region tackle its three narrow burrows. Red Island is a natural amphitheater where you can head at night with a torch to divulge in a plethora of vivid sponge.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Sariyalar Bay, Amphorae Bay, Balaban Island, and Aladdin’s Cave
Diving Schools in Fethiye: European Diving Centre, Mermaid Diving Club, Elite Diving Centre, and Divers Delight Fethiye

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4. Marmaris

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The area around Marmaris has the most delightful spots for diving in Turkey with many dolphins, sharks, and Mediterranean seals at a depth of between 10 m to 40 m, particularly around the islands of Kara Incir. Due to its clear waters and visibility, the place is considered as one of the most popular water sports spots in the area. Visiting this region, you won’t be disappointed by its vast marine life, steep walls, and rare rock formations.

Baca Cave is a top starting point for beginners. The minimum age of scuba diving in Turkey is 10 years, therefore, you should keep it in mind if involving children in it.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Kadirga Cove, Goat Island Lighthouse, and Inceburun Lighthouse
Diving Schools in Marmaris: Nautilus Diving Centre, Paradise Diving Centre, Aquaholics Diving Centre, and Diving Centre Marmaris

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5. Antalya

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Want to learn how to scuba dive in Turkey? Visit Antalya! This is the world’s most famous tourist region and has the highest number of diving schools spread across the area. One of the most popular diving areas here is the Kemer. Tekirova has a delightful array of sea life consisting of enormous thornback rays, and is also a good location for the cavern diving activities.

During the month of August and September, there is a vast amount of tuna fish and seals besides dolphins which can also be seen throughout the year. Learners will be in the wonder of the coast guard wreckage that sits in the artificial reef near Side.

Ocean: Mediterranean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Kirish, Paris Wreck, Lighthouse Kemer, and TCSG-117 coast guard boat
Diving Schools in Antalya: Star Diving Academy, Stingray Diving, Pearl Diving Centre, and Antalya Scuba Diver Dive Centre

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6. Ayvalik

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Earlier it was considered that the area around Ayvalik is the position of the lost city of the Atlantis but what is known is the unique choices of diving in Turkey exclusively off the Yuvarlak Island, Gunes Island, and Kerbela Rocks. The most popular area of this place is the waters off Kiz Island which offers mesmerizing underwater fauna from a depth of 19 meters.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Gunes Island, Kerbela Rocks, and Yuvarlak Island
Diving Schools in Ayvalik: Korfez Diving Center and Kuzey Mavi Diving Centre

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7. Mersin

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The clear seawaters of Mersin have many fascinating dive areas comprising of the sunken cargo ship at the western cape of the Dana Island. Mersin is a well-known dive resort famous for the submerged underwater island northwest of the Sancak Bay which is made up of the large ancient oil jars. Most of the dive sites are located around the coastline of the Tasucu here.

Ocean: Mediterranean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Dana Island, Sancak Bay, and the coastline of Tasucu
Diving Schools in Mersin: Nautilus Scuba Diving School, Advanced Open Water Diver Course.

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8. Gulf Of Gokova

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Gulf of Gokova has an extraordinarily gorgeous underwater topography for those who want to do wall scuba diving in Turkey. This point is located at a distance of one and a half hours sailing from Bodrum. Also, it is the furthermost point reached for daily diving purposes. Diving at the point facing the Gulf of Gokova will provide you an amazing experience.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Diving Schools in Gulf of Gokova: Dive Academy Bodrum, Happy Bubbles Dive Center, Aegean Pro Dive Center.

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9. Kusadasi

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Kusadasi, an Aegean underwater world around Didim provides excellent chances to discover marine life as well as an opportunity to search a deliberately sunken former coastal guard ship. It is one of the best places for scuba diving in Turkey with an A300 Airbus close to Davutlar, near Kusadasi. It will become an artificial reef for underwater flora and fauna and provides a unique diving experience to the international divers.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Davutlar, Didim
Diving Schools in Kusadasi: Kusadasi Diving Center, Active Blue Diving Center, Aquasport Dive Center, Diver Bees Dalis Merkez

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10. Side

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Want to discover underwater scuba diving in Turkey, you must visit the Side. This area includes underwater wrecks, museums, caves, Coretta turtles, big groupers, lionfishes, and other marine life.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Turtle Reef, Ralphs Reef, Side Cave Reef, and Camel Road.
Diving Schools in Side: Size Azura PADI Dive Center, Side Scuba Diving Centre

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11. Datca

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Datca has a delightful diving area with many dolphins, sharks and Mediterranean seals at a depth of between 10m to 40m, particularly around the islands of Kara Incir. It is considered as one of the best scuba diving in Turkey off Esen Island, which is connected to the Datca harbor. There are 52 diving points which include beautiful plant and animal life.

Ocean: Aegean Sea
Other Diving Spots: Wreck Rock, Aktur Çiflik Köşe, Chimney cave
Diving Schools in Datca: Datca Diving Center, Datca Reef Diving Dalis Merkezi

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12. Canakkale

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Due to the proximity to Istanbul, and full of submerged ruins, Canakkale is a favorite diving spot for the divers. Underwater fauna includes the black fauna. Gokceada and Bozcaada islands have good interesting plant life, tourist facilities, sea creatures, and submerged ruins.

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Best Times of the Year for Scuba Diving In Turkey

All the destinations on this list of the best places for scuba diving in Turkey should preferably be visited between April and October when the underwater climate is at its highest. During these times, many diving schools and companies are open for business, you can easily learn how to scuba dive in Turkey, whereas these schools close during the wintertime, which is outside of the tourism season. That is why you must keep in mind the best time for scuba diving in Turkey and make your plan accordingly.

Tips For Scuba Diving In Turkey

• Make sure you book your scuba diving tour only through a certified and experienced agency in Turkey.
• Ensure that you only use the best quality gear like diving masks, depth gauge, submersible pressure gauge, and compass.
• Wear a drysuit or wetsuit to protect your skin from the cold and salty water of the ocean.
• Don’t forget to wear scuba gloves and scuba tanks.
• Try and get yourself a dive computer to measure how long you have and can stay underwater.
• Do not get into a flight immediately after scuba diving.
• Do not travel to places of high altitude immediately after scuba diving.
• Do not get into strenuous physical activity and exercise before the dive as muscle movements and applying forces to joints can cause bubble formation into the joints after a dive.
• Do not take a hot shower immediately after your dive since that can cause symptomatic bubbles in the muscles.
• Do not drink alcohol right before or after the dive.

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Regardless of whether you are an expert or a beginner, there are some of the best places for scuba diving in Turkey that offer you some of the most amazing sights and experiences in the world. From extensive reefs to the epic wrecks, these remarkable diving places will remind you why you started diving in the first place! Don’t forget to add the above-listed places for an epic Turkey trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Places To Go Scuba Diving In Turkey

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