Apply for Turkey Visa Online and Discover the Best Scuba Diving Places
Turkey is a popular tourist country that attracts and excites travellers in a unique way. Every museum, monument, ancient city, historical and archaeological sites beholds the charm to impress travellers at the first sight. Their magnificent and rich history stood the test of time. Nonetheless, Turkey is an excellent hub of top adventurous sports such as skiing, paragliding, trekking, hiking, water rafting, scuba diving, etc. Travellers who are seeking to explore the adventure activities in Turkey will never be disappointed.
The geographical location of Turkey made it one of the largest peninsula regions that bridges the East and West. The coastline of Turkey extends to a length of approximately 8000 Km, which covers the three major seas, namely The Mediterranean Sea, The Black Sea, and The Aegean Sea. Being the home to three seas, there are numerous excellent scuba diving places to explore the marine life in Turkey. Here’s a list of a few of the best scuba diving places in Turkey.
Turkey e-Visa or Turkey Visa Online is an electronic travel authorization or travel permit to visit Turkey for a period of upto 90 days. Government of Turkey recommends that international visitors must apply for a Turkey Visa Online at least three days before you visit Turkey. Foreign citizens can apply for an Turkey Visa Application in a matter of minutes. Turkey Visa application process is automated, simple, and completely online.
Kaş
Kaş is one of the best scuba diving places in Turkey and an incredible choice to explore the Mediterranean underworld. The Kaş city lies on the southwest coast of Turkey, Antalya province. The diving area of Kaş offers approximately 30 dive sites, which include shipwrecks, exotic marine life, caves and canyons. The clear water of Kaş provides incredible visibility of up to 40m distance. The relics of ancient cities from the Kaş shore, underwater exhibition and shipwreck, make Kaş a breathtaking place for scuba diving in Turkey. Some of the popular dive sites in Kaş include the shipwreck, lighthouse, rock formation, etc.
Bodrum
Bodrum is located over the coastline of The Aegean Sea and the diving area has more than 15 dive sites. Bodrum exhibits the beautiful flora and fauna, colourful sea sponges and corals of The Aegean and The Mediterranean Sea. Bodrum is home to the two most popular cave diving spots, namely the Delikli Cave and Bubble Cave. The diving spots are famous for their exotic marine life and underwater archaeological museum. Dive deep into the depths of Bodrum to explore the two colourful reefs, which range from 7 to 40m. Orak Island, located an hour's distance from Bodrum, is an excellent dive spot for exploring underwater caves.
Fethiye
Fethiye is a fantastic place to swim alongside the fish, sea turtles and sometimes dolphins. The southwestern coast of the Mediterranean Sea offers the best dive spot to explore rich marine life such as sea turtles, eels, starfish, octopuses, etc. The dive area offers a variety of dive sites, including underwater caves, reefs, sunken ships and planes, relics, etc. Af Tower in Fethiye is the best diving spot for experienced divers. The large cave known as the Turkish Bath is home to brown meager and red anemones. The Three Tunnels, Barracuda Reef, Cold Cave, Aqua Point, Red Island Canyon and Demon Cape are a few of the splendid diving sites in Fethiye.
Ayvalik
Ayvalik, is one of the scuba diving centers that is rich in underwater life, wrecks, islands, etc. Located on The Aegean Sea coast, Ayvalik is home to islands, shallow reefs and approximately more than 50 diving spots. The red coral reefs or gorgonia and the turquoise water are major tourist attractions in Ayvalik. The most famous dive spots in Ayvalik are the Kerbela, Ilyosta, Deli Mehmet and Azhar Bey reefs. Among them, the Deli Mehmet is considered to be the best diving spot in Ayvalik because of its rich underwater biodiversity. Ilyosta island in Ayvalik is another lovely diving spot for enjoying the vibrant marine life.
Marmaris
Marmaris offers an extraordinary diving experience with over 50 diving sites across The Aegean Sea and The Mediterranean Sea. The diving spots in Marmaris are suitable for all types of divers, from beginners to advanced. Located over Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Marmaris is home to three bays, namely the Kadirga Bay, Chimney Bay and Deep Diving Bay. Among them Kadirga Bay stands unique for the rocky areas and ruins of the Hellenistic shipwreck, located in front of the lighthouse building. The clear water of Marmaris offers excellent visibility and some dive centres here offer night dives as well.
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What is the Best Time for Scuba Diving in Turkey?
Despite the fact that scuba diving activity in Turkey is accessible around the year, considering the weather conditions and other factors, April to November is the ideal time to enjoy scuba diving in Turkey. During the months the temperature is warmer and travellers can get a visibility of up to 30—40m.
Safety Tips for Scuba Diving in Turkey
Venturing out for adventure activities has its own risks. Amidst the excitement of exploring underwater life, safety should always remain as a priority. Following are a few safety tips for scuba diving in Turkey.
- Make sure to have a scuba diving certification, some dive centres make them mandatory
- Choose a reputable dive centre that offers experienced and qualified instructors. Before choosing the dive centre, research and read the reviews to ensure their service and quality
- Follow the instructions and guidelines of the instructor or guide
- Check the scuba gear and learn how to use it before the start of the dive
- Always remember to do the buddy check to ensure that your and your buddy’s equipment and gear are working in good condition
- Breath constantly and normally. Do not hold your breath, holding the breath might result in air embolism (air bubbles blocking the blood vessels), a serious life hazard that potentially causes fatal injury.
- Practice the Equalization technique (the pressure change), especially while descending into the depth, to avoid barotrauma.
- Check the air tank constantly
- Dive within the limits
- Maintain a slow and steady ascent
- Do not go near any plants or marine life, check with the instructor or guide. Some plants might be poisonous or may cause allergies, so keep distance to ensure safety.
Scuba Diving in Turkey offers the most surreal visual treat for travellers. Most of the diving spots in Turkey are filled with abundant marine biodiversity. The crystal-clear water, shipwreck, rock formation and stunning underwater landscape with coral reefs offer an unforgettable diving experience in Turkey.
Summary
- To experience the world under the water in Turkey, apply for Turkey e-Visa online
- Securing Turkey e-Visa is easy with its simplified application process
- Check your eligibility to apply for Turkey e-Visa
- Here’s a list of Turkey visa online requirements
Check your eligibility for Turkey Visa and apply for Turkey e-Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. South African citizens, Mexican citizens, Vietnamese citizens and Sri Lankan citizens can apply online for Electronic Turkey Visa.