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Scuba diving in Turkey reveals a stunning underwater world filled with vibrant marine life and echoes of ancient history. Along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, sites like Gallipoli showcase shipwrecks from past centuries, while Kaş is known for colorful reefs, and Bodrum features dramatic underwater caves. Divers often spot turtles, groupers, and schools of fish in crystal-clear waters. Each dive offers a new experience—some uncover historical remnants, others highlight thriving marine ecosystems. With its rich blend of nature and culture, Turkey stands out as a top destination for underwater exploration and discovery.
10 Best Destination For Scuba Diving In Turkey
Discover the ten best locations for Scuba diving in Turkey, including not only the most famous dive sites all over the world but also a variety of secluded underwater paradises ideal for adventure travellers, underwater photographers, and ocean lovers.
1. Kas
Photo: Tugceeakgunn91 / Wikimedia Commons
Kaş, one of Turkey’s best scuba diving locations, is situated on Turkey’s beautiful Mediterranean coastline, and it is one of the top dive locations in Turkey. It’s famous for its calm waters, excellent visibility, and diverse dive sites from caves and coral reefs to ancient shipwrecks. Blue Cave is the crown jewel of this portfolio, where sunlight filters through the sea to illuminate an alien-like environment for scuba divers. The seafloor is lush with groupers, moray eels, octopuses, and sea turtles, hence the ideal spot for underwater photography and discovery. Beginners can dive safely with expert professionals, and experienced divers love diving deeper into the likes of the Aeroplane Wreck, a great man-made dive spot.
How To Reach: 190 km by road from Antalya Airport; taxi and shuttle service available.
Main Attractions: Blue Cave, Aeroplane Wreck, underwater caves, coral reefs, sea turtles.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Turkey
2. Fethiye
Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/astolath / Wikimedia Commons
Fethiye, south-west Turkey, is one of the best diving spots in Turkey with a mix of history and marine life. Dive locations range from remains of ancient cities, underwater walls, and coral reefs, and thus each dive will be an adventure. Among the popular Turkey scuba diving spots, Telmessos dive is one that is remarkable since divers navigate through ruins of an ancient city that is even thousands of years old, and this gives them a historical touch to their underwater experience. Accessible by boat, Butterfly Valley is another spot where rainbow marine life is observed inhabiting glinting waters.
How To Reach: By car, 50 km from Dalaman Airport; day taxi and shuttle service.
Main Attractions: Ruins of Telmessos, Butterfly Valley, reefs, sea life, and historic underwater sites.
3. Bodrum
Photo: Mehmet Cankaya / Wikimedia Commons
Bodrum is a world-class diving resort and scuba diving facility in Turkey. This cosmopolitan Aegean seashore town has historical places as well as world-class underwater scenery. Among all of Turkey’s vast scuba diving sites, Bodrum is best known for underwater wreckage and relics that record sea warfare and sea commerce. The dive areas boast their pristine reefs teeming with groupers, nudibranchs, and parrotfish and cradled by dramatic rock formations and sea caves. There are more than enough licensed dive schools that conduct lessons from beginners to professionals, and equipment rentals are on demand.
How To Reach: 40 km from Milas–Bodrum Airport by road; taxis, buses, private transfers.
Main Attractions: Roman shipwreck, reefs, caves, fish life, and dive schools.
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Bodrum Experience The Epitome Of Luxury
4. Marmaris
Photo: Arif Sipahi / Wikimedia Commons
Marmaris is the best area in Turkey for diving. It is a place where calm waters, ancient treasures, and sea creatures all merge to offer you an unforgettable experience. The area is full of great spots for both people who are new to the sport and those who are skilled and have been diving for a long time. There are reefs, caverns, and shipwrecks of different depths, so anyone can get to know the sea in their own way. Just to name a few, the sub-aquatic amphora fields might be the most fascinating places, since here we meet the wreckage of Roman amphoras lying on the seabed, telling the story of the ancient seas and trade routes.
How To Reach: 95 km from Dalaman Airport; easily available taxis and buses.
Main Attractions: Amphoras fields, caves, reefs, fish, and historic wrecks.
5. Ayvalık
Photo: Maurice Flesier / Wikimedia Commons
Ayvalık on Turkey’s Aegean coast is one of the finest scuba diving destinations in Turkey, famous for clear water and reefs of limestone. Far too often underemphasized, Ayvalık is a gem waiting to be found with crystal-clear diving locations ideal for all diver levels. There are shallow reefs full of colourful sponges suitable for beginners, and deeper tunnels and caverns for the thrill-seeking divers. Sea life is abundant with sea urchins, groupers, octopuses, starfish, and the occasional sea turtle, making memories. The peaceful and protected coastline is perfect for leisurely dives and photography underwater.
How To Reach: 30 km from Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport; taxi and shuttle services.
Main Attractions: Soft corals, fish, reef, and an underwater photography spot.
Suggested Read: Turkey Travel Guide
6. Gökova Bay
Photo: Oregon State University/ Wikimedia Commons
Gökova Bay is a sea reserve and Turkey’s top scuba diving destination because the waters are protected and full of lively sea creatures. One of the most popular scuba diving locations in Turkey, it boasts pristine coral reefs, underground caves, and secret underwater tunnels that attract divers of every level. The bay is nurturing groupers, scorpionfish, starfish, and multicoloured sponges, and a paradise for marine life fans and underwater photographers. The protected status of the zone ensures healthy marine life with little or no human influence. Arranged dives can be reserved through locally based dive centres, courses and equipment hire
How To Reach: Road distance of 160 km from Dalaman Airport; taxi and shuttle services.
Main Attractions: Coral reefs, underwater tunnels, caverns, sea life, and conservation areas.
7. Kalkan
Photo: Alexander van Loon / Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
One of Turkey’s most popular diving spots, Gökova Bay, is a very biodiverse protected body of water. The bay abounds in coral reefs, submarine passages, and deep caves and is a destination for world-class diving in Turkey for entry-level to experienced scuba divers. The reefs are smothered in sponges in hues of multi-colour, starfish, scorpion fishes, and groupers, and it is heaven for sea fans and photographers. The bay has a low conservation status, hence minimal human disturbance, thereby providing room for sea animals to grow in their natural habitat. There are facilities around the locality that provide guided dives, training courses, and equipment available to be rented.
How To Reach: 160 km by road from Dalaman Airport; taxi and private transfer facilities.
Main Attractions: Aquarium Bay, underwater caves, reefs, sea life, scenic coastline.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Turkey
8. Side
Photo: NoX / Wikimedia Commons
Side is an ancient treasure on the Mediterranean coast and an ideal place to experience scuba diving in Turkey. Being one of the best places to scuba dive in Turkey, Side is a combination of sea life and underwater archaeological sites. Some of the things that the divers get to observe are the underwater ruins of old temples, the amphora groves, and the intricate rock formations with corals and sea animals covering them. The calm waters and shallow dive sites make it a great place for the inexperienced, but deeper wreck sites welcome experienced divers.
How To Reach: 65 km by road from Antalya Airport; taxi and transfer service on offer.
Main Attractions: Amphora fields, ancient ruins, reefs, sea life, and underwater photo shoots.
9. Datça
Photo: Christian1311 / Wikimedia Commons
Datça is an unspoiled dive location on Turkey’s southern coast and one of Turkey’s premier scuba diving locations for divers who want to dive in peaceful waters and vibrant sea life. Renowned for its rock reefs and breathtaking underwater scenery, Datça offers a peaceful but action-packed dive experience. One of its best dive locations is Almond Cove and Canyons, where divers get to explore through cave dives, swim through underwater arches, and marvel at schools of fish, sea cucumbers, and sponges. Sea creatures abound and are diverse, with octopus, groupers, and an occasional loggerhead turtle making appearances.
How To Reach: 130 km road trip from Dalaman Airport; private transfers and taxis.
Main Attractions: Almond Cove, reefs, caves, fish life, and underwater archways.
Suggested Read: Explore The Most Interesting Places To Visit Near Turkey For Your Next Trip
10. Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park
Photo: Kırmızı / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Gallipoli, also famous as part of history in World War I, has one of Turkey’s most fascinating scuba diving locations as well. Gallipoli Historical Underwater Park boasts more than a dozen locations to dive where divers may view pieces of sea battles and pieces of antique artefacts dating back hundreds of years. One of Turkey’s top scuba diving sites, Gallipoli, has a historical dive for history buffs and divers. Its main attractions are the 480 BCE amphora fields and the wrecks of the Dardanelles campaign.
How To Reach: By vehicle, 95 km from Çanakkale Airport; by bus and taxi.
Main Attractions: Amphora fields, warship wrecks, ancient buildings, reefs, and sea life.
Every dive tells a story with scuba diving in Turkey. Ancient shipwrecks, vibrant reefs, and mysterious caves create unforgettable underwater experiences. With clear waters and diverse marine life, Turkey has become a top destination for divers worldwide. Plan your next adventure with TripXL and discover the hidden treasures beneath the surface while exploring the country’s rich blend of nature, history, and underwater wonder.
Cover Photo: Francesco Ungaro / Pexels / Image For Representation Only
