lt is only in recent years that the Turkish Riviera has become a popular destination for divers from Europe. In tune with the growth of tourism across the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, diving centres have mushroomed in most holidays resorts making this coastline increasingly accessible to scuba divers. Dive centres concentrate primarily on training, and many a holidaymaker has been seduced by the silent world after an impromptu dive during a vacation in Bodrum or Marmaris. The choice of diving available, however, is quite varied and will appeal to experienced divers with differing interests.

                                                   Red sponge - Saros, Aegean Sea

Diving conditions are excellent throughout the diving season -April to November- and clear blue waters with viz. of up to 30 metre is the norm. The underwater landscape is varied with reefs, walls, drop-offs and caverns. Marine life may not be as profuse as that found in tropical seas but on most dives one will encounter a range of species of fish including groupers, morays, sting rays, and bream. The observant diver will spot different types of nudibranchs grazing on marine plants and a variety of other molluscs - some like the octopi not as tiny but master of camouflage.
The area is rich with underwater historical artifacts. Coming across a pile of broken amphora or ancient pottery underwater is always an exhilarating experience -a close encounter with the history of these shores.

Nudibranch - Kara Ada, Bodrum

But if you would like to see an archaeological shipwreck, then a visit to the Bodrum Castle which houses the maritime archaeology museum is advised. The keel of a bronze age vessel and artifacts recovered from various wreck sites is pretty impressive. Underwater archaeological sites, however, are strictly controlled and diving at these sites is not open to the sport diver.

There are also parts of the coast less accessible to diving, especially when traveling from abroad, often due to the lack of fully equipped local dive organisations or the logistics of reaching the site. Diving off the beaten track locations does nonetheless appeal to many divers and it is envisaged that many of these sites will in the future become available to divers traveling to Turkey. Other variations, such as two-centre or liveaboard diving holidays have also been introduced in recent years by a number of dive operators.