If you need an activity where you can listen to yourself by getting away from the noise of the city and the stress of business life, you should definitely try diving sports. Under the deep waters, and in a vast silence, you will soon feel cleansed and return home refreshed. We have brought together the subtleties of scuba diving, the most suitable points for this sport in Türkiye, and the equipment you may need for scuba diving.
Diving, the origin of which dates back to very ancient times, was initially used to land treasures on sinking ships, and turned into a hobby and a profession in time. Diving, which is the choice of particularly the people who are fond of freedom and love adventure, is also an attractive escape activity as it does not require any special skills. It may take some time for those who have just started diving to be able to swim underwater and get used to the equipment. When the important aspects that need to be taken into account during diving are well understood, each dive can turn into a new adventure. Those who gain experience by the time, on the other hand, are starting underwater photography, which is considered the second step of this sport.
Necessary Equipment For Diving
Diving Tube: Diving tubes allow air to be stored underwater. The tubes are of two types as aluminum and steel tubes. Aluminum tubes are lighter on land than steel tubes. To transport and maintain them is easier. Their volume varies between 3 and 16 liters. They contain not only oxygen, but also the air that we regularly breathe, which consists of nitrogen, oxygen and other gases. For this reason, calling these tubes as “oxygen tubes” would be wrong.
Balance Vest: A balance vest looks like a kind of jacket. The diving tube is connected to this balance vest. The principle of operation of the balance vest is similar to submarines.
Regulator: Regulators reduce the high-pressure air in the tube to a pressure level that can be inhaled, ensuring comfortable and safe breathing. The regulators are also equipped with a console having a depth and air pressure indicator, a balance vest hose and a backup air supply. This vest is actually a safety equipment to prevent possible accidents.
Snorkel: The snorkel is shaped like a curved tube with a soft texture that provides air control. It is designed to reach to the diving points and reduce air consumption. A good snorkel should have a soft curve, and an average length of 40 cm.
Flipper: It is used for comfortable movement and acceleration at the bottom of the water during diving. It provides easy movement under the water and offers neutral buoyancy control. Scuba divers prefer open flippers. They are used as the feet get cold during deep dives.
The 5 Best Diving Spots in Türkiye
Kaş Flying Fish – Antalya
Flying Fish, one of the most important factors in the recognition of Kas as the Red Sea of Türkiye, is a popular diving spot. The region, which is the most suitable spot to see groupers, which are among the endangered species in our country, is also a frequented point of Caretta Carettas. The top of the reef located between Meis Island and Kas is 6-7 meters, and the depth is 75 meters or more. The clean and clear water structure especially attracts underwater photographers and video shooters. During the dives here, you are open to all kinds of surprises; a stingray or a Caretta Caretta can be spotted at any time.
Bodrum Big Reef – Mugla
It is one of the most popular diving spots in Bodrum. It is suitable for licensed divers at advanced or beginner levels. The upper part of the Great Reef, which is reached only 15 minutes after sailing off Bodrum, starts from about 4 meters and deepens to 28-32 meters. Octopuses and gray breams welcome the divers in the shallow water, while amberjacks, groupers, sea breams and moray eels are spotted in the deeper points. The sponge formations that occur along the wall are also fascinating.
An adventure that turns into a visual festival in the peaceful waters of the azure sea: Diving.
Fethiye Afkule – Mugla
Afkule is a suitable diving point for experienced divers. Afkule, which has a maximum depth of about 50 meters, is considered the best diving place in Fethiye. Soft corals, trumpet anemones, lettuce corals, sea eggplants and lace corals of different forms can be spotted better when you go deeper by drawing spirals from inside the cave.
Ayvalik Deli Mehmet – Balikesir
Deli Mehmet, one of the best diving spots in Türkiye, may be a “dream place” for new beginners. Since it is a deep diving point, it welcomes only the divers with advanced diving experience. Deli Mehmet consists of two separate underwater hills ranging from about 19 to 45 meters. Thanks to the red corals called “gorgonia”, a unique landscape emerges with various shades of red and purple.
Kalkan, Open Sea – Antalya
The Kalkan open sea, where you can find two attraction centers together, namely the Sakarya shipwreck and the British cargo ship wreck, are quite rich in underwater plants. When you go down a canyon-shaped crevice, you can reach these wrecks where all kinds of fish live. The wrecks are located at a depth of between 15 and 65 meters. Kalkan, which offers diving options for divers of all levels, is often preferred due to the fact that the underwater temperature is suitable for diving for 12 months of the year.
