Red Sponge – Saros, Aegean Sea

Diving conditions are excellent throughout the diving season (April to November) – and clear blue water with visibility of up to 30 metres is the norm.  The underwater landsape is varied with reefs, walls, drop offs and caverns.  marine life may not be a 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 nudibranches grazing on marine plants and a variet of other mollucs – including the octopi who are the masters 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.

Nudibranch – Kara Ada, Bodrum

If you would like to see an archaeological shipwreck, then a visit to Bordrum Castle; which houses the maritime archaeology museum, is advised.  The keep 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 travelling from abroad due to lack of fully equipped dive organizations or the logistics of reaching the site.  Diving off the beaten track locations still appeals to many divers and it is envisages that many of these sites will become available to divers traveling to Turkey in the future.

For more information, please email barefoottravel@barefoot-travel.com