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Turkey, a scuba diving paradise
Turkey, a scuba diving paradise
Deep, calm and soothing waters, numerous ancient underwater cities, centenary old shipwrecks and vivid aquatic life make Turkey one of the best vacation spots for adventurous scuba divers. The Anatolian lands and its surrounding turquoise-hued seas are paradises for prominent divers. Click through for four diving sites in Turkey that you definitely should not miss, compiled by İnci Hazal Özcan:
Deli Mehmet-Ayvalık: Deli Mehmet, located in the Ayvalık district of western Balıkesir province, is one of the most famous diving sites in Turkey. Known for its abundant sources of red corals, only advanced divers are advised to plunge into this unparalleled site due to its 70-meter depth. It is highly possible to encounter many aquatic species such as groupers, octopuses and rocklings.
Small Reef-Bodrum: Small Reef, located in the Bodrum summer resort of Aegean Muğla, may not be as deep as other sites yet what it lacks in depth, it makes up in its abundant sources of underwater fauna and flora. Diving in the Small Reef will provide colorful images of aquatic life with its prolific species such as leer fish, black breams and barracudas. Thanks to its shallow waters, divers with any experience level can enjoy the Small Reef.
Orak Island-Bodrum: Orak Island, located in the serene Aegean Sea, provides a magnificent diving journey to its visitors by dint of its splendid underwater topography. One of the largest islands in the Gulf of Gökova, this unprecedented natural heritage contains lively sea sponges and mysterious caves in its over 100-meter-deep waters. Even though it is not quite as rich in aquatic life, still, it is possible to run across stingrays and groupers.
Samandağ-Hatay: The Red Sea in the eastern Mediterranean, Samandağ, located in the southern province of Hatay along the Turkish-Syrian border is one of the favorite spots of dauntless divers. Samandağ, where you can dive any time of the year, offers hundreds of intriguing marine species and caves, including about 95 registered Lessepsian species.
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