Diving in Kas, Turkey

Between Dalaman and Antalya lies the small town Kaş. With a bit less than 6,000 inhabitants, Kaş is situated between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. This laid back little town of the Turkish Riviera offers great food, a friendly atmosphere, and a relaxing vibe, but above all, Kaş is becoming a popular destination for divers, a gem within the country.

The unspoiled Kaş may not be among the top destinations for diving in the World, but it certainly is among the best in Turkey. There are approximately 50 dive sites around the little town, all reachable within a maximum of 30 minutes by boat, where is possible to find from wrecks to caves and canyons.

In these beautiful waters of the Mediterranean Sea, you can expect to see antique amphoras with centuries of existence, ships and airplanes wrecks both sunken in purpose or accidentally, found at depth varying from 18m to 65m. Currents are common depending on the dive site.

The marine life surprisingly offers a great amount of turtles of different species and sizes, octopuses, jack fish, soldierfish, Barracudas, brasses, groupers, nudibranches, moray eels, stingrays and other types of fish. Rocks, sea grass and corals are often seen in its underwater landscape.

Some of the famous dive sites in Kaş are:

The Canyon 

Neptune Reef

Lighthouse - Dakota Wreck

Pigeon Island 

The water temperature in Kaş varies between 17C and 28C, where the warmest months are July, August and September. It is possible to dive in Kaş all year round, but as expected, July and August are the busiest months, when the boats can be crowded. There are almost no rainy days in Kaş, and the sun shines almost all year round, and the water visibility can reach up to 40m.

There are over 15 diving centers in town offering from basic to advanced courses, however it is important to notice that not all of them offer Nitrox. Prices are very affordable, and the majority of the diving centers offer the entire gear included in the price of a package.

Kaş is often called "the adventure capital of the Mediterranean", as apart from diving, other activities such as kayaking, paragliding, trekking, mountain-biking and cannoning are very common in the city.

The hustle to get to Kaş is the reason why this place is still a gem: it is necessary to fly to Dalaman's - most recommended - or to Antalya's international airports, then drive through the mountains for 2 and half hours to reach the town. Most diving centers, if not all, offer the service of booking transfers and/or accommodations if required.

Tourism is the main source of income in Kaş, and as the town becomes more famous among tourists and divers, it will only tend to grow. The thing is: go dive in Kaş before it becomes too crowded.