Mediterranean · Georgia
Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
Wrecks off Kvariati and drift dives along Rock Alley at the Turkish border
Georgia's sea diving is concentrated in southern Adjara, on the Black Sea strip between Batumi and the Turkish border, with sites at Gonio, Kvariati and Sarpi. Kvariati is known for its sunken ships, among them the Vladimir Pachulia; a sunken mussel farm lies between Gonio and Kvariati, and Rock Alley at Sarpi is known for its drift dives. There is no coral: wrecks, rocky terrain and uncrowded water close to shore are what bring divers here.
About diving in Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
Batumi is the base most dives launch from: its centres rent out gear, run boat trips and teach courses, and the trips out from shore are short. At Kvariati the diving starts from the beach itself, with dives typically launching from its far end, near the rocks below the mountain. Visibility follows the weather: the water is clearer on calm, clear days and noticeably worse after a storm or heavy rain.
The Black Sea has no corals and no tropical fish. The rocky shoreline supplies the terrain instead: rocks covered in mussels and seaweed, with crabs, shrimp and small fish among them, and beyond the popular spots a sandy bottom that divers jokingly call the lunar surface. Kvariati is known above all for its sunken ships; one of them, a pleasure boat sunk deliberately for diving, sits at around 15 m.
The coast suits newcomers and travellers who want to pair a dive with the mountains in the same day. Introduction dives run at Kvariati, and courses go from Open Water Diver to Divemaster under PADI and SDI standards. Rock Alley gives experienced divers something more: its drift dives take solid skills, because the current does not forgive mistakes. The water is cool, greenish and fairly murky, and people dive here for the sunken ships and the terrain, not for vivid colour.
Best time to dive Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair |
The water bottoms out at about 9 °C in March, and winter diving is only for experienced divers in dry suits. The season proper starts in late June and runs through September. August brings the warmest water, near 27 °C, but it is also peak beach season, hot and crowded with boats and swimmers. September is the best trade-off: the water holds August's warmth, the crowds thin out and visibility on calm, clear days is often good, although September and October are among the rainiest months on the coast. October still works in a thicker wetsuit as the water cools noticeably.
Dive types & marine life
Dolphins occasionally show up near the coast, a welcome surprise rather than something to plan around. Jellyfish, especially the larger barrel jellyfish, can sting.
- Wreck
- Drift
- Reef
Best dive sites in Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
- 1
Vladimir Pachulia
Ship sunk as an artificial reef on the Gonio–Kvariati line to draw marine life
- 2
Rock Alley
Rocky formations at Sarpi cut by channels and passages, with drift dives to 30 m
- 3
Sunken mussel farm
Old farm structures on the seabed between Gonio and Kvariati, grown into a home for marine life
- 4
Tsikhisdziri
Site between Batumi and Kobuleti of interest for underwater archaeology
Site guides
Reef
Channels and passages cut through rock at the Turkish border
Artificial reef
Old mussel-farm structures turned into a home for marine life
How to get to Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
Batumi International Airport (BUS) is 2 km south of the city. Marshrutkas run from Tbilisi Square in Batumi to Sarpi, at the Turkish border, in about 20 min.
Photos from Batumi & the Adjarian Coast
Vitaly Zdanevich · CC BY 4.0
Questions divers ask
Is there coral in the Black Sea off Batumi?+
No. The Black Sea has no corals and no tropical fish; the sunken ships at Kvariati, the mussel farm and the rock terrain at Sarpi are what divers come for.
Can divers without certification try diving near Batumi?+
Yes, as a Discover Scuba Diving trial dive: a short briefing, practice with the gear in shallow water, then a dive alongside an instructor. Introduction dives run at Kvariati.
Does rain affect diving near Batumi?+
Yes. After heavy downpours, rivers such as the Chorokhi, which reaches the sea between Batumi and Gonio, carry sediment out and cloud the water near their mouths, so a dive after dry weather sees clearer water.
Sources
- Underwater Georgia: Where to Scuba Dive and the Best Season — Madloba
- Concord Diving Club — Concord Travel
- Cave Diving Courses — CaveDiving.GE
- Diving in Georgia — TourGuide.ge
- Batumi — Wikivoyage
- Water temperature in Batumi — seatemperature.info
Photo credits
- Dark rocks and a pebble shore at the edge of calm blue sea, with a small white boat offshore and forested mountains on the left by Vitaly Zdanevich, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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