Datça & the Knidos Peninsula · Turkey · Reef
Atabol
Two reef heads under a light buoy, half a mile off the mainland
Atabol is an offshore shoal west of the Atabol light near Hisarönü Bay, half a mile off the Turkish mainland in front of the Greek island of Symi. Its top lies between 10 and 20 m under a light buoy, and divers come for its gin-clear water and the rich variety of fauna over the reef heads.
Also known as Atabol Beacon, Atabol Reef, Atabol Lighthouse, Atabol Feneri.
Where it is and how deep
36.6764° N, 27.9608° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The shoal is about a kilometre wide, and the dive centres on its two reef heads beneath the light buoy. Sand with broken stones covers the top between 10 and 20 m. Around the outer rim the shoal meets sand at 45 to 50 m and keeps going into deeper water, which is the part only more advanced divers should visit.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Datça & the Knidos Peninsula: In April and May large shoals of picarel (izmarit) gather over the shoal to spawn.
Know before you go
- Diving here is possible only on windless days with a flat sea.
Dive videos
Barracudas - Atabol Dive Place, OKYANUS BLUE LIVEABOARD -TÜRKİYE · Okyanus Blue Liveaboard on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When do fish shoals gather at Atabol?+
In April and May, when picarel (izmarit) collect over the shoal in large schools to spawn.
Can Atabol be dived from shore?+
No. Atabol is reached only by charter boat, and liveaboard cruises from Bozburun or Marmaris stop here.
Sources
- Turkish delight: liveaboard cruise to Datca — Divernet
- Atabol — ScubaGo
- 10 best diving spots in Turkey — Tekneveyat
- Türkiye’nin en güzel 10 dalış noktası — Hürriyet
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