Reefwander

Kalkan · Turkey · Reef

Heybeli

Lycian and Ottoman anchors among broken amphora

A remoter islet off Kalkan whose sheltered east side once served ancient sailing vessels as an anchorage out of the prevailing westerly winds. Almost the whole perimeter is shallow enough for beginners, and the seabed still holds anchors and pottery from those centuries.

Also known as Heybeli Ada, Heybeli Ada Reef.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Heybeli: typical dive 5–17 m (15–56 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit5 m17 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

36.2022° N, 29.4376° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The reef on the east side of Heybeli Island runs from 5 m down to 17 m. Old Lycian and Ottoman anchors and broken amphora lie on the seabed here, left by the vessels that waited out the westerlies in the lee of the island.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Heybeli
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFair

Season follows Kalkan: The sea warms abruptly in late May or early June and stays warm into November; winter water drops to about 16 °C.

Questions divers ask

Is Heybeli suitable for beginners?+

Yes. Almost the entire perimeter of the islet is a beginner dive, and the reef on the east side runs from 5 m to 17 m.

Sources

  1. Heybeli Ada Reef dive site — PADI
  2. Kalkan and around — Rough Guides

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