Kuşadası is a beach resort on Turkey's central Aegean coast, 95 km south of Izmir, and its gulf holds a compact set of dive sites served by daily boats from the marina. The set piece is an Airbus A300 airliner sunk in 2016 as an artificial reef. Around it lie the offshore bank of Ada Banko, the paired caves of Ada Kule and Yılancı Burnu, the best-known site in town. Seven dive centres work the bay, and diving runs in every month of the year.
About diving in Kuşadası
Diving at Kuşadası is boat-based. Boats leave the marina every day with professional guides aboard and run out to the dive points in the gulf. Centres take people who have never dived as well as certified divers: introductory dives stay between 5 and 7 m and last 20 to 25 minutes, and they are the main use of Yılancı Burnu, which lies very close to the marina.
The gulf mixes natural sites with artificial ones: the Airbus A300 and the Kadınlar Denizi artificial reef sit alongside banks and caves. On the north side of Ada Banko the reef edge allows a free descent to 15 m and continues down toward 40 m. The first cave at Ada Kule runs about 19 m to a spot where the surface shows overhead, and the second is larger and wider. Loggerhead turtles swim in the gulf.
Kuşadası suits new divers and those building experience: the best-known site runs from the shoreline to 18 m, and the shallow clear water is used for first dives. More experienced divers have the caves at Ada Kule, the deeper edge of Ada Banko and dives to the volcanic springs. The clean water gives wide visibility, and the Airbus wreck has drawn professional divers to the town from other countries.
Best time to dive Kuşadası
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Dives run in all twelve months, and no single month stands out as the best time to come.
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Dive types & marine life
Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) live in the gulf, and divers on the daily boats have a chance of swimming with them. A seal in the second Ada Kule cave is a matter of luck. Neither animal has a known peak month.
- Wreck
- Reef
- Cave & cavern
- Sea turtles
- Seals & sea lions
Best dive sites in Kuşadası
- 1
Airbus A300
Airliner 54 m long with a 44 m wingspan, sunk in June 2016 as an artificial reef.
- 2
Ada Banko
Offshore bank 1.5 to 2 km from shore, its top at 5 m.
- 3
Ada Kule Cave
Two caves, the first at 9 m; a seal sometimes turns up in the larger second one.
Site guides
Reef
A reef edge on the north side that falls away from 15 m toward 40 m
Cave & cavern
A second, wide cave where a seal sometimes rests
Wreck
A full-size airliner with a 44 m wingspan on the gulf floor
The bay where most of Kuşadası's try dives take place
How to get to Kuşadası
IZBAN suburban trains run every hour or two from Izmir via Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) to Selçuk, 20 km northeast of Kuşadası, and direct buses from Istanbul take 9 to 10 hours via Izmir and Selçuk. The dive boats leave from the marina.
Dive videos
Reef Dive Kuşadası / Aydın / Turkey · Diver Bees Dive Center Kuşadası / Türkiye on YouTube
Kuşadası Dalış/ Kuşadası Diving Türkiye / Dalış / Turkey Diving · Diver Bees Dive Center Kuşadası / Türkiye on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can someone who has never dived try it in Kuşadası?+
Yes. Introductory dives for first-timers run between 5 and 7 m and last 20 to 25 minutes, with a professional guide on the boat from the marina.
Is diving possible in Kuşadası in winter?+
Yes. Dives run in all twelve months, but the sea falls to about 15 °C (59 °F) in February against 26 °C (79 °F) in August, so winter diving calls for a much thicker suit.
Who are the Ada Kule caves suited to?+
Cavern dives are offered to more experienced divers. The first cave runs about 19 m from its entrance at 9 m to a point where the surface is visible overhead.
Sources
- Kuşadası - Wikivoyage — Wikivoyage
- Dalış turizminin yeni adresi Kuşadası — Haber 7
- Kuşadası deniz altı güzellikleriyle dalış tutkunlarını büyülüyor — Haber 7
- Yilanci Burnu — SSI
- Kusadasi Diving Center — Kusadasi Diving Center
- Active Blue Dive Centre — Active Blue
- Kuşadası Average Sea Temperatures — SeaTemperature.org
- Adakule Cave — ScubaGo
- Kuşadası'nda dalış turizminde hareketlilik başladı — İstiklal
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