Reefwander

Kuşadası · Turkey · Wreck · Artificial reef

Airbus A300

A full-size airliner with a 44 m wingspan on the gulf floor

An Airbus A300 airliner sunk off the Davutlar coast in 2016 as an artificial reef to draw divers to the Kuşadası gulf. At 54 m long with a 44 m wingspan it is among the largest sunken aircraft in the world, and it rests at 22 m.

Also known as Neopolis Airbus A300, Airbus A 300.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Airbus A300: typical dive to 22 m (to 72 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit22 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

37.7330° N, 27.2944° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The aircraft lies at 22 m off the Davutlar shore, where it was brought out from Güzelçamlı after being assembled on the beach. The airframe is 54 m long and its wings span 44 m, so the fuselage and both wings together make a large structure to explore.

The wreck

Vessel
Airbus A300
Type
Airliner
Length
54 m (177 ft)
Sunk
2016
Cause
Bought by Aydın Metropolitan Municipality and sunk deliberately as an artificial reef for diving tourism
Lies
On the seabed at 22 m off the Davutlar coast

Aydın Metropolitan Municipality acquired the Airbus A300 and brought it from Istanbul in pieces on five trucks to the Güzelçamlı shore. The parts were assembled there, and the plane set out from Güzelçamlı and was sunk off Davutlar on 4 June 2016 in a ceremony attended by the municipality's mayor, Özlem Çerçioğlu. The aim was to promote artificial-reef diving and bring diving tourism to the region.

Marine life and season

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

Month-by-month season rating for Airbus A300
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Kuşadası: Dives run in all twelve months, and no single month stands out as the best time to come.

Dive videos

Kuşadası Airbus A300 Batık Dalışı · Tağmaç Saraçoğlu on YouTube

Neopolis Airbus A300 Tuna Fishes · Tağmaç Saraçoğlu on YouTube

Questions divers ask

How big is the Airbus A300 wreck off Kuşadası?+

The airliner is 54 m long with a 44 m wingspan, and it rests at 22 m off the Davutlar coast, where it was sunk in 2016.

Sources

  1. Aydın'da uçak batığı turistlerin ilgi odağı oluyor — CNN Türk (DHA)
  2. Turkey sinks Airbus jet to boost diving tourism — Hürriyet Daily News
  3. Kusadasi Diving Center — Kusadasi Diving Center

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