Sozopol & St. Ivan Island · Bulgaria · Reef
Underwater Stone Forest
Fossil tree trunks standing out of the sand off Sozopol
The Underwater Stone Forest off Sozopol is a field of ancient tree trunks that have turned to stone, proof that this seabed was once dry land. It is one of the most popular sites on the coast and can be dived from the beach or from a boat.
Also known as Stone Forest.
Where it is and how deep
42.4279° N, 27.6947° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
From the beach the route stays within 17 m. On the boat dive, at 20 m, huge tree trunks stick out of the sandy sea floor: the bases of old trees that have turned into stone where land once stood.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Sozopol & St. Ivan Island: June and July pair water that feels quite warm with the last of the seahorses; the sea stays quite warm into September and feels very cold from December to April.
Questions divers ask
Is the Stone Forest at Sozopol a shore or a boat dive?+
Both. The beach entry stays within 17 m and takes Open Water divers; the boat dive reaches the trunks at 20 m and needs an Advanced certificate.
Sources
- Diving spots – Sub Diving Sozopol — Sub Diving
- Dive sites near Sozopol, Bulgaria — Sozopol Diving Center
- Stone Forest — ScubaGo
More dive sites in Sozopol & St. Ivan Island
Wreck
A 1964 fishing vessel sunk off Sozopol as an artificial reef
Reef
A living reef that fishing nets cannot work
A cavern at St. Ivan Island open to Open Water divers
Wreck
A fishing boat scuttled beside St. Ivan Island, now coated in mussels
Wreck
A 1941 mine casualty, one of Bulgaria's best-known wrecks
Cave & cavern
A one-diver-wide tunnel into a cave in the Ropotamo reserve
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