Mediterranean · Bulgaria
Varna & Cape Kaliakra
Warship wrecks and sea caves along Bulgaria's northern Black Sea coast
Bulgaria's northern Black Sea coast runs from the port of Varna past Cape Galata to the cliffs of Cape Kaliakra and Tyulenovo. World War II wrecks and older ones lie along it: the minelayer Regele Carol I and a submarine rest off Cape Galata, and old ships cut for scrap still sit in the bay at Rezishteto. North of Kaliakra, the red cliffs at Tyulenovo are cut with caves, and remains of medieval ships lie north of the cape.
About diving in Varna & Cape Kaliakra
Diving here works from Varna by day boat or from shore on guided beach dives. Briefings are given on the ride out, and the trips span reefs, wrecks, drift dives and night dives. The northern sites split the same way: Cape Kaliakra and Bolata bay are boat dives, while Tyulenovo is a shore and cave dive. Diving is forbidden off Cape Shabla, where a sunken Russian submarine is surrounded by mines from both world wars that are still active.
Off Cape Galata, warship wrecks from World War II lie on the seabed, among them a submarine at 25 m. North of Kaliakra, the remains of medieval ships and a range of underwater caves lie along the shore, and at Tyulenovo the red cliffs are riddled with caves above transparent water. Seahorses, bluefish, Black Sea turbot and common stingrays live on the reefs and wrecks.
The coast suits wreck divers first: foreign visitors come to Bulgaria to see the ships sunk in its waters, and the country is still emerging as a dive destination. Beginners have Rezishteto, and Varna centres teach NAUI and CMAS courses from beginner to Master Scuba Diver. Short trips carry a risk, since the sea does not allow diving every day.
Best time to dive Varna & Cape Kaliakra
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair |
The diving season runs from April to November. Spring dives come in water still climbing from the winter low, when February averages about 7 °C. June to September is the best stretch of the year, and by August the sea averages close to 25 °C. October and November close the season as the water cools again. December to March lies outside the season, although reef and wreck trips from Varna run year-round.
Dive types & marine life
Seahorses, bluefish, Black Sea turbot and common stingrays are the species to look for on the reefs and wrecks off Varna. Cape Kaliakra is a nature reserve where dolphins and cormorants can be observed.
- Wreck
- Cave & cavern
- Stingrays
Best dive sites in Varna & Cape Kaliakra
- 1
Rezishteto
Bay 3 km north of Tyulenovo where old ships were cut for scrap; the bottom slopes gently to the hulls.
- 2
Regele Carol I
Minelayer that hit a mine in 1941, now lying at 23.5 m off Galata Burnu lighthouse.
- 3
Tyulenovo
Red cliffs dropping more than 20 m to the sea, with clear water at their foot.
Site guides
Wreck
A First World War destroyer broken in two by a Bulgarian mine
Wreck
A 1941 minelayer, sunk by a mine of the kind it carried
Small canyons and caverns cut into a shallow rocky bay
How to get to Varna & Cape Kaliakra
Varna Airport sits 8 km west of the city centre, off the A2 motorway. Cape Kaliakra lies 60 km northeast of Varna and 12 km east of Kavarna, and Tyulenovo and Rezishteto lie farther north along the coast.
Questions divers ask
Can beginners dive on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast?+
Yes. At Rezishteto, north of Tyulenovo, the bottom slopes smoothly down to the wrecks, and Varna offers discover dives and a two-day course that certifies divers to 12 m.
Is anywhere on this coast closed to divers?+
Yes. Diving is not allowed off Cape Shabla, where mines from both world wars still lie around a sunken submarine.
Are there caves to dive near Cape Kaliakra?+
North of the cape the coast has a range of underwater caves alongside medieval ship remains, and Tyulenovo is dived from shore for its caves.
Sources
- Diving Courses - Black Sea Diving Center — Black Sea Diving Center
- Locations - RockDiving — RockDiving
- SCUBA Diving in Bulgaria — SCUBA Travel
- Varna - Wikivoyage — Wikivoyage
- Cape Kaliakra - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
- Varna average sea temperatures — SeaTemperature.org
- Sunken Ships, Submerged Plane Attract Foreign Tourists to Bulgarian Black Sea — BTA
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