One of the most unique and breathtakingly beautiful dive sites the Mediterranean Sea has to offer; the Rosh HaNikra Caverns have been created by the sea over millennia and can be accessed from shore. Shallow enough for all divers to enjoy, the site is overseen by the IDF Navy, and divers must be escorted by qualified guides.
About the Rosh HaNikra Caverns
Translated as “Head of the Grottoes”, Rosh HaNikra is a complete series of cavernous white tunnels which have been carved into the white chalk cliff face. Winding their way through the cliffs, with spectacular blue water creating an incredible contrast with the white stone from which they are carved, the caverns are located just 10 kilometers from Nahariya. Well known throughout human histories, the tunnels are referred to in the Bible’s Book of Joshua and many other sacred texts. The area has been a nature reserve since 1965 and includes the Rosh HaNikra Islands along with the Rosh HaNikra Beach. Non-divers can easily visit the cavern s with the aid of a cable car which is the world’s steepest, ascending at a gradient of sixty degrees. An old rail line and train tunnel are still visible to those visiting areas on shore, and guides will happily relay the area’s history to visitors.
Diving the Rosh HaNikra Caverns
In order to dive the caverns, you either need to take a boat out to the caverns’ opening, or you must exit shore near some steps carved into the rocky cliff face, and from there, swim over to the open mouth of the caverns. While maximum depth is six meters, most aspects of the dive take place in just about three meters of water.
Diving is only possible when the weather is very calm; even then, there is a possibility of currents running along the cliff face. Despite the calm appearance of the water inside the caverns, current can be a challenge outside. Once inside however, conditions tend to be incredibly calm, and it is possible to simply relax and enjoy the amazing feeling of diving deep into the face of ancient cliffs where so much history has taken place.
One of the most interesting features is the large pool inside the visitor’s center – you can surface and say hello to the tourists on the catwalk above you, if you like, and enjoy the intriguing effects the center’s lights have as the water ripples around you. Sounds are magnified above water, and you can hear some echoes as you explore, beneath the surface, particularly if a noisy group is coming through while you are diving. As you make your way through the caverns you may encounter some small fish, and on occasion, divers have spotted dolphins and seals near the wall outside.
If you hope to dive the Rosh HaNikra Grottoes, be sure to plan your trip well in advance since there are only a couple of local dive operators capable of taking divers on this trip, and the site is in high demand. Bring your camera, and prepare to be astonished!