Located on Turkey’s Southwest coast along the Mediterranean, Antalya is among the world's most popular destinations. The fourth most visited city in the world, and with a population of just over 1 million people, it is Turkey's eighth largest city and is a well-regarded international resort. The area features a number of fantastic dive sites; let's take a look at just one wrecks, plus two of the best caves the area has to offer, just to whet your appetite for more.
New Wreck
Called the New Wreck because it is one of the newest in the area, this diminutive old customs boat is just 24 meters long and 5 meters wide. Surrounded by a field of eight hundred amphorae and another two hundred concrete blocks that shelter a wealth of marine life, this wreck is more interesting for its occupants then for its history. Here you will find lots of soldier fish, many wrasse, bream, barracuda, and others, along with shy octopus that do their best to blend in and manage to cram themselves into the many amphorae that shelter them, along with some good-sized Moray eels, lobsters, crabs, and other creatures of every description. Depth here range from 24 to 27 meters, making the site ideal for intermediate divers and above.
Rambo Cave
An absolutely splendid cave where you can see rippling flowstone and stalactites hanging from the ceiling, Rambo Cave is located near Cleopatra Beach. It is approximately 25 minutes by boat from the harbor. To access the cave, you must first dive to a depth of 13 meters, then follow a tunnel for 6 to 7 meters; after this, you'll find yourself inside the cave which features a pocket of fresh air from the outside which is safe to breathe. In some places the ceiling is 10 m above the water, and in others, the overhead is so low that you could reach up and touch it if you wanted to. Occasionally you can meet a resident seal nicknamed Zehra inside the cave. Be sure to bring a good light so that you can see the many magnificent cave formations inside. Visibility inside the cave is excellent; be sure to use careful finning techniques to avoid stirring up the sandy bottom and causing visibility to drop.
Pirate Cave
An outstanding site for all divers, Pirate Cave is located only about 10 minutes from the harbor. In addition to the cave itself, there is a wreck located at a depth of 25 meters. Maximum depth here is 32 meters, however, you only need to dive to a depth of 12 meters to access the cave’s opening, which is very large. At the entrance to the cave, you will see an ancient millstone a meter across propped up against the wall. Once inside the cave, you will find yourself swimming among colorful rocks that reflect the rays of your dive light. After swimming for a short distance, you'll find that you're able to ascend and surface inside the cave, which is filled with fresh air and which is home to a colony of bats. When back outside the cave, you can explore the walls which are composed of magnificent rock formations; watch for groupers, octopus, barracuda, and many other fish and shellfish, along with the occasional thornback ray.
Topside, incredible historic sites, including Hadrian’s Gate, the Fluted Minaret, and the fabled Hidrlic Tower that sits where the city’s walls adjoin the seawalls, and which was built during the second century, CE for use as both a fortress and a lighthouse await. With so much to see and do on land, and with such a variety of splendid dive sites, Antalya is truly a magical destination.