Sucks if you forget your mask....

The helicopter hovers about 7 feet over the reef.  You’re in full scuba gear, hanging on to the door strap for the “go” signal.  Adrenaline pumping, heart racing you look up to see the pilot’s fist raise in the air, the ultimate green flag in diving, and you let go, plummeting into the depths below.  The entry is exhilarating, then you look around you at the pristine reefs and riot of fish, and your adrenaline peaks again.  This is going to be a very memorable day.

Helicopter diving, or Heli-diving, is slowly but surely increasing in popularity.  For one thing, it makes getting to a dive site a snap.  At places like the Great Barrier Reef it replaces a 90-minute boat trip out to the reef with a quick 10-15 minute scenic flight. The view over the reef before the dive is incredible, giving you a bird’s eye glimpse of the coral maze below.  And, of course, there’s the accompanying adrenaline rush that few other activities could produce.  You’ll have to pay up for the experience; it is definitely not cheap.  But, this is one of those once in a lifetime experiences that takes the sport of scuba to a new extreme.

The number of dive operators offering this experience is increasing. You can explore the Great Barrier Reef, Phuket’s Anemone Reef and Phi Phi Islands, and a number of reefs and wrecks in Curacao, to name but a few.  If you are looking for a more rigorous experience, Global Rescue offers a PADI course in helo-casting or deplaning (hover exit) from a helicopter for both rescue swimmers and Search & Rescue Divers for the SCUBA industry.  No matter how you go about it, it’s sure to be the dive of a lifetime.

One of the lorries on the deck of the Zenobia Wreck

Wreck diving offers a unique twist to the sport – the opportunity to see manmade achievements superimposed on the underwater world.  Whether intentionally sunk or not, these structures provide a playground for ocean creatures and divers alike.  Below are some of our favorite wreck dives here at Scuba-dive.org.

The Thistlegorm, The Umbria, Mid-East Gulf Region –  Many novice divers visit Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt to enjoy some of the most colorful coral reefs in the world, but few are aware of the fascinating wreck diving that is also available here. The Thistlegorm, a British Merchant Navy ship that was sunk by German bombers in WWII, was bombed and sank here in 1941, forever destined to become a fascinating dive site rich in marine life. The 400ft long container ship filled with motorbikes, Bedford trucks and even Lee Enfield rifles sank when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards (rather like opening a tin of sardines) giving divers an inside display of the ships merchandise. This Red Sea dive site has got plenty to see both inside and out, with plenty of marine life around. Sightings of hammer-heads, jacks, trevallies and huge napoleon wrasses are reported here. The only drawback is the site’s busy nature, as it is not uncommon for 20 dive boats stationed above the wreck at a time. In neighboring Sudan, the Italian cargo ship Umbria was scuttled by its crew in 1940 at Wingate Reef after an attack by the British and hit the seabed along with its cargo of unexploded bombs, Fiat Lagunas and wine bottles. Both of these wrecks make up the most interesting dive sites to be found in the Gulf region.

The Blackjack, the SS President Coolidge, South Pacific – Some of the best kept secrets of World War Two lie immortalized beneath the Pacific Ocean. Off the shores of Papua New Guinea at Milne Bay lies the site of Blackjack, a former B17 Bomber aircraft and an intrepid former member of the US 5th Air Force. In 1943 the aircraft took off to attack the Japanese airstrip at Rabaul but crashed into the sea after hitting severe thunderstorms, leaving a relic which even today has remained almost intact. Papua New Guinea’s crystal clear waters and this mint condition aircraft wreck make it a topnotch spot to experience. At Vanuatu in the South Pacific, the SS President Coolidge offers several excellent dive sites of varying depths. Built originally as a luxury cruise liner, the vessel was being used to ferry reinforcements to nearby US bases during the second world war, before the explosion of two mines close to the island’s harbor heralded its final demise to the seabed.  This massive luxury liner, built in 1931 converted into a Second World War troop ship, is more than 600ft long.  Divers can explore it on both shallow and deep dives. To see the whole ship in its entire majestic splendor sitting at the bottom on the sea bed would require at least 10 dives. What you can expect to see other than the ship itself are heaps of military gear including howitzer cannons, a 10-wheel General Motors Corporation truck, jeeps, tracked vehicles, steering wheels and tires.

Fujikawa Maru, Truk, Micronesia – Yes, Micronesia is in the South Pacific, but Truk’s wreck diving so good it gets its own section.  Truk Lagoon, Micronesia is a definite must on any serious wreck divers list. It holds the remains of the almost an entire Japanese fleet including 60 shipwrecks and dozens of sunken air crafts destroyed in 1944. Of these many wrecks to choose from the 7,000 ton freighter Fujukawa Maru is notable as one of the best. This specific wreck stands upright in shallow water, making the 437ft wreck pretty accessible. The bridge area with sake bottles, the engine room and wings in the hold covered in soft coral and frequently circled by grey reef makes this an exciting wreck to dive.

The Zenobia, Mediterranean – Head for Larnaca Bay in Cyprus to see one of the world’s most interesting wrecks. The Zenobia, a Swedish built ferry, has been lying on the seabed here since it sank in 1980 on its maiden voyage to Syria, after the computerized pump system for the ballast developed faults. The fact that the vessel was carrying £200 million worth of cargo including over 100 articulated lorries makes this a truly fascinating undersea treasure trove.

Felipe Xicotencatl, Laguna Mandinga, Patzcuaro, Cozumel – It’s best known for drift diving on sheer vertical walls, but you can enjoy wrecks in Cozumel, too. Take the Felipe Xicotencatl, for example, better known as the C-53. It was originally built as a U.S. Navy minesweeper, measuring 184 feet long with a 33-foot beam. In 1962, she was sold to the Mexican Navy for a dollar, converted to a gun boat and renamed the Felipe Xicotencatl C-53. She patrolled the Mexican Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico until 1999, when she was decommissioned, donated to the Cozumel Marine Park and laid to rest in 82 feet of water off Chankanaab. The marine park has recently restricted access there, so you dive it at your own risk, but it’s generally believed to be safe and she remains one of Cozumel’s most popular dives. Hurricane Wilma spun the C-53 around and broke her in two, and her average depth of 65 feet makes her a perfect second dive. Also upping the ante for wreck divers are two naval patrol vessels intentionally sunk just outside the marine park: the 85-foot Laguna Mandinga and the 42-foot Patzcuaro. At less than 40 feet, divers and snorkelers alike can enjoy them.

SS Yongala, Gothenberg, HMAS Brisbane, GBR - The SS Yongala is a 350-foot-plus luxury passenger ship and freighter that sits smack dab on the world’s largest reef. She went down in a cyclone and sat undisturbed in 50 to 100 feet of water 50 miles off Townsville for almost 50 years, until it was discovered in 1958. Today, it’s arguably one of the GBR’s most popular dive spots, an artificial reef sitting in the midst of the world’s largest real one, clouded by yellowtail demoiselles and Maori wrasse, sea snakes, turtles, grouper and the occasional tiger shark. A protected historic wreck, the Gothenberg isn’t intact but offers shallow depths (maximum 60 feet) for beginning wreck divers.  Reef sharks are often seen in the area. Another popular Queensland wreck is the 440-foot U.S.-built, Australian guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane, which served in Vietnam and the first Gulf War, and now rests in 115 feet of water off the Gold Coast. Large holes have been strategically cut along the entire length of both sides of the ship to allow divers easy entry and exit. It is virtually impossible to get lost inside the ship or become entangled.  Green wrasse, octopi, turtles, scorpion fish and many other interesting sea creatures can be found here.

USS Oriskany, Florida – If the idea of exploring the largest artificial reef in the world inspires you, head to the Gulf of Mexico and dive the USS Oriskany at Pensacola, which was scuttled here in May 2006. A former US navy aircraft carrier, the ‘Mighty-O’ enjoyed a naval career that began in 1950, serving in the Korean War as well as Vietnam. Much can be seen at shallow depths here including the vessel’s gun platforms. But, for a more close encounter with the wreck, the Oriskany dive is a deep dive.

More Wrecks than You can Count, Bahamas – The Bahamas-assembled from more than 700 sandy spits of land sprinkled over an ocean area the size of Wyoming-forms the bottom leg of the Bermuda Triangle. It’s no wonder the islands offer some of the region’s best wreck diving. Off New Providence-home to Nassau and two-thirds of the Bahamas’ population-there are a handful of interesting wrecks tended by a rather sizeable population of reef sharks. Offerings here include the Willaurie, the “Bond” wrecks (movie props including the Tears of Allah from Never Say Never Again and Vulcan bomber from Thunderball), Caribe Breeze, Bahama Mama, Steel Forest (actually three wrecks-the Captain Fox, Fenwick Stirrup and the Manana) and Ray of Hope. The Hope is both a wreck and a big animal encounter-Stuart Cove’s does a very enthusiastic shark feed on it. Other greats include Bimini’s Sapona and Bimini Barge and Grand Bahama’s Theo’s Wreck and Sugar Wreck.

HMCS Yukon, John C. Butler, The Delphy, Chauncey II, Fuller, Woodbury III, S.P. Lee, Nicholas and the Young, California – The sinking of the 366-foot Canadian destroyer HMCS Yukon to create an artificial reef in 2000-the West Coast’s biggest-may have shined new light on the Golden State’s wreck offerings, but local divers have been enjoying dozens of submerged boats for decades. Not too far from the Yukon is the S-37, a 219-foot steel submarine that saw some action in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Her infamously cramped quarters and leaking engine made her despised by her crew. She was ultimately depth-charged by her foes and, as a final insult, used for aerial target practice in 1945, sinking in 30 feet of water off Imperial Beach. The 306-foot destroyer escort John C. Butler sits off San Clemente Island in 60 to 80 feet of water, another war veteran that fought in famed battles including those in Palau, Peleliu, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Another interesting dive is the 100-foot El Rey, which harvested kelp off Southern California and logged more than 800,000 miles. Near Lompoc, in what is generally considered to be the worst peacetime disaster in U.S. Naval history, seven destroyers wrecked on the rocky reefs at Point Pedernales. The Delphy, Chauncey II, Fuller, Woodbury III, S.P. Lee, Nicholas and the Young are all 314-foot steel destroyers lying in depths above 40 feet with visibility ranging from nil to 50 feet.

Harlequin Shrimp

Maui seems to get more popular every year, and for good reason.  The number of direct flights from the mainland is on the rise, as is the availability of amenities and comforts on this tiny Hawaiian island.  But make no mistake – this green gem’s influx of visitors hasn’t dulled its appeal.  This tropical paradise continues to delight with beauty both above, and below the waves.

You may very well find yourself here without a thought to the many underwater opportunities, but now that your husband/wife/significant other/kids/friends/etc. have gotten you to the sandy fringes, why not check out the opportunities in the depths?

Maui diving can loosely be broken out into four related but unique diving experiences: Molokini, Southwest Maui, North Maui and Lanai.  You won’t be diving any unchartered territory here, but there’s a good reason divers come back year after year to experience what Maui’s waters have to offer.

Molokini

Molokini is a small islet formed by an extinct volcano lying 3 miles off the south Maui coastline. Molokini Crater, is a marine reserve below water and bird sanctuary above.  Molokini consists of several dive sites all around the islet ranging from anchor dives to drift dives.

The visibility on this reef system averages 100+ feet and provides a panoramic view of the marine ecosystem. Frequently, manta rays, white tip reef sharks, amberjacks and moray eels are sighted. Harlequin shrimp take residence around coral heads and Triton’s trumpets and nudibranchs are found nestled in crevices.  Hawaiian garden eels, masked angelfish, long-nose hawk fish and many more fish endemic to the Hawaiian Islands can also be found here.

Did I mention that Molokini is also located inside the Maui Whale Sanctuary?  Between the end of December and the end of April this trip affords a great opportunity to see humpback whales on the boat ride to and from the dive sites.   Molokini has also seen visits from whale sharks, oceanic white tip reef sharks, and tiger sharks.  Dive sites include: Reefs End, Reefs End Drift, Enenu’i, and Molokini Backwall.

Reefs End – An excellent dive at multiple depths. The top of the finger lies just below the waterline and drops down in terraces to hundreds of feet of water. If you go inside the crater you can find the Garden Eels and the Center Reef just beyond. The dive can also be done as a drift around to the backside of Molokini.

Molokini Back Wall – An amazing topography consisting of ledges and walls dropping down to over 200 feet of depth. 100+ of visibility is normal here. Currents run along the wall so the dive is done as a drift dive. You can see sharks, jacks, schools of butterflyfish, squirrelfish, and much more on this dive.
Whales, manta rays, and ocean white tip sharks have been seen here passing by.

South & West Maui

Southwest Maui scuba diving includes many different dive sites from La Perouse Bay in the south to Ma’alaea Bay in the North. Many consider Molokini a part of this dive site grouping, but I think the Crater warrants its own discussion, so it has been omitted here.  That doesn’t mean, however, that there is nothing else to see in the south as well as the west.  Wreck dive sites include: the St Anthonys wreck, the Landing Craft off the Maui Prince, the Tank and Landing Craft off Big Beach, The WWII Helldiver, the PB4Y out in deep water, and as of yet undiscovered WWII wrecks. For reef diving, fantastic options include: La Perouse Bay, Red Hill, White Rock, Wailea Point, 5 Graves, the 85′ and 110′ Pinnacles, the De-Gausing Station and more.

La Perouse Bay – This bay is a recent creation in Maui’s geologic history, formed when the last lava flowed on Maui about 200 years ago. This dive has an amazing variety of fish for its size – perhaps greater than any other site in the south. A lava rock pinnacle provides the basis for this protective habitat. All four species of Hawaii’s common angelfish can be found here, as well as many Hawaiian endemics.

Tank and Landing Craft – Remnants of World War II, these two wrecks are in 60 feet of crystal clear water off the coast of the Makena Golf and Beach Resort. Still recognizable after 60+ years underwater, eels have taken up residency in the pipes and barrels. A strange mix of weaponry and old ammunition are interspersed with a plethora of sea life. Schools of goat fish swim around the wreck, and octopus are regularly found here. The short swim from one wreck to the other over a sandy bottom offers an opportunity to find shells and sea biscuits.

St Anthony Wreck – In 1997 the St. Anthony, a 65 foot longliner fishing boat, was sunk off Mokapu Beach in Wailea, to a depth of 60-70 ft.to become part of Maui’s only official artificial reef.  Along with the deposit of hundreds of concrete weighted tires in which over 50 species of fish have taken up residence, the marine animals have taken up residence, the area has become home to over 50 species of fish.  A number of Green Sea Turtles also call the St. Anthony their home. They tuck under the hull, inside the holds and rest in all kinds of humorous positions on the cabin, using the vertical and horizontal bars to hang from and wedge themselves between. Two frog fish live on the deck, nicknamed “The Captain” and “Little Buddy”.

North Shore

Are you the more adventurous type?  North Shore is for you.  There’s not as much here, but it’s harder to get to so the crowds are absent but the fish are in abundance.  There are lots of unnamed sites, but a few warrant citations here:

Turtle Caves – Half a dozen lava pinnacles rise from 70 ft. to about 10 ft. below the surface. Some pinnacles are hollow, some have caves, and some form canyons. They are covered with healthy hard and soft corals and house many sea creatures (including turtles).

Hidden Pinnacle – The Kahakuloa side of Maui has many hard-to-get-to adventure dive sites. This is one of them: a pinnacle that rises from a 120-ft. bottom to the surface. It’s covered with soft corals and sponge seldom seen on the leeward side of Maui. Swarms of plankton-feeding fish rise in the water column as the current, which is sometimes strong, brings new supply of food.

 Lanai

The Cathedrals and more than 20 other dive sites at Lanai offer opportunities to enjoy the unique formations made when molten lava cools in the Pacific Ocean. Tubes, caverns, ledges and walls of lava make excellent backdrops for underwater photography and magnificent mazes for exploration. Reticulated butterfly fish, gold rim surgeon fish and flame angelfish are just a few varieties of the rare fish seen in Lanai’s waters.  Turtles are found on many dive sites around Lanai and the plankton-rich waters frequently attract manta rays.

As a bonus, it is not uncommon to be escorted to and from the dive sites by spinner dolphins riding the bow wave. In season, roughly from the end of December to the end of April, this trip also offers an excellent opportunity to see Humpback whales.

Below is a listing of dive operators to check out if you are considering diving in Maui and don’t want to go searching all over the internet.  I have personally dove with some of them, but not all, so I am not recommending one vs. the other.  I also receive no benefit, monetary or otherwise, if you click on their link or dive with them.   Happy Diving!
 

http://www.mauidiveshop.com
http://www.lahainadivers.com
http://www.bbscuba.com/
http://www.prodivermaui.com/
http://mauiunderwater.com  Makena Coast Dive Charters
http://www.mauiscuba.com/   Ed Robinson’s Diving Adventures
http://www.scubashack.com/map.php3
http://www.mikesevernsdiving.com/
http://www.mauidiving.com/divespots.html
http://www.scubadivemaui.com/
http://mauidreamsdiveco.com/
http://mauisundivers.com/scuba/index.php

Penguin rescue operation under way after south Atlantic oil spill

The penguins are doing a great job.  The hardest part was finding them little parachutes to wear.

Underwater Translator May Finally Let Us Talk to Dolphins

Yes, but do we really want to know what they are saying to us after watching the ‘Cove’

Branson: Deep-sea adventure will reveal ‘extraordinary creatures’

Because everything else in the sea is quite bland.

Experience the life aquatic in your own personal sub

I hope it comes in yellow.

Navy successfully tests prototype ocean-going laser weapon

James Bond would be so proud.

I’m a celebrity, rent my island!

I have a mortgage, kiss my ass!

Another active Atlantic hurricane season expected

Thank you, Captain Obvious, for this story as well as your prior article “Fish found in the Atlantic Ocean.”

Leaping sea creatures: Do we need bigger boats?

No, just better luck.

Four ways to have a whale of a time

Maybe it’s me, but does this sound like it belongs in the “Adult” reading section?

Gotta Watch: eagle ray pins woman

If you are doing something that puts you in a position to wind up with a 300-lb eagle ray on you, you probably shouldn’t be doing that activity in the first place.

Treasure hunters strike gold off Florida coast

Because if it was on the coast it would be called a robbery.

The whales have no trouble finding Mozambique.

Mozambique. Just the name conjures up exotic notions of faraway lands.  When pressed, some people might correctly identify Mozambique as a country in Africa, but pinpointing its exact location would send most people scrambling for a good map.  Fortunately, droves of manta rays, whalesharks and humpback whales have no such trouble finding the waters off of Mozambique’s coast.

So many dive spots, so little time.  Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, to the west and South Africa to the southwest.  This little-known diving destination offers pristine beaches, warm waters and healthy, unspoilt reefs.  Much of the diving is done from the town of Tofo, a small but growing town in southeastern Mozambique right on the ocean.  Avid shark divers tend to gravitate south to the beaches of Ponta do Ouro and Mozambique’s top two shark reefs, Pinnacles and Pandaine Express.  The Island of Inhaca is also a popular spot for diving and snorkeling. Generally, the visibility is between 40 and 100 feet. The water temperature in the Indian Ocean varies from 23 to 29 C.

Diving with critters great and small.  By far the biggest diving attractions in Mozambique are the Manta Rays, Whalesharks, Humpback Whales and Dolphins:

• Rays can be spotted on almost every reef off of Mozambique year round. The waters boast a wide variety of rays, including the Giant Manta ray.  In 2008, a new, migratory species of manta ray was identified in the waters off of Mozambique.  Many scientists think that southern Mozambique hosts the largest population of manta rays in the world.  The rays are so plentiful that most dive operators, especially those out of Tofo, will guarantee manta ray sightings during dives.
• Whalesharks are mostly summer visitors with the best time to see them being November until April.  Whalesharks are gentle creatures – non-aggressive plankton feeders that can reach up to 12+m in length with average lengths of 8-9m in the Tofo area, which is the home the of largest concentration of whalesharks in Africa.  During November and March, the whalesharks are plentiful, with up to 20 individual sharks being spotted during 30 minute boat journeys. The whalesharks cruise along, at, or just below, the surface so divers frequently don their snorkel gear to see them.  Some diving outfits also work with local small plane operators who act as whaleshark spotters, which pretty much guarantees the chances of seeing one while there. 
• Humpback Whales visit the area from as early as June until as late as October. The whales spend the summer months in Antarctic waters feeding on large amounts of krill, and then migrate up the east coast of Africa to mate and give birth.  Male whales are often seen breeching the surface and slapping their fins in an effort to look sexy to the ladies in the surrounding waters.  While diving, it is possible to hear them “singing” to one another – a sound that can be heard from up to 2 km away.  
• Dolphins can be seen in Mozambican waters most of the year but June, July and August are the best months for them. There are various species of dolphins in the area including Bottlenose dolphins, Common dolphins and Humpback dolphins.  Dolphins are rarely seen alone but rather in groups known as pods – sometimes in very large numbers. Divers are frequently treated to dolphin sightings right at the bow of their dive boats as the creatures ride the water swell. 

Smaller, but no less beautiful… The Tofo area is rich in a diverse array of marine life, such as hard and soft corals, pelagic fishes, a multitude of colorful reef fish, sea turtles and green moray eels.  It is common to see Grey Reef Sharks, White and Black Tip Reef Sharks all along the coast, especially in the south.  Macro photographers will love the great diversity of shrimps, nudibranchs and even leaf fish to choose as photo subject matter. ]]> http://scuba-dive.org/2011/04/02/mosambique-mantas-and-whale-sharks-and-humbacks-oh-my/feed/ 115 http://scuba-dive.org/2011/01/23/you-know-you-are-a-real-diver-when/ http://scuba-dive.org/2011/01/23/you-know-you-are-a-real-diver-when/#comments Sun, 23 Jan 2011 20:31:41 +0000 admin http://scuba-dive.org/?p=513

• -Co-workers refer to you as ‘flipper’ behind your back…and you sort of like it.
• -You use the words Carcharodon carcharias *  in casual conversation.
• -Around the dinner table, you asked everyone what they did topside that day.
• -You lack the funds to fix your car dent and leaky house roof, but your new $1,200 Atomic Cobalt Nitrox Integrated Dive Computer really rocks.
• You’ve got so many sea-themed tattoos that you look like an aquarium when you walk.
• Your Facebook and Twitter accounts list your location as “the ocean.”
• You consider dive boat rust to be a lunchtime condiment.
• You never saw a shark you didn’t like.

*Just for the rest of you, Carcharodon carcharias is the Latin name for the great white shark.

Recently I was scanning the scuba catalogs for “Christmas Wish List” items and came across several pieces of “gear” of dubious purpose. Though they may look appealing on a glossy page, these trinkets are destined to be abandoned under a boat’s bench seat sometime in the future by a frustrated diver with a lighter wallet. Links to these actual products have been provided for your enjoyment.

 Dive Ireland Classic Men’s Thong – For the diver who wants to proudly display their love of the sport to…hopefully not too many people.  According to the website, this classic Christmas gift “covers sweet spots without covering your assets.”  Just $12 immortalizes your commitment to diving Ireland by emblazoning it on your snorkel.

Scuba Lobster Inn (W/Zipper) – “The most popular collection bag for lobstering.” Lobsters check in, but they can’t check out. When you are ready to eat, just unzip and boil. Comes in your choice of 3 colors, none of which you can see underwater.

Cold Water Mittens – 7mm neoprene mitts by Edge with velcro/elastic wrist closures. Warm, but not terribly useful if you need to use any fingers underwater. Plus, your little kid mittens will most likely draw the ridicule of fellow divers. Topside activities with this gear include making snowmen.

Aqua Maracas – “Shake things up next time your down! This lightweight, compact, underwater signaling device is audible over 30 feet away.” It’s a perfect complement to your Scuba Samba and guaranteed to frighten all the fish.

“Dive Naked” License Plate – Conceptually I like the idea, but in practice I would think there might be some chaffing associated with this activity. What I know for sure is that NO ONE at my place of employment needs to see me pull into the parking lot with this on my car.

5-Page Wrist Dive Slate (w/free extra pencil!) – For those who are inspired to write an entire novel while underwater or carry on a lengthy conversation on existentialism with their dive buddy.  Or perhaps it is meant to capture a checklist of scuba steps: Step 1 – Inhale, Step 2- Exhale, Step 3- Inhale…People who bought this gift should have also bought the Guide to Underwater Hand Signals.

The Shark Shield – “The Shark Shield incorporates two electrodes, which project the field from the unit and thus create an invisible protective shield that surrounds the user…” Sort of like one of those canine electric fences, but for sea life. Order in the next ten minutes and we’ll include a free can of Turtle Repellent. One question: if it is invisible, how do you know its working?

This is not a fish...

Want to dive surrounded by lots of rich history and few other divers?  Then Turkey is the place for you.  Scuba diving in Turkey is relatively new and slowly developing, which means the facilities are there, but not the crowds. The warm weather in Turkey makes scuba diving possible all year round; however, the true scuba diving season begins around April when average water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Turkey is 18C. The height of the scuba diving season in Turkey occurs in August where the waters reach temperatures of 30C (86F).

Turkey offers a wide variety of scuba diving options including reef diving, wall diving and cavern diving for divers with all levels of skills. The underwater scenery is varied and interesting, with tunnels, caverns and rocky pinnacles providing divers with plenty to explore. There are also many diveable wrecks along the Turkish coast, both historical and modern.  Diving conditions are excellent throughout the diving season with clear blue waters and visibility of up to 100 feet.

This isn’t the Caribbean, though.  Not all dives will yield profuse and colorful fish like in tropical seas, but on most dives one will encounter an interesting range of species of fish including nudibranches, octopus, groupers, morays, barracuda, moray eels, seahorses, sting rays, and sea bream.  Though rare, there is also the possibility of seeing dolphins and turtles depending on the dive site.

For me, the true appeal of diving in Turkey is the chance to encounter glimpses of prior civilizations that the sea has gobbled up.  The area is rich with underwater historical artifacts.  The most common items divers encounter are broken amphora and pottery, but a wide range of ancient artifacts, even shipwrecks, exist in shallow water and deep water alike.  Formal underwater archaeological sites, however, are strictly controlled and diving at these sites is not open to the sport diver.  But, plenty of informal opportunities exist to see relics lost long ago.

Although there are some scuba diving sites on the Black Sea resorts of Turkey, scuba diving is especially popular around the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. Most tourist resorts on the Southern coast of Turkey have scuba diving sites and offer scuba diving trips. Some of the most popular locations in Turkey include Alanya, Antalya, Bodrum, Kas, Kalkan, Marmaris, Fethiye and Gallipoli. All of these scuba diving destinations have plenty of non-diving related things to do too, including yachting and sailing.   

Bodrum

Bodrum is a wildly popular vacation spot on the Aegean Sea.  On land, Bodrum boasts both trendy modern amenities and historical treasures to explore.  Diving is particularly nice here due to the warm, calm waters of the Aegean that are free of tides and strong currents. For those who want to dive beyond the bays and beaches, rugged, volcanic offshore islands provide some very diverse locations including hot springs, caverns, reefs and spectacular drop-offs. It is not uncommon to come across evidence of ancient civilizations, such as artifacts and wrecks, on almost every dive.

With sea temperatures ranging from 14 to 25 degrees between summer and winter, Bodrum is a great location for diving holiday at any time of the year. Just to be on the safe side, recompression facilities and the services of a hyperbaric doctor are on 24-hour call in Bodrum.

Marmaris

Marmaris is a popular resort town located in the south-west coast of Turkey where the Aegean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. Marmaris is a natural harbor that provides a safe haven for a variety of water sports including diving. Its clear sea waters range in temperature from 18 to 25 degrees C.

Marmaris offers a good variety of diving, located largely in the Bay of Marmaris. Around Yildiz Ada and the smaller Keci Ada (respectively Star and Goat islands) groupers, octopuses, jacks and sea breams are commonly seen. At the western tip of another small island, Bedir Ada, divers can see the remains of an 800 year old Ottoman wreck. Another interesting aspect of diving in Marmaris is the numerous underwater caverns: Baca Magara, the chimney cavern of Yildiz Ada, the entrance of which is at 14m and the exit at 3m below the surface, makes a stimulating second dive.  Further out at Kadirga Point, divers can spot broken amphora on the sea bed up to a depth of 30m.

Alanya

The interesting flora, the variety of underwater marine life and especially the enticing underwater caverns and caves have made Alanya a popular dive. Most of the dive sites are situated around the coastline of the Alanya Castle, the steep cliffs of which turn to dramatic drop-offs under the surface of the sea. The close proximity of these dive sites makes them easily accessible even by inflatables and diving three or four times a day is possible with the option of returning to base after each dive. The sites are also very suitable for night dives.

Like Bodrum and Marmaris, Alanya doesn’t disappoint when it comes to things to see underwater.  Several sites, like the Aquarium, host an incredible array of fish in a small area.   Creatures such as snails, mussels, octopus, black scorpion fish, moray, soldier fish, grouper, thornback rays and pıgfish are all easy to spot.  Looking for evidence of prior civilizations?  Well, that’s here too.  At the spot named Amphora, divers can see…amphorae, mostly broken pieces, but plenty of them.  And at Pirate Cave, an ancient mill stone sits easily accessibly on the ocean floor.

Kas

Kas packs a one-two punch of dense underwater life and extremely clear water, with visibility extending past 100 ft on good days.  There are around 30 different dive spots, all reachable within 30 minutes starting from the harbor of Kas. Wreck diving, cave diving, underwater canyons, stone reefs, swim throughs, tunnels, and night diving are all options in this area.  Kas even boasts its own blue hole with an incredible array of sea life.

Many critters call Kas home.  Barracuda, stingrays, turtles, rare snails, dorado, jackfish, soldierfish, octopi, eels, trumpet fish, huge groupers, trigger fish, anemones, crabs, and even soft-corals.

Kalkan

Kalkan has at least 14 excellent dive sites including islands, reefs and walls.  The visibility at all of the dive sites is usually quite good, often in excess of 25-30m. Water temperatures range from about 18oC in April to 30oC in August. Kalkan’s tides are modest, and easy to navigate by divers.

A large variety of marine life is found in the area: groupers, sardines, moray eels, turtles, stingrays, barracudas, sea bream, rainbow wrasse, damsel fish, bonita, sea mullet, starfish, octopus, dolphins, nurse sharks, squid, mackerel and more.  Other items of interest include ancient pottery remains and an old wreck of a steamship.

The square-spot anthias or square-spot fairy baslet, Pseudanthias Pleurotaenia, is found throughout the Pacific Ocean from Indonesia to Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to Rowley Shoals and New Caledonia, as well as throughout Micronesia. It’s usually found in large groups, sometimes numbering in the thousands.  It grows to 7 inches and appears in a variety of colors including red, pink, orange, yellow and purple. This geometrical beauty spends its day swimming around the reef, looking for tasty zooplankton snacks.  But don’t let its good looks fool you – this fish can swim fast and even become quite aggressive when threatened.

Even the Great White Shark looks tame in comparison to this beast...

Scuba divers frequently get eaten by giant ______.

  (Fill in the blank: giant octopi, sharks, man-eating conchs, radioactive seahorses, etc.)

FALSE.  You have a better chance of being killed by a vending machine than being eaten by a shark.  Seriously.  Jacques Cousteau once said that “Man, of all the animals, is the only one to consider himself a great delicacy.”  Just because there are some large predatory animals living in the oceans does not mean that they are gunning for every diver that jumps in.  Divers, in general, are too big and too loud (i.e. intimidating) for most creatures to consider us a food source.  Not to mention that a human’s bone/muscle mass to fat ratio is darn near indigestible and definitely not appetizing, even to a great white shark.  This is not to say caution be damned: I would advise against bronco riding a bull shark and parading about the sea floor with an octopus as a fashion accessory.  But, to answer the question from countless co-workers, airplane seatmates, relatives, and even the little old lady who walks her chihuahua by my house every day at 9am, no, I am not concerned that something will eat me while scuba diving.

Chicks dig divers.

TRUE.  Of course it helps if the diver in question is buff, tan and 22.  If you are 50, hairy and can’t fit your beer gut into your wetsuit, you may find this myth to be false.  Interestingly, many dive boats actually have a larger proportion of men on them than women.  So, ladies, if you are looking to meet some new and interesting people, scuba might be the thing for you.  If you don’t make a love connection, at least you got some good exercise and explored a bit of the incredible ocean.  It’s got to be better than speed dating.

Diving is a great opportunity to do something with my husband/wife/partner/sister/brother/child/friend/good looking neighbor, etc.

MAYBE.  Divers learn at different paces, so just because you and the target of your affection start out in scuba lessons together does not necessarily mean that you will progress at the same pace or enjoy the same type of diving.  There is always at least one person on every dive boat whose former dive buddy just wants to sit on the beach, play golf or find the bottom of their margarita glass (repeatedly).  Fear not, however, if you find yourself in this solitary predicament.  Divers are a welcoming bunch.  You will most likely be able to trade in your current stick-in-the-mud friend for a shiny new dive buddy who shares your interests.

All scuba diving must be dangerous.

FALSE.  Divers tend to choose their most extreme scuba experiences to share with others.  Tales of swimming vertically down the Devil’s Throat in Mexico or swirling in the murky Cauldron of Death in Chile make for impressive bar room stories more so than floating along in the 10 foot deep Flower Gardens.  Sitting on the shallow ocean floor watching a sand eel pop its head in and out of its hole just doesn’t extract the same listener reaction as the bull shark that tore a chunk out of your fin as you escaped towards the dive boat.  Scuba can be as dangerous or as benign as the diver chooses, based on the dive profile, resident critters and skill level of the diver in question.  Like many things in life, there is a comfortable level to be had for everyone.

Learning to dive can turn you into James Bond or Scuba Steve.

MAYBE.  If you just don’t have a cool bone in your body, no amount of bottom time will help.  But, if you are looking to add a little spice to an otherwise tame existence, scuba might be for you.  You’ll meet new people.  You’ll have something new to talk about around the water cooler on Monday.  You might even find you are motivated to go to the gym a bit more (so next time you can actually lift that tank).  Note: spy gadgets and Bond-like attitude are not included in standard scuba gear.

Divers are required to have 3-day old stubble, a bad crew cut and a tattoo that says Mom.

FALSE.  Yes, once upon a time scuba was reserved for the “heartiest” of humans who grunted and spat, while grabbing their god-given jewels before entering the water.  Also, there was a time when most people thought the world was flat.  So…has anything Nostradamus promised come to fruition lately?  No?  Then let’s let go of this Neanderthal notion of diving, shall we?  Most dive boats hold a healthy combination of divers that are old and young, male and female, and (possibly concerningly) a wide variety of physical fitness.  Scuba diving is now done (literally) on the 4 corners of the globe in every language you can name.  I will say, however, that many die-hard divers have aquatic themed tattoos.  Why?  I have no idea, other than their conviction for the sea.  I don’t have one myself, but am shopping for one now.  I’m thinking a whaleshark with a wave.  Maybe a Mom whaleshark.