Safety · Country Guide
Four seas, endless coves: reefs, walls, wrecks, and a coastline made for slow travel
Updated Dec 7, 2025 • 23 sources
Turkey is generally straightforward for recreational water activities when you dive with licensed operators and plan around wind. The biggest practical risks are currents at exposed points, boat traffic in summer bays, and deep profiles on wall sites. Conservation is increasingly important: many coastal stretches are protected, and seagrass meadows and wildlife need deliberate respect.
Dive with licensed operators, and treat weather as the boss.
If you feel unwell after diving, stop diving and seek medical help.
Major coastal cities have medical services, and hyperbaric capability exists in larger population centers. For any suspected decompression illness, call emergency services and follow medical advice. Dive insurance that covers evacuation and chamber treatment is strongly recommended for both scuba divers and freedivers.
Afternoon winds on the Aegean
Summer breezes can build chop and reduce comfort on small boats. Schedule earlier departures and pick sheltered coves when winds approach 40 km/h.
Currents at points and channels
Some sites run current or even reverse current. Treat exposed points like 40 Kafalar as advanced dives and follow local briefing tightly.
Deep profiles need deep planning
Sites that push past recreational limits, such as Baba Burnu Deep Dive, require the right training, gas strategy, and conditions. Do not 'wing it'.
Boat traffic in popular bays
In July and August, busy bays mean prop risk. Use an SMB or float, surface as a group, and avoid drifting into transit lanes.
Turkey has multiple marine protected and specially protected areas along its coast. Follow no-take expectations, do not feed fish, and keep perfect buoyancy over reefs and seagrass. Use mooring buoys where available and avoid anchoring over seagrass meadows. Treat monk seal and turtle habitat as sensitive: keep distance, avoid loud approaches, and never enter sealed cave shelters. Cultural heritage matters too: never remove objects from underwater sites.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when afternoon winds on the aegean. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112 Emergency Call Center | Medical, police, fire, and general emergencies | 112 | 24/7 |
| Turkish Coast Guard (Sahil Guvenlik) | Maritime distress and coastal emergencies | 158 (or 112) | 24/7 |