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Canakkale Airport
CKZ • LTBH
3 km to central Canakkale (DHMI); Eceabat requires a separate cross-strait transfer
Logistics · Destination Guide
Dive the ships of 1915, then walk the battlefields that tell their stories.
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Canakkale and Eceabat lie across the Dardanelles from one another. The closest documented commercial airport in this guide is Canakkale Airport (CKZ), a short local transfer from the city center; flight frequencies and routes need live airline confirmation. Alternatively travel overland from larger Turkish air gateways to Canakkale or Eceabat and then use the Gestas crossings where needed. For booked wreck dives, the official 2026 directory and Gallipoli Wrecks both identify Kabatepe Harbor, Eceabat, as an actual dive departure-base lead. A public ferry ticket does not place a visitor on a scuba boat.
Canakkale Airport
CKZ • LTBH
3 km to central Canakkale (DHMI); Eceabat requires a separate cross-strait transfer
DHMI confirms this domestic/international-status airport serving Canakkale. Do not assume a specific nonstop airline or daily frequency; compare a real flight date before arranging a wreck charter.
Transport: City bus route passing the airport entrance, Licensed taxi, Rental car, Public cross-strait ferry after reaching Canakkale city
Public Gestas ferries connect Canakkale with Eceabat and Kilitbahir. From Eceabat, Kabatepe, Anzac Cove, Sedd el Bahr and the memorial clusters are spread across the peninsula. A rental car, taxi or a locally guided battlefield tour makes a multi-stop itinerary practical. Confirm where the dive boat actually boards and leave margin for ferry delays. Do not drive into restricted military, port or archaeological zones, and do not infer coastal road access includes water-entry access.
Entry to Turkey is nationality- and passport-dependent. Consult the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the official e-Visa portal if your passport requires an e-Visa. The MFA recommends a passport with at least 6 months validity from arrival. For example, ordinary US passports are listed as visa-exempt for up to 90 days in 180 days, but other passports have different conditions. Visa permission does not grant heritage wreck access; confirm dive permits and equipment rules separately.
Gallipoli Wrecks advertises recreational and technical rental gear and gas-support infrastructure, but exact stock, fill availability, oxygen, nitrox or CCR support on a specific date must be checked directly. Bring certification documents, dive computer, recent log and personal essentials. The official park advises 3-5 mm wetsuits April-October and heavier 7 mm, semi-dry or drysuits November-March. Check baggage policies for cylinders and batteries, and agree a harbor arrival time in writing. No verified airport-to-boat gear shuttle was found.
Turkish Lira (TRY)
Turkish lira is the local legal currency. Cards are generally accepted in larger city businesses, but carry some lira for smaller peninsula venues, taxis and incidental fees. Ask the dive provider what payment methods and currency are accepted.
ATMs are widely available in Turkish cities; plan cash withdrawal in Canakkale or Eceabat rather than relying on an isolated dive harbor or battlefield stop.
230V • 50Hz • C, F
Use a type C/F adapter and confirm that camera and dive light chargers accept 230V. An adapter does not convert voltage.
Communications
Canakkale and Eceabat have ordinary Turkish mobile coverage, but do not assume continuous signal over remote coastal wreck sites or aboard dive boats. Ask your operator for its emergency contact, meeting point and offline directions. Download local maps before crossing the strait or visiting memorial clusters. International roaming or a Turkish SIM/eSIM may be practical, subject to local registration rules.
Language
Turkish is the default language for local logistics, regulations and signage. Some operators advertise English-language services, notably Gallipoli Wrecks' English website, but do not assume every crew member or emergency dispatcher will use English. Save the named wreck and harbor in both Turkish and English in your booking messages.
Insurance
Check explicitly that your policy covers scuba to the intended depth, guided wreck diving, any planned technical course, recompression, ambulance, boat evacuation and missed trip costs. Standard travel cover may exclude technical diving, wreck penetration or unapproved activities. Keep the policy number and the insurer's 24-hour hotline offline; DAN provides additional emergency medical guidance but membership benefits vary.
Packing list
Bring a certification card, logbook, dive computer, personal mask, warm layers for boat wind, and a suit appropriate for the operator's water-temperature briefing. The park suggests 3-5 mm April-October and 7 mm/semi-dry/drysuit November-March. Pack sunscreen, closed shoes, refillable water bottle and a rain shell for outdoor memorial touring. Confirm baggage restrictions on dive torches and lithium batteries; leave historical sites as found.