Diving fans rush to Antalya's Kekova to discover underwater beauties

ANTALYA - Anadolu Agency

Divers in Kekova organize two different diving tours per day for the local and foreign tourists. The tours take approximately one hour and people take photographs of the underwater sights during the tours, which start at Çayağzı Port. DHA photo

Kekova cove in Demre district of Antalya has become the new favorite place for underwater lovers or those stopping off while taking a cruise. After having the boat cruise, holidaymakers can dive to the depths of the sea to explore the underwater world with professional divers.

Kekova cave has drawn great interest from travelers not only for its natural beauty on land, but also for the richness of the underwater world. Approximately 800,000 people visit the cave in the tourism season and diving fans also enjoy this cave. The underwater beauties of this area take attention and professional divers create an opportunity for people who want to observe. With the demand created by diving tourism, tours are organized to Kekova. Diving tours start at the historical Çayağzı Port.
People who want to experience the diving are first introduced to the area by professional divers and then taken to the southern side of the cave, which is the diving area. After completing the preparations in the boat, holiday makers dive into the depths of the sea with professional divers.

Since the inner section of the cave is announced as a first degree protected area, swimming or diving is not allowed there. Therefore people choose one point from the 32 allowed diving areas and start exploring the secret underwater world of Kekova. The most preferred areas are “the Light House,” “Caves,” “Antrum,” “Sakar’s Point,” the submerged boat “Iberian Cost,” “Blue Cave” and “the End.” Besides the four caves of varying depths, people choose to dive in the “Antrum” which is 72 meters long and includes a mountain under the sea. People who want to have a different experience prefer to dive into the caves. A person diving has the opportunity to observe different species of fish, sea mollusk, sea slugs and an impressive range of plants.

Divers in the area organize two different diving tours per day for the local and foreign tourists. The tours take approximately one hour and people take photographs of the underwater sights during the tours. Holidaymakers leave the tiredness and stress of the working year here and turn back to the starting point of the tour, Çayağzı Port.

Miray Karakuş, who was taking a holiday in Kekova said that she was very happy. “There are many things to explore in the water. The nature is beautiful but there are also many beauties underwater. Everyone should have a diving experience here at least once.” added Karakuş.

One of the best places to dive in the world

Gürkan Güven, a keen diver, said that this was the first time he was diving in Demre. He said that he experienced the cave diving and added, “I had a happy and relaxed dive but there are not many kinds of species.” Bülent Kılıç, former governor of Düzce and a member of the state council who was diving in Demre said that they had a 35-meter cave dive and stated that Demre was the perfect place for diving due to the clear water and natural beauties. Kılıç said that they enjoyed the diving very much.

The professional diver Asutay Akbayır said “Kekova is a very beautiful and touristic place not only for the Turkish divers but also for foreigners. This area is fascinating with the underwater caves and is very suitable for diving. Every time one comes here, they can find amphora and anchors.”