We prepared a comprehensive guide that includes all the necessary information you will need to venture on underwater diving. You can find below useful explanations on how to do underwater diving with the essential toolkits. Moreover, the most popular locations for underwater diving in Türkiye and from all around the world are waiting for you to discover.
What is Underwater Diving?
Underwater diving is a popular sport and recreational activity that involves descending below the water's surface with specially designed equipment. Underwater diving as a recreational activity is all about exploring the life and formations below the water. As a professional sport, most competitions are held in free-diving or underwater swimming. Underwater diving is a highly popular sport with millions of enthusiasts around the world.
Free-diving
Free-diving is a form of underwater diving that only relies on breath-holding until resurfacing. In free-diving, you can only travel as far as your breath can take you and is one of the most challenging yet rewarding water sports. There are many breath-holding techniques for free-diving and it is not something you should attempt to learn your own.
Scuba diving
Scuba is an abbreviation of "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus" and is the most used form of underwater diving because of its convenience in comparison to other underwater diving techniques such as surface-supplied diving or atmospheric pressure diving.
Basic Terminology
Backroll
Backroll is the most common way to enter the water. After you double-check all the equipment you fall back to the water with your tank first.
Bends
Bends are a form of decompression sickness that is caused by the dissolved nitrogen and manifests itself as some pain in your joints. To prevent this, you should always ascend slowly with safety breaks.
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation is basically over-breathing to the extent that your carbon dioxide level in your blood is lowered too much. This leads to dizziness and tingling in your fingers.
Underwater Diving Training: What are the Basics and Where to Learn them?
Underwater diving does not require a prior experience but you need to have a certain skill set in order to safely enjoy underwater diving. Controlled ascending and descending, hand signals, buoyancy, and emergency ascents are the four skills that you need to master. There are many certified diving schools which can make you a licensed diver; entry-level open water certification takes 2 to 4 days to complete.
Before You Go- Stuff You Need to Know
- It would be good for you to familiarize yourself with the hand signals such as going up, going down, out of air, shark and, etc.
- You should bring an underwater camera with you to capture the wonders of the underwater world and to treasure your trip.
Underwater Diving Equipment List: What Equipment is Needed for Underwater Diving?
Dive Mask
Your eyes are not meant to work properly underwater so it is a must to wear a dive mask to be able to see clearer. Dive masks also have an air pocket in front of your nose to help you stabilize your ears.
Diving Fins
Diving fins increases your movement speed and overall control over your body. They are essential for moving against currents and navigating.
Wetsuit
A wetsuit or a drysuit is primarily there to keep you warm and protect your skin.
Diving Gloves
Diving gloves or scuba gloves should be pretty thick and sturdy. They are made of durable materials to keep your hands warm and protect them from sharp-edged rocks.
Scuba Tank
A scuba tank is there to keep you breathing in water and is the main component of your scuba diving gear. It consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and other essential gases.
Regulator
A regulator is an essential piece of equipment that allows you to breathe the air from your tank by converting it into a certain pressure level.
Pressure and Depth Gauge
A pressure gauge is attached to your tank to show how much air is left in your tank during your dive. A depth gauge is there to indicate your depth level. If you are planning to travel with your equipment, there might be additional costs. You can click here to check the extra services price table.
When is the Best Time for Underwater Diving?
In most locations, underwater diving is a year-round activity that can be enjoyed in all four seasons but rain and excessive wind makes the sport much more challenging so summer season can be considered the best time for underwater diving.
Best Spots for Underwater Diving in Türkiye
İstanbul
İstanbul is home to many underwater diving centers and most of them are located in the southern parts of the city. You can buy your plane ticket to İstanbul to enjoy the city and the sport.
Antalya
Kaş, Kalkan
Antalya is located in the southern part of Türkiye and is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the country. Although Antalya is mostly known for its amazing beaches and natural beauties, the city is also one of the most prominent centers for underwater diving in Türkiye. Kaş district has many underwater diving centers with a clear view of the underwater world.
Kalkan district near Kaş is the best place in the country regarding underwater diving. Booking a plane ticket to Muğla is the best way to reach Kaş and Kalkan with an additional two hour drive from Dalaman Airport. You can also get your flight ticket to Antalya to get there but there will be an additional hour drive from Antalya Airport in comparison to Dalaman Airport.
Kemer
Kemer is a popular tourism destination of Antalya and is located 60 kilometers away from the Antalya Airport. In the district, you can enjoy spectacular underwater life with world-class scuba diving facilities. Book your flight ticket to Antalya to enjoy the city both in land and in water.
Muğla
Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum, Akyaka
Muğla is located in the most southwestern part of Türkiye and one of the most popular tourism destinations of the country with its worldly recognized districts like Marmaris, Fethiye, Bodrum, and Akyaka. You can enjoy underwater diving in all these districts with clear water vision and top-notch underwater diving facilities. Book your flight ticket to Muğla to have an unforgettable summer vacation.
İzmir
Karaburun
Karaburun is a district of İzmir and is located in the most northwestern part of the city. Karaburun is home to many sea creatures and you get the chance to interact with them underwater. Book your flight ticket to İzmir to enjoy Karaburun and its sea life.
Best Spots for Underwater Diving in the World
Egypt
Sharm El-Sheikh
Sharm El-Sheikh is a spectacular resort town in Egypt that is known for its well-preserved beaches, clear waters and coral reefs. The city is located in the northern shores of Red Sea. You can book your flight ticket to Sharm El-Sheikh and get ready to enjoy a world you have probably never seen before.
Hurghada
Hurghada is a beach resort town with spectacular underwater life and world-class scuba diving facilities. The city stretches for about 40 kilometers on the shores of Red Sea and this enables visitors to also dive in other parts of the sea. Book your flight ticket to Hurghada to enjoy its sandy beaches and underwater life.
Northern Cyprus
Northern Cyprus is an amazing destination for underwater exploring. Most of the scuba diving centers are located in the north part of the country and offer amazing peeks to the underwater life in the Mediterranean Sea. Book your flight ticket to Cyprus and start exploring diving in Cyprus.
Marseille
Marseille is one of the most popular tourism destinations of France and is located in the most southeastern part of the country. Marseille is a prominent underwater diving center of its region. Book your flight ticket to Marseille to enjoy scuba diving and its worldly famous beaches.
Barcelona
Barcelona is one of the best spots to enjoy underwater diving in the Mediterranean Sea and attracts millions of tourists annually thanks to its vibrant social life, historical attractions, and cultural heritage. Book your flight ticket to Barcelona for a journey filled with discovery and fun.
If you are planning to travel with your equipment, there might be additional costs. You can click here to check the extra services price table.
