Dive Site: Besmi Island

About Besmi Island

Besmi Island, also known as Besmi Adası, is a challenging yet rewarding dive site located off Turkey's southwestern coast near Fethiye and southwest of Kaş. This rocky sentinel is renowned for its captivating underwater terrain, which features imposing rock formations plunging steeply into blue depths, creating a labyrinth of swim-throughs, overhangs, and narrow passages around the island's perimeter. The rocky substrate provides excellent attachment points for gorgonian fans and other colorful sponges, while sandy channels offer brief resting spots. The strong currents at Besmi Island are its defining characteristic, particularly in the channel between the island and the mainland, which funnels water and creates upwellings. This constant flow supports a vibrant food chain, attracting pelagic species like amberjack, barracuda, and occasionally Atlantic bluefin tuna during their Mediterranean migrations. The reef community boasts moray eels, octopus, nudibranchs, and significant grouper, alongside turtles and stingrays. Adding to its allure, the north side of Besmi Island hosts a historical shipwreck, believed to be from the 9th or 10th century, lying at depths around 40 meters. This ancient vessel, possibly carrying olive oil and legumes, left behind a scatter of 2,000-year-old amphorae and pithoi distributed across depths between 30 and 60 meters. Diving at Besmi Island typically involves a boat entry, with descents often starting on the more protected side before rounding into stronger currents. Dive profiles are often drift-style, utilizing the current to explore extensive sections of wall, with multilevel diving easily achievable thanks to varying depths. This site demands advanced diving skills due to its currents and depth, but rewards divers with a unique blend of natural beauty, rich marine life, and historical artifacts.

Dive site facts: Besmi Island

Depth

4–60 m

Typical dive

30–40 m, 40–50 min

Current

Strong, unpredictable, often south-easterly

Visibility

20–30 m (average 25 m), up to 40 m

Water temperature

18–30°C

Entry

Boat

Level

Advanced required

Dive type

Reef, Wall, Drift, Wreck, Archaeological

Region / port

Kaş, Antalya, Turkey

Coordinates

36.6435° N, 29.1014° E

Conditions & Currents

Besmi Island is characterized by sometimes strong, unpredictable currents, typically flowing from the south-east, making it a site best suited for experienced divers. The channel between the island and mainland funnels water, accelerating the current and creating upwellings that sustain rich marine life. Dive plans often involve working with the current, starting in more sheltered areas before drifting along exposed walls. Entry and exit are exclusively by boat, requiring precise pickup downstream of ascent points in stronger flows. Visibility generally ranges from 20 to 30 meters, reaching up to 40 meters in optimal conditions, though plankton blooms in spring can temporarily reduce clarity while boosting biological activity. A five-millimeter wetsuit is generally suitable during the primary diving season from May through October.

Marine life & sighting chances

Amberjack

occasional

Barracuda

occasional

Moray eel

common

Octopus

occasional

Grouper

occasional

Loggerhead sea turtle

occasional

Stingray

occasional

Nudibranch

common

Sea fan

common

Damselfish

common

Cuttlefish

occasional

Lobster

rare

Atlantic bluefin tuna

Summer · rare

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Dives at Besmi Island typically begin with a boat entry onto the island's more protected side to manage initial current exposure. The route often involves a controlled descent along cascading reefs, gradually deepening to explore rock formations, overhangs, and swim-throughs. Experienced dive guides navigate the currents, using them to drift along the most spectacular wall sections, where the ancient shipwreck and its amphorae can be found between 30 and 60 meters. The dive progresses with multilevel profiles, allowing exploration of shallower reef sections after deeper excursions. The turn point is determined by gas consumption and no-decompression limits, especially for deeper wreck exploration. Ascent is gradual, with a safety stop conducted in more sheltered waters, typically at 5 meters for a minimum of 3 minutes. Due to potential currents, the boat will likely pick up divers downstream of their ascent point.

Underwater photography

Capturing the dynamic environment of Besmi Island, from its dramatic topography to its pelagic visitors, benefits significantly from wide-angle lenses. The strong currents often attract schooling fish, making an excellent subject for expansive reefscapes. External strobes are highly recommended to bring out the vibrant colors of sponges and sea fans that adorn the walls and overhangs, especially at deeper sections or within swim-throughs. For macro enthusiasts, patience and keen observation are key to finding camouflaged octopus and colorful nudibranchs in sheltered crevices, requiring a macro lens. Excellent buoyancy control is paramount to navigate the currents safely, avoid disturbing the fragile marine life, and maintain stable shots.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Milet

  Milet is a boat-accessed dive site located off the coast near Didim, on Turkey's western Aegean Sea, providing a blend of natural reef…

• Pina Reef

  Pina Reef, locally referred to as Pina Banko, is a popular dive site situated off the Turkish city of Kaş.

• Ilyosta Island

  Ilyosta Island, situated west of Ayvalık in Turkey, is renowned for its vibrant and diverse underwater environment, making it a favorite…

• Domuz Island

  Domuz Island, also known as Pig Island, is a celebrated dive destination nestled within the Göcek archipelago, part of Fethiye Bay.

• Kızıl Island

  Kızıl Island, known locally as Kızılada, is a prominent dive site situated near Fethiye on Turkey's southwestern coast.

• Mengene

  Turkey's extensive coastline boasts numerous dive sites, and Mengene is among those found within this diverse region.

Getting there & logistics

Besmi Island is primarily accessed by boat from the bustling port of Kaş, which is approximately a 20-minute journey. Kaş can be reached via Dalaman Airport (DLM), which is the nearest international airport, or Antalya Airport (AYT), with transfers available to Kaş. Dive trips to Besmi Island are typically organized as day trips by local dive centers, often combining with other sites in the Kaş region. Liveaboards operating along Turkey's southwestern coast may also include Besmi Island in their itineraries, offering a more extensive exploration of the region's diverse dive spots. No specific permits are mentioned for diving Besmi Island, but booking through a licensed dive operator is essential.

Safety & environment

Diving Besmi Island requires adherence to advanced safety protocols due to the presence of strong and potentially unpredictable currents. Divers must be proficient in current diving techniques and maintain excellent buoyancy control. A recompression chamber is available in Kaş for emergencies, but evacuation from the island back to the mainland can take time, especially in adverse weather conditions. Divers should always carry valid dive insurance that covers emergency medical treatment and evacuation. It is crucial to dive with experienced guides familiar with the site's unique conditions and to closely follow their instructions, particularly regarding entry, ascent, and drift procedures. All divers must ensure their equipment is well-maintained and that they have sufficient gas for potential longer bottom times or drift distances.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Besmi Island FAQ

Liveaboards diving Besmi Island

These liveaboards may visit Besmi Island on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Okyanus JD

Turkey

12 guests24 m

$157/day