Dive Site: Chimney Cave

About Chimney Cave

Chimney Cave, also known as Bubble Cave, is a distinctive boat dive located behind Karaada island in Bodrum, Turkey. This site is celebrated for its unique chimney-shaped cave formation, offering a compact yet engaging dive profile that emphasizes buoyancy control and careful movement within its confines. The cave features a narrow opening that gives way to an unexpectedly bright interior, making a relatively short traverse a rewarding and visually appealing route for divers. While the cave's maximum depth is modest, typically between 12 and 15 meters, the overhead environment and confined spaces elevate its challenge beyond standard open water dives. It serves as an excellent site for those seeking a swim-through experience where torch usage enhances visibility and observation. The cave walls are characterized by natural formations, and within the entrance zone, divers can observe various marine species attracted to the cave's unique environment. Diving Chimney Cave requires precise buoyancy and an awareness of the delicate surroundings, as the presence of fragile sponges and corals necessitates careful navigation to avoid disturbance. The experience offers a blend of natural beauty and a test of diving skills, rewarding those who approach it with control and respect for the environment. It stands out as a site where careful technique is paramount, providing a fulfilling exploration for divers who appreciate intricate underwater topographies.

Dive site facts: Chimney Cave

Depth

12–15 m

Current

No current to light surge

Visibility

25 m

Water temperature

18–28°C

Entry

Boat dive

Level

Intermediate

Dive type

Cave, swim-through

Region / port

Bodrum, Turkey

Coordinates

36.1770° N, 29.6015° E

Conditions & Currents

Currents at Chimney Cave are typically minimal, often described as having 'no current,' making for a relatively calm dive experience. However, divers should be aware of light surge, particularly near the entrance. The narrow opening of the chimney requires divers to pass through one at a time, making controlled entry and exit crucial. Maintaining precise buoyancy and avoiding fin kicks that could stir up sediment is essential to preserve visibility within the cave. While the site is not primarily a drift dive, careful body positioning and gas management are always important due to the overhead environment.

Marine life & sighting chances

Crab

occasional

Eel

occasional

Octopus

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Your dive at Chimney Cave begins with a boat entry behind Karaada. After descending, navigate towards the cave's narrow opening, which requires careful buoyancy and a calm approach. Divers typically enter the chimney one by one, using a torch to illuminate the internal features and the delicate coral and sponge growth. The route is short but focuses on navigating the chimney's twists and turns, maintaining controlled movement to avoid disturbing the fine sediment or fragile marine life. The maximum depth reached inside is around 12 to 15 meters, offering ample no-decompression time. After traversing the chimney, the dive typically concludes with an ascent back to the boat, often incorporating a safety stop at 5 meters in the open water outside the cave, allowing divers to decompress while observing the surrounding reef.

Underwater photography

To capture the unique environment of Chimney Cave, a wide-angle lens is ideal for showcasing the cave's bright interior and distinctive chimney shape. Due to the overhead environment and potential for low light, an external strobe or video light is highly recommended to bring out the vibrant colors of the sponges and corals. Practicing excellent buoyancy control is paramount, as disturbing sediment can quickly reduce visibility and ruin shots. Focus on composition that highlights the shafts of natural light, the shimmer of the halocline if present, and the scale of the cave. For macro opportunities, a keen eye is needed to spot crustaceans or eels within crevices, where a snoot or focused beam can isolate subjects without over-lighting the confined space.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Black Island Lighthouse

  Sheltered bay for training dives

• Big Reef

  Reef with a shallow top and steep wall

• Small Reef

  Reef with walls, ledges, and dense marine life

• Kurt Burnu Wolf's Point

  Point dive with rocks, wreck bits, and current

• Kargı Island

  Boat-only drift site with strong current

Getting there & logistics

Chimney Cave is located near Bodrum, a popular departure point for diving in Turkey. Divers typically access the site via day boat trips originating from Bodrum marinas. The nearest international airport serving Bodrum is Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV). Dive excursions often combine this cave dive with other nearby sites around Karaada or the Bodrum peninsula. Trip lengths can vary from single-day excursions to longer liveaboard itineraries, although liveaboards primarily cater to multi-day explorations of various regions. Permits for diving are generally handled by licensed dive operators, and there are no specific park fees mentioned for this site.

Safety & environment

Diving Chimney Cave involves an overhead environment, necessitating advanced training and excellent buoyancy control. Divers must remain calm and composed, as direct access to the surface is not possible within the cave. A primary hazard is rapid visibility reduction if fine sediment on the cave floor is disturbed by fin kicks. Divers should use a torch for better visibility and to highlight fragile sponges and corals, which must not be touched. Moving through the narrow chimney should be done one by one, following the guide's instructions. The nearest recompression chamber would be found in larger medical facilities in Bodrum. Always ensure you have comprehensive dive insurance that covers cave diving and potential emergency evacuations.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Chimney Cave FAQ

Liveaboards diving Chimney Cave

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

Okyanus JD

Turkey

12 guests24 m

$157/day