Dive Site: Canyon Dive (Kaş)

About Canyon Dive (Kaş)

Kaş Canyon in Antalya, Turkey, offers a unique double-feature dive experience that combines a dramatic canyon with a historical shipwreck. Located in the five islands area off the coast of Kaş, divers typically enter via boat and can surface-swim to the top and backside of the island before descending. The dive begins shallow, leading into a narrow gorge with two steep walls that drop to approximately 20 meters, revealing impressive cave formations. Following the right wall out of the canyon, divers encounter the Dimitris wreck, also known as the "Cotton Wreck," a 1968 steel freighter resting between 27 and 42 meters, its cargo scattered across the seabed. The canyon walls are home to nudibranchs, and the area is known for occasional sightings of Mediterranean monk seals. Amberjacks and ornate wrasses are also common. Visibility in Kaş is exceptional year-round, often exceeding 30 meters, ensuring a clear view of the diverse marine life and underwater topography. The dive site offers a blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue, making it a compelling destination for those seeking both topography and wreck exploration. While the dive starts shallow, the presence of a shipwreck at greater depths and the possibility of strong southerly currents, particularly at the canyon entrance, necessitate a certain level of experience. An underwater memorial to Gökhan Türe is also found on the way to the wreck at around 30 meters. Early morning is often the best time to dive this site for optimal conditions.

Dive site facts: Canyon Dive (Kaş)

Depth

5–42 m

Typical dive

12–32 m, 44 min

Current

Occasional strong southerly current

Visibility

8–40 m

Water temperature

16–28°C

Entry

Boat / surface swim

Level

Advanced Open Water

Dive type

Wreck, canyon, cave, topography

Region / port

Kaş, Antalya, Turkey

Coordinates

36.1522, 29.6272

Conditions & Currents

Strong currents are common; drift-diving experience and an SMB or reef hook are recommended. Dive profiles here run between roughly 12 and 42 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for advanced divers. It can be dived from a liveaboard or a day boat, depending on where you start the trip. Because the flow can pick up quickly, drift profiles, a surface marker buoy and a tight group are standard practice here, and the crew's briefing always overrides any general description.

Marine life & sighting chances

Mediterranean monk seal

occasional

Nudibranch

occasional

Great Amberjack

occasional

Ornate Wrasse

common

Loggerhead turtle

occasional

Grouper

common

Moray eel

occasional

Octopus

occasional

Red shrimp

common

Button coral

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Your dive at Kaş Canyon begins as a boat entry, often followed by a surface swim around the island's backside to a descent point. You'll enter a narrow gorge, with walls dropping to approximately 20 meters. Be prepared for potential strong southerly currents as you navigate this section. Inside the canyon, explore a cave where light from the surface penetrates, illuminating walls adorned with button coral and red shrimp. After exiting the canyon, follow the right wall, gradually descending towards the "Dimitris" wreck, a steel freighter that sank in 1968. The wreck lies between 27 to 42 meters, with cotton cargo scattered across the seabed. Look for an underwater memorial at around 30 meters. The safety stop typically occurs during the ascent from the wreck towards shallower areas of the canyon.

Underwater photography

Kaş Canyon offers excellent opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the impressive scale of the canyon walls, the dramatic light shafts entering the cave, and the entirety of the "Dimitris" wreck. For the smaller inhabitants like nudibranchs, red shrimp, and button coral within the canyon and cave, switch to a macro lens. Given the variable visibility and depth, external strobes are highly recommended to bring out true colors and add contrast, especially on the wreck and inside the cave. Practice good buoyancy control, particularly in the narrow canyon sections and around the fragile cave walls, to avoid stirring up sediment or damaging marine life. Maintain a respectful distance from any Mediterranean monk seals encountered.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Italian WWII Plane Wreck (Kaş)

  The Italian WWII Plane Wreck, known locally as "Flying Fish," offers a compelling dive into history off the coast of Kaş.

• Fener Adası (Kaş)

  Fener Adası, situated near Kaş, is a highly favored dive site due to its proximity and diverse underwater topography.

• Kaş Tunnel

  Kaş Tunnel, located off the coast of Kaş in Antalya, Turkey, offers a distinctive boat-access dive experience.

• Lighthouse Reef (Kaş)

  Lighthouse Reef is a prominent dive site near Kaş, Turkey, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters and diverse underwater landscape.

• Amphora Reef

  Amphora Reef, located near Kaş on Turkey's southwestern coast, is a distinguished dive site renowned for its historical artifacts and…

Getting there & logistics

Kaş is located on Turkey's southwest coast, within the Antalya province. The closest major airports are Antalya (AYT) and Dalaman (DLM), both approximately 2.5 hours' drive away. From these airports, you can arrange transfers or rent a car to reach Kaş. Dive trips to Kaş Canyon typically depart from Kaş harbor as boat dives. Most dive operators in Kaş offer daily trips combining multiple dive sites. There are no specific marine park fees for diving in Kaş, but dive package costs cover boat transport and guide services. It's common to combine a Kaş diving trip with exploring the town's historical Lycian monuments and enjoying its relaxed atmosphere. Dive seasons generally run from May to November, with peak conditions in September and October offering warm water and excellent visibility.

Safety & environment

For diving in Kaş, the nearest recompression chamber is located in Antalya. In case of a dive emergency, evacuation would primarily involve boat transfer back to Kaş and then overland transport to Antalya. Comprehensive dive insurance is highly recommended, covering medical emergencies, evacuation, and recompression treatment. At Kaş Canyon, specific hazards include potential strong southerly currents, particularly at the canyon entrance, which can make navigation challenging. Divers should be experienced in current management. The dive also involves depths up to 42 meters, requiring Advanced Open Water certification or equivalent and proper deep dive training. Maintain strict depth and no-decompression limits, and adhere closely to your dive guide's instructions, especially within the narrow canyon and wreck areas. Avoid touching fragile cave walls or wreck artifacts.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Canyon Dive (Kaş) FAQ

Liveaboards diving Canyon Dive (Kaş)

These liveaboards may visit Canyon Dive (Kaş) on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

Okyanus JD

Turkey

12 guests24 m

$157/day