Dive Site: Lighthouse

About Lighthouse

Lighthouse is a common name for two distinct dive sites in Turkey, both offering compelling underwater experiences. The first is a beginner-friendly reef located near the Datça Peninsula in the Aegean Sea, characterized by rocky formations extending from a coastal lighthouse. This site boasts a healthy reef environment with standard Mediterranean marine species and is known for its gentle depth profile and typically sheltered conditions, making it ideal for newer divers. The second, Lighthouse C-47 Airplane, is situated near Kaş and combines a sheltered reef slope with a deliberately sunk C-47 Dakota military transport aircraft. This artificial reef, resting at approximately 18 meters, offers a unique blend of historical intrigue and marine biology. The plane's fuselage remains largely intact, providing complex habitats for fish and offering excellent photographic opportunities. Both 'Lighthouse' sites feature good visibility and healthy marine communities, including groupers, moray eels, and octopus. The Kaş site, in particular, is renowned for its clear waters, often exceeding 30 meters, and its suitability for recreational wreck and reef diving. While the Datça site caters to a broader range of experience levels with its calm conditions, the C-47 site is typically recommended for advanced open water divers due to the wreck's depth and structure, ensuring generous bottom times with ample natural light.

Dive site facts: Lighthouse

Depth

10–30 m (reef), 18–30 m (wreck)

Typical dive

15–25 m, 40–60 min (reef); 18–22 m, 45–60 min (wreck)

Current

Mild to moderate drift

Visibility

18–40 m

Water temperature

16–29°C

Entry

Boat

Level

Beginner to Advanced (reef), Advanced (wreck)

Dive type

Reef, wall, drift, wreck

Region / port

Datça Peninsula (reef), Kaş (wreck)

Coordinates

36.1950° N, 29.6200° E

Conditions & Currents

At Lighthouse (Kaş), currents are typically mild, making the site suitable for many divers, though some areas may experience noticeable drift. Dive guides usually plan entries upstream to facilitate gentle drift dives, allowing divers to cover more ground with less effort. Exceptional visibility, often reaching 40 meters, aids in observing current flow around formations. For the C-47 wreck, currents are usually mild at depth, but surface conditions can vary with wind. Divers should maintain good buoyancy, stay aware of their buddy, and strictly follow dive briefings for entry, exit, and group procedures, as the boat tracks divers and performs down-current pickups.

Marine life & sighting chances

Grouper

common

Moray Eel

common

Octopus

common

Sea bream

common

Wrasse

common

Damselfish

common

Barracuda

common

Nudibranch

common

Turtle

Summer · common

Ray

occasional

Cuttlefish

occasional

Seahorse

June to October · rare

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Dives at the Lighthouse (Kaş) site typically begin with a boat entry, often positioned upstream of any mild currents, facilitating a gentle drift over the reef. Divers descend along a sloping reef or wall, exploring depths between 15 to 25 meters, where a significant portion of the marine life, including turtles, can be observed. For the C-47 wreck, the dive focuses on the aircraft at around 18 meters, often combining it with exploration of the adjacent reef down to 30 meters. Turn points are guided by air consumption and depth limits, with the dive guide managing the group's progression. The ascent involves a slow, controlled rise, concluding with safety stops at 5 meters. A delayed surface marker buoy (DSMB) is commonly deployed to signal the boat for pick-up, which tracks divers down-current.

Underwater photography

Lighthouse (Kaş) offers exceptional visibility, often reaching 40 meters, making it excellent for wide-angle photography to capture expansive reef formations and schooling fish. For subjects like turtles, barracudas, and groupers, a mid-range zoom lens is highly effective. Macro enthusiasts will find abundant nudibranchs and potentially elusive seahorses, which benefit from a dedicated macro lens. At the C-47 wreck, the relatively shallow depth of 18 meters provides ample natural light for photography, especially of the intact fuselage and cockpit. Buoyancy control is crucial, particularly around the wreck, to avoid stirring up sediment and compromising visibility for shots inside the cargo area or around the sandy bottom. Natural light is often sufficient, but strobes can enhance colors and bring out details on the wreck and marine life.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Ottoman Anchor

  Ottoman Anchor is a boat-accessible reef dive centered around a significant historical anchor.

• Sari Mehmet

  Sari Mehmet is a challenging and rewarding dive site located near the Datça Peninsula in Turkey's Aegean Sea.

• Catermaran Wreck

  The Turkish coast, particularly the Riviera, offers diverse diving experiences, including a variety of wrecks.

• Coastguard Wreck

  The Coastguard Wreck is a Fethiye boat dive, featuring a retired coast guard ship scuttled to form an artificial reef alongside a natural…

• Abdi Reis

  Abdi Reis is a highly regarded dive site situated near the Datça Peninsula in Turkey's Aegean Sea, specifically located within Abdi Reis…

• Canyon Dive (Kaş)

  Kaş Canyon in Antalya, Turkey, offers a unique double-feature dive experience that combines a dramatic canyon with a historical shipwreck.

Getting there & logistics

Access to both 'Lighthouse' sites is via boat. The Datça Peninsula site is reached from nearby coastal towns. The Lighthouse (Kaş) and C-47 wreck sites are short boat rides from Kaş harbor. Kaş is located on Turkey's southwest coast, approximately 2.5 hours' drive from Antalya and Dalaman airports. Dive trips typically involve local operators from Kaş, who arrange boat access and site briefings. While specific permits or fees are usually integrated into dive package costs, standard wreck and marine-life protection regulations apply, prohibiting artifact removal or touching the wreck. These sites are commonly included in daily dive excursions or multi-dive packages from Kaş, catering to various skill levels.

Safety & environment

For diving in Turkey, including the Lighthouse sites, it is always recommended to have comprehensive dive insurance covering potential accidents and evacuation. The nearest recompression chamber would be in a major medical center like Antalya, requiring land transport. Site-specific hazards include boat traffic at the surface, especially around the C-47 wreck, and potential waves or surge depending on weather conditions. Divers must stay with their guide's planned route, maintain excellent buoyancy to avoid stirring sediment around the C-47, and never touch or remove artifacts from the wrecks or reef. Observing all local regulations regarding marine life interaction is essential. In Kaş, local operators are required, and briefings cover entry, exit, and group procedures.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Lighthouse FAQ

Liveaboards diving Lighthouse

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

Okyanus JD

Turkey

12 guests24 m

$157/day