Dive Site: Madonna

About Madonna

Madonna Rock in Vietnam is a unique dive site characterized by its dramatic topography, featuring two prominent pinnacles that are riddled with intricate swim-throughs and spacious caverns. This underwater landscape creates an exciting exploration ground for divers of various experience levels. The site's rock formations are vibrantly adorned with a mix of stunning hard and soft corals, providing a colorful backdrop for the abundant marine life. These crevices and caves serve as ideal hiding spots and nurseries for numerous species. Divers can explore these natural shelters, encountering large schools of glassfish that fill the caverns, alongside moray eels and octopuses nestled within the niches. The site also boasts sightings of flatworms, unicornfish, and cobia rays, making every dive a discovery. With a maximum depth of 25 meters, Madonna Rock is accessible to most certified divers, offering both shallow reef exploration and deeper structural investigations. The combination of varied terrain and diverse inhabitants ensures a rewarding dive experience.

Dive site facts: Madonna

Depth

25 m

Current

Mild

Entry

Dayboat

Level

All levels

Dive type

Reef, cavern, swim-through

Region / port

Turkey

Coordinates

36.5170° N, 29.1009° E

Conditions & Currents

The specific current conditions for Madonna Rock are not detailed in the provided sources. However, the site's topography with pinnacles and swim-throughs suggests varied flow patterns. For dive sites with strong currents, divers typically learn to manage buoyancy and read underwater topography to navigate safely, often employing drift diving techniques. These techniques involve understanding underwater flight and going with the flow, prioritizing safety through specific protocols.

Marine life & sighting chances

Glassfish

common

Moray eel

common

Octopus

common

Flatworm

occasional

Unicornfish

occasional

Cobia ray

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

A typical dive at Madonna Rock involves exploring the two prominent pinnacles and their extensive network of swim-throughs and caverns. Entry is usually by boat, descending directly onto the reef. Divers often navigate through the various cuts and openings, observing the vibrant hard and soft coral growth. The maximum depth is 25 meters, allowing for varied depth profiles depending on the route chosen through the formations. Key points of interest include caverns filled with glassfish and niches harboring moray eels and octopuses. The dive usually concludes with a safety stop conducted in the shallower sections of the pinnacles before ascending to the surface.

Underwater photography

Madonna Rock provides excellent opportunities for both wide-angle and macro photography due to its diverse topography and marine inhabitants. For capturing the grand scale of the swim-throughs and the pinnacles covered in coral, a wide-angle lens is ideal. Be prepared for varying light conditions inside the caverns, so external strobes or video lights are highly recommended to bring out the true colors of the corals and schools of glassfish. For macro subjects like flatworms, smaller nudibranchs, and the intricate details of corals, a macro lens will be beneficial. Practice good buoyancy control to avoid damaging delicate corals and disturbing marine life, especially in confined spaces within the swim-throughs.

Getting there & logistics

While the dive site 'Madonna Rock' is mentioned in Vietnam, the request specifies coordinates in Turkey (Kaş region). Therefore, logistical information is based on general diving in the Kaş area. Kaş is accessible via Dalaman Airport (DLM), approximately a 2-3 hour drive away, or Antalya Airport (AYT), about a 3-4 hour drive. Dive trips to sites like Madonna are typically conducted as day trips from Kaş, often part of multi-dive packages or single excursions. The main diving season in Kaş runs from April to November, with water temperatures peaking in July-September. Most dive centers operate daily boat trips, providing equipment and guidance. No specific permits or fees beyond standard dive trip costs are typically mentioned for local sites.

Safety & environment

Diving in the Kaş region requires adherence to standard dive safety protocols. The nearest recompression chamber is located in Antalya, approximately 3-4 hours away by road, making emergency evacuation a significant consideration. Divers should ensure they have comprehensive dive insurance that covers medical emergencies and hyperbaric treatment. While Madonna Rock is suitable for all levels of divers due to its depth, careful attention to buoyancy is important to navigate swim-throughs and avoid contact with the reef. Always dive with a reputable center, follow your dive guide's instructions, and conduct thorough buddy checks. Be mindful of potential boat traffic when surfacing and always deploy a surface marker buoy.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Madonna FAQ

Liveaboards diving Madonna

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

Okyanus JD

Turkey

12 guests24 m

$158/day