
Water Sports
Scuba Diving
North Cyprus is an ideal location for snorkeling and scuba diving,
with its largely un-spoilt coastline and year-round warm waters that
rarely drop below 17 degrees centigrade. There are also no tides to
worry about and you can enjoy one of the longest diving seasons in
the world, which lasts from April through to the New Year. The
island’s fascinating history spanning several empires also means
there is much to explore underwater, including many exciting
shipwrecks. Even better, North Cyprus’s potential has only recently
been discovered by international divers, making now an ideal time to
visit.
The seas fringing North Cyprus’s coastline boast exceptional
visibility of up to 30 metres thanks to low pollution, making the 20
or more recognized dive sites a fantastic setting for beginners and
experienced divers alike. The main dive centers in the region are
based around Girne, where you will have the opportunity to take dive
safaris, learn diving or develop your skills to international
certified standards.
Explore one of the world’s oldest shipwrecks, dating from Alexander
the Great’s time 2,300 years ago, or mingle with sea turtles,
grouper, amber jacks and wrasse who live among the coral and
colourful sponges. For the more experienced, you might like to try
the Zephyros reef with a challenging drop from 18 to 28 metres or
discover the underwater mountain peak of Zeyko.
It is currently forbidden to dive without a local guide in North
Cyprus and it is illegal to move or touch any historic artefacts. In
case of emergency, there is a decompression chamber at the Dr.
Burhan Nalbantoğlu Hospital in Lefkoşa.
Girne Area:
 |
Anchor:
Ancient
artefacts – 27m |
 |
Antique
Shop:
Amphorae &
marine life – 25m |
 |
Bambi:
Marine
life – 14m |
 |
Chicken
farm:
Unknown
rock formations – 18m |
 |
Fred:
Golden
grouper & other fish – 25m |
 |
Lost:
Turtles &
rays |
 |
Mare
Monte:
Sports
training & groupers – 18m |
 |
Mare Monte
Islands:
Holes &
marine life – 20m |
 |
Paradise:
Marine
life – 42m |
 |
Pinoccio:
Good
training site – 14-26m |
 |
Rita:
Huge
anchor – 12m |
 |
The Wall:
Old chain
& anchor, corb fish – 29m |
 |
Wreck
sites:
2 boats
and unknown wreck – 17-30m |
 |
Zephyros:
Reef &
marine life – 20m |
 |
Zeyko:
Underwater
mountain – 14-28m |