Kas Diving — Turkey

Kaş is Turkey's dive capital, offering canyon dives through dramatic rock formations, WWII-era wrecks, and the occasional ancient amphora on the seabed. The Lycian coast's crystal-clear waters rival anything in the Mediterranean, and at Turkish prices it's one of the best-value Med dive destinations.

Score
56.5 / 100
Country
Turkey
Region
Mediterranean
Area
Antalya
Nearest airport
Antalya (AYT)
Visibility
15–40 m
Water temperature
16–28 °C
Max depth
40 m
Current strength
moderate
Dive types
wreck, pelagic
Best months
May, June, July, August, September, October
Minimum certification
Open Water
Access type
boat
Average 2-tank dive cost
$60 USD
Budget tier
mid range
Key species
octopus, barracuda, grouper, moray eel
Google rating
0 (0 reviews)
Top operators
Bougainville Travel Kas, Kas Diving
Nearest hyperbaric chamber
Antalya Hyperbaric Chamber (~200 km)
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World Class
Intermediate
Kas
TurkeyMediterranean
56.5

SCORE

36.2000°N

29.6383°E

Kaş is Turkey's dive capital, offering canyon dives through dramatic rock formations, WWII-era wrecks, and the occasional ancient amphora on the seabed. The Lycian coast's crystal-clear waters rival anything in the Mediterranean, and at Turkish prices it's one of the best-value Med dive destinations.

Turkey's Lycian Coast Dive Capital

Visibility15–40 m
Temperature16–28°C
Max Depth40 m
Currentmoderate
2-Tank Dive$60
Best MonthsMay, June, July, August
CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

ML40.0CH31.0VIS85.0SV43.0TMP50.0DA62.0OP73.0TS66.0GT68.0VAL63.0CRD57.0SP57.0

Marine Life

40.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity
64
Megafauna Encounters
0
Reef Fish Abundance
82
Macro Life
0
Endemic Species
40

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life Diversity
40.0
Coral & Reef Health
31.0
Visibility & Conditions
85.0
Dive Site Variety
43.0
Water Temperature
50.0
Depth & Access
62.0
Operator Quality
73.0
Topside Experience
66.0
Getting There
68.0
Value & Cost
63.0
Crowding
57.0
Social Proof
57.0

Key Species

octopusbarracudagroupermoray eel

Dive Types

wreckpelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

Lycian Way hiking (ancient trail)sea kayaking to Kekova sunken cityPatara Beachparagliding over the coastKas old town dining

Nearby Cultural Sites

  • Kekova Sunken City (Lycian ruins underwater, viewed from boat)
  • Antiphellos amphitheatre
  • Patara ruins & lighthouse
  • Myra rock tombs & Santa Claus Church

Non-Diver Partner Score

8/10

Excellent for non-divers — they'll love it here.

Family FriendlyYes
Restaurants & Nightlifemoderate

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org
Hyperbaric Chamber200 km — Antalya Hyperbaric Chamber
Nearest Hospital5 km

Small hospital in Kas; chamber in Antalya (3 hr drive); helicopter available

Skill LevelIntermediate
Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Bougainville Travel Kas

PADI

4.8
320 reviewsNITROX

Kas Diving

PADI

4.7
240 reviewsNITROX
Compare This Dive Site
Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives
60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification
Advanced Open Water

What will challenge you

  • →Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
  • →Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
  • →Cooler than most tropical sites — 16°C minimum. A 5 mm wetsuit is the floor for longer dives.
  • →Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
  • →Nearest hyperbaric chamber is ~200 km away. Evacuation is slow. Dive conservative profiles and get DAN insurance before you fly.
Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects33
Wide angle56
Viz stability44
Hover friendliness70
Natural light60

Recommended kit

  • →Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone
  • →Cold-water housing — condensation is a real issue below 18°C, bring silica packs
Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget
$1,500–$2,350

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US)
$590–$720
Accommodation / day
$50–$100
Diving / day
$50–$60
Food / day
$25–$50
Transfers + misc
$50–$150
Mid-range
$2,500–$3,950

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US)
$810–$990
Accommodation / day
$120–$220
Diving / day
$60–$80
Food / day
$55–$100
Transfers + misc
$50–$150
Splurge
$4,600–$7,700

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US)
$1,350–$1,650
Accommodation / day
$260–$500
Diving / day
$80–$100
Food / day
$120–$240
Transfers + misc
$50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here