Underwater Exploration: Diving Routes in Kaş, Kekova and Side

The Antalya coast turns the sea from a place merely to swim into a world of exploration where history, nature and adventure are experienced together. The clear waters of Kaş, the submerged past of Kekova and the underwater museum of Side offer routes with distinct characters for those who want to know the Mediterranean from different angles. The EGE'Yİ SADECE GEZMEYİN .YAŞAYIN category, which brings these experiences together, guides those who want to add movement and meaning to a coastal holiday.

Scuba diving in Kaş: A first real encounter with the sea

At the center of these routes is the Kaş: Scuba Diving Experience and Underwater Wonders. This five-hour experience offers the chance to explore 21 different dive sites around Kaş by boat. The greatest advantage of the tour for those who want to get to know Kaş's underwater world is that it suits both beginners and certified divers.

While heading to suitable sites on a spacious and comfortable dive boat, professional dive instructors accompany participants throughout the experience. Those diving for the first time receive detailed information and an introductory dive before entering the water. Diving equipment, a safety briefing and insurance are included in the price, and tea and coffee are served on board.

Kaş's underwater clarity opens an exploration area different from the coastal scenery seen from the surface. For this reason, the focus of the tour is not only diving; it is about meeting the sea in a safe environment, experiencing the silence beneath the surface, and seeing firsthand why Kaş is one of Turkey's standout diving destinations. The next departure dates are listed as 10, 11 and 12 October 2026.

Kekova: Understanding the Sunken City from the sea

The 5 Bays, Kaleköy and Lunch Kekova Sunken City Boat Tour, departing from Kaş, is a suitable complementary route for those seeking a sea experience focused more on swimming, coastal exploration and history than on diving. The eight-hour tour sails through Kekova's turquoise waters, with swimming stops at places such as the Five Islands, İnönü Bay, Yağlıca Bay and Akvaryum Bay.

The most striking aspect of Kekova is the meeting of natural beauty and the past in the same landscape. The Sunken City is explored panoramically from the boat, while the visit to Kaleköy offers a close look at the cultural fabric of the region. The day also includes a lunch service of fish or chicken, five kinds of Turkish meze, tea, coffee and watermelon. This route offers a balanced day plan for those who want to feel the historical atmosphere of the shore as much as enter the water.

From Side to the Lycian heritage and the Kekova shores

For those planning a trip to Antalya from Side, the Side: Demre, Lycian Heritage Tour and Kekova Boat Trip combines the sea experience with archaeology. On this twelve-hour day tour, the route runs from Side along the coast to reach the ancient city of Myra. Rock-cut Lycian tombs and Roman-era theater ruins are visited with a licensed guide, who shares information on the historical significance of Lycian civilization.

The program continues with a visit to the ancient city of Limyra and a 1.5-hour Kekova boat tour. In this way, the cultural heritage of the ancient cities and the sea views of Kekova can both be seen within the same day. Hotel pick-up and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a professional licensed guide and lunch are included in the tour. The next dates for this route are 11, 13 and 15 October 2026.

Two dives at the Side Underwater Museum

For those who want to focus on the historical and artistic elements beneath the sea, the Side Diving Tour: 2 Dives Experience at the Underwater Museum offers a different option lasting seven to eight hours. The tour begins with hotel pick-up, followed by transfer to the Ancient Side Harbour and departure by boat at 10:00 in the morning. Participants are divided into groups by language preference: Turkish, English, Russian or German.

The first dive takes place at the Side Underwater Museum, at a depth of 8–10 meters and lasting 15–20 minutes with an instructor. After observing ancient statues and marine life, there is a lunch and swimming break at Kumköy Bay. Necessary diving equipment, guidance, boat and diving insurance, lunch and morning pomegranate tea are included in the tour.

Practical tips when choosing a route

First-time divers in Kaş can start the experience in a controlled way thanks to the safety briefing and introductory dive. Certified divers, on the other hand, can plan a more comprehensive exploration of the sea across the 21 different dive sites. Kekova routes appeal to those who want to swim in the bays and see the sunken past panoramically rather than dive, while the Side options suit those who want to fit history and sea experiences into the same day.

During the 10–12 October 2026 period, departures are available for the Kaş diving tour and the Kekova boat tour. For the two different experiences in Side, the dates listed for 10–12 October and 11–15 October should be taken into account. When building your program, consider the duration of the tour, its starting area and your diving level together, and you can begin exploring the Antalya coast from within the sea rather than just watching it.