Off the Kemer shoreline, below the lighthouse that gives the site its name, a rocky reef steps down from just 3 metres to around 18 metres. Kemer is known for the clearest water on this coast, and Lighthouse is where that clarity pays off most: bright shallows, long sightlines and a reef you can read from the surface.
The site's signature is a natural tunnel at about 9 metres, home to the shade-loving creatures divers hope to find on every Mediterranean reef. It is a beloved second-dive site — the kind of place instructors are happy to return to week after week.
We dive it on our full-day Kemer scuba diving boat trip (€43, about 8 hours), with two guided dives, lunch on board and free hotel transfer included.
A layered reef from 3 to 18 metres
Lighthouse is one of the most complete dive sites on the Kemer coast because of its shape. The reef begins at only 3 metres and descends in rocky terraces, ledges and gullies to around 18 metres, so one site serves every diver on the boat. The shallow shelf is calm and full of light — ideal for first-timers finding their breathing rhythm — while the lower slopes give licensed divers proper rock formations and overhangs to explore.
What sets it apart from similar reefs is the water itself. Kemer has the clearest water on this stretch of coast, and at Lighthouse that means you can often hover at 5 metres and see the whole structure laid out beneath you like a map. Sunlight reaches deep into the site, which keeps the upper rocks busy with shoals of reef fish, and the boulder field is full of the cracks and crevices where octopus like to tuck themselves away.
Crucially, most of the interesting terrain sits between 3 and 13 metres — exactly the depth range of our guided dives. You are not looking down at a reef you cannot visit; you are on it. The deeper structure toward 18 metres remains there for certified divers when the dive plan allows. Highlights at a glance:
- 3–8 m: bright shelf, reef fish, ideal first-dive ground
- 9 m: the tunnel and its shaded cave life
- 12–18 m: terraces and rock formations for the second dive and certified divers
The 9-metre tunnel and the life in the shadows
The reason divers talk about Lighthouse is the tunnel. At around 9 metres a natural passage runs through the rock — deep enough to feel like a real cave moment, shallow enough to sit comfortably within a guided dive. Around and inside it lives the reef's shade-loving community: this is exactly the kind of habitat where octopus wedge into crevices and small fish hang in the dark, so keep your eyes on the walls and ceilings, not just the open water. As everywhere in the sea, sightings are never guaranteed — but shaded rock like this is where the interesting finds usually happen.
One honest note on how we dive it. Swimming through any overhead environment is always the instructor's call on the day, based on conditions and on you. Certified divers and confident guests are often guided through; on a first try-dive your instructor may instead bring you to the tunnel mouth, where you can look through the passage and watch its residents with open water above you. Cave-style penetration diving beyond a simple swim-through is reserved for certified divers and arranged separately — it is never part of a standard beginner dive.
If tunnels and shadows are what excite you, tell us when you book. The Kemer area also hides certified-only sites such as the Paris II wreck, a WW1-era French freighter lying at 21–31 metres — we arrange those days on request through our contact page.
How a Lighthouse dive day works
Lighthouse is dived on our full-day Kemer boat trip — €43 per diver for roughly 8 hours, led by PADI-certified instructors. The day starts with a morning pickup from your hotel (the exact time is confirmed the evening before) and a free two-way transfer to the boat. After a full safety briefing you make two guided dives:
- Morning dive: 5–8 metres for 15–25 minutes — skills, breathing and confidence on the bright upper reef
- Afternoon dive: down to 12–13 metres — this is where Lighthouse shines as the classic second dive, with the tunnel and the deeper terraces in reach
Everything you need is included: all diving equipment, a fresh lunch cooked on board, passenger and diving insurance, and your instructor's guidance from briefing to logbook. After the dives your instructor signs your logbook — a nice souvenir on a try-dive and a real record if you continue toward certification. CMAS courses can be arranged on request if Lighthouse convinces you to take diving further.
Travelling with someone who would rather stay dry? Non-divers can join the same boat as visitors at a reduced rate and enjoy the cruise, the swimming stops and lunch. Full pricing for all our trips is on the prices page.
Who Lighthouse suits – and how to book
Beginners are the heart of this site. No licence is needed, the format is a guided try-dive with an instructor beside you, and the reef's best terrain lies within beginner depths. Try-dives are available from around age 10, and shallower bubble-style programmes for younger children exist in the industry — ask us and we will advise honestly what suits your family. Certified divers get the deeper terraces toward 18 metres, and for those who want more, wreck and deep days (Paris II, the DO-28 aircraft) are arranged on request — no fixed schedule, just message us.
A few health rules protect every diver: diving is not possible during pregnancy or with severe asthma, heart or respiratory conditions. And plan your calendar so you do not fly within 24 hours after diving.
Booking is deliberately simple: reserve free online, pay on the day, and cancel free up to 24 hours before the trip. If you are unsure whether Lighthouse or another Kemer site fits your experience level, browse all our boat trips or send us a message — we would rather match you to the right day than oversell one.
