Scuba Diving from Gündoğdu

Gündoğdu stretches along a wide ribbon of sand a short drive west of Side, on one of the calmest stretches of the Turkish Riviera. It is a place built for unhurried holidays: spacious resort hotels set back from the beach, gardens shaded by pine and oleander, and the Taurus Mountains rising hazy and blue behind the coast. Days here revolve entirely around the sea — which makes Gündoğdu a natural starting point for your first breath underwater.

Your dive day begins with a morning pickup from your Gündoğdu hotel — the free two-way transfer is included — and a short ride to the harbour in Side, where the dive boat is waiting. After a full safety briefing you make two guided dives: a gentle first descent to 5–8 metres lasting 15–25 minutes, then, once a fresh lunch has been cooked and served on board, a second dive to about 13 metres, the ceiling for beginners. Tank, regulator, wetsuit, mask and fins are all provided, and passenger and diving insurance is part of the package. Certified divers dive the real profiles from the same boats: around 30 metres on standard certified dives, and down to 60 metres on the deep sites for suitably qualified divers.

Divers staying in Gündoğdu almost always pick the Side Underwater Museum trip — our flagship day out. It is a seven-hour boat journey to a sunken sculpture park where statues rest on the seabed and fish swirl close enough to feed from your hand. Groups stay small, with three to four divers per instructor, so nobody is rushed. The full day costs €45 — compare everything on our prices page, then reserve free online and pay on the day, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

No licence? No problem. Both dives are fully guided, the first stays shallow enough for complete beginners, and try-dives are possible from around age ten — our discover scuba diving guide explains exactly what a first dive feels like. Friends or family who prefer to stay dry can join as boat visitors at a reduced rate and enjoy the cruise and lunch. Please note: diving is not possible during pregnancy or with severe asthma, heart or respiratory conditions, and you should not fly within 24 hours after diving.