Scuba Diving from Kumköy

Kumköy takes its name from the Turkish word for sand, and one look at its long, gently shelving beach explains why. Just west of Side's ancient peninsula, this friendly resort quarter lines the shore with sea-view hotels, beach bars and water-sports stations, while old Side's ruins and harbour restaurants sit only a short dolmuş ride away. The Mediterranean here is warm, clear and calm for much of the year — a natural invitation to find out what lies beneath the surface.

The dive day itself is refreshingly simple. In the morning we collect you from your Kumköy hotel — the transfer is included, so there is nothing to organise — and bring you aboard the dive boat. After a full safety briefing and equipment fitting, your first guided dive takes place at 5–8 metres and lasts about 15–25 minutes: time enough to relax, breathe easily and spot Mediterranean fish among the rocks. A freshly prepared lunch is served on deck, then the afternoon dive goes a little deeper, to about 13 metres — the ceiling for beginners — before the boat turns for home and we drop you back at your hotel — a relaxed six-hour day from door to door. 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.

For divers and first-timers staying in Kumköy, the choice is easy: the Kumköy scuba diving trip departs right from this stretch of coast, so you spend your time in the water rather than on the road. The €43 price covers both guided dives, the complete equipment set — tank, regulator, wetsuit, mask and fins — lunch on board, passenger and diving insurance, and the two-way hotel transfer; see our prices page for the full overview. Certified divers are welcome too, and we will happily sign and stamp your logbook at the end of the day.

No licence? No problem. Every dive is led by an instructor, try-dives are open from around age ten, and non-diving friends can come along as boat guests at a reduced rate. Curious how your first breath underwater feels? See our discover scuba diving page, then reserve online for free and simply pay on the day.