Scuba Diving from Manavgat

Manavgat is one of the rare resort areas on the Turkish Riviera that still feels like a real town. Set where the Manavgat River winds down to the Mediterranean east of Side, it pairs a lively riverside centre — tea gardens, market stalls, boat quays — with a long coastal strip of sandy beaches and holiday hotels. The famous waterfall pulls in the day-trippers, but for divers the true attraction lies a little further out, beneath the surface of the sea itself.

Your dive day begins with a morning pickup right at your Manavgat hotel — the free two-way transfer is included, so there is nothing to organise. A short drive brings you to the harbour in neighbouring Side, where the dive boat is waiting. After a full safety briefing you make your first guided dive at a relaxed 5–8 metres for 15–25 minutes. Back on deck, a fresh lunch is prepared on board, and in the afternoon the second dive takes you a little deeper, to about 13 metres — the ceiling for beginners — before the boat returns and the transfer drops you back at your hotel 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.

Divers staying in Manavgat choose this trip above all for the Side Underwater Museum: a gallery of sunken sculptures resting on the seabed, where shoals of curious fish will eat straight from your hand. With only 3–4 divers per instructor, the day stays personal from briefing to logbook. The full seven-hour programme — two dives, all equipment, lunch, insurance and transfer — costs €45. See the details on the Side Underwater Museum diving trip page, or compare everything we run on our prices page. Reserving online is free, you pay on the day in cash or by card, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.

Never dived before? No licence is needed — every dive is guided step by step, and try-dives are possible from around age ten, which makes this an easy family day out. Companions who prefer to stay dry join as boat guests at a reduced rate. Read how a first dive works in our discover scuba diving guide, and if you are unsure about dates, just message us for current availability.