Scuba Diving from Okurcalar

Okurcalar marks the point where the Alanya coastline begins to slow down: a compact, self-contained resort area roughly halfway between Side and Alanya, where large holiday hotels line a wide sweep of beach with the green foothills of the Taurus rising behind them. There is no busy town centre and no crowded promenade — and that is precisely the appeal. Days revolve around the sand and the warm, gently shelving sea, evenings around the hotel gardens, and the unhurried rhythm keeps families and repeat guests returning season after season.

A dive day from Okurcalar is refreshingly simple. In the morning we collect you from your hotel — the two-way transfer is free and included — and follow the coastal road east to Alanya, where the dive boat is waiting. After a thorough safety briefing, your first guided dive takes you down to 5–8 metres for 15 to 25 minutes: an easy, confidence-building start over the rocky seabed. Back on deck a freshly prepared lunch is served, and once you have rested, the second dive descends to 12–13 metres, where caves and rocky reefs in the waters off Cleopatra Beach show far more colour and life. Between dives you can simply stretch out on the boat with Alanya Castle crowning the peninsula ahead of you.

For divers staying in Okurcalar this is the natural pick: Alanya is the nearest departure point for a full-day dive boat, so your time goes into the water, not the road. The Alanya scuba diving trip costs €43 and truly includes everything — tank, regulator, wetsuit, mask and fins, both guided dives, lunch on board, and passenger and diving insurance; the full breakdown is on our prices page. You reserve free of charge online, pay on the day in cash or by card, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure — just message us for current availability.

First time underwater? No licence is needed: an instructor guides you through every step, and try-dives are open from around age ten — our discover scuba diving page explains exactly how those first breaths below the surface feel. Certified divers should bring their logbook for signing and stamping, and companions who prefer to stay dry can join the boat as visitors at a reduced rate.