Transparent Pricing
Is May a good month to dive in Side? It is one of the best. The sea sits at roughly 21–22 °C, warm enough that a standard wetsuit feels genuinely comfortable rather than something you endure, and the water is at its clearest of the whole first half of the year. Air temperatures are pleasant instead of punishing, so the surface intervals between your two dives are spent enjoying the deck rather than hiding from the sun. And the boats are not yet full — this is the month before the coast fills up.
That combination matters more than the calendar suggests. Late spring is when visibility on the Antalya coast is typically at its seasonal best: the winter churn has settled, the summer crowds have not yet stirred the shallows, and the high May sun angle pushes bright light down onto the sculptures of the Side Underwater Museum at around 12 metres. Colours read properly at depth, photographs need less help, and the reef life around Kemer and Alanya is active. At 21–22 °C you will feel the cool on the second dive of the day, especially if you are slim or dive long — that is normal, and it is exactly what the boat's hot lunch and a dry towel are for.
Pack for spring, not for August. Bring a warm layer and a windproof top for the ride out, because the breeze over open water feels ten degrees cooler than the marina did; a second dry towel; and proper sun protection, since May sun on wet skin burns quietly. Everything technical is already covered — tank, regulator, BCD, wetsuit, mask, fins and weights are all included, along with free two-way hotel transfer, lunch on board, insurance and a full briefing. See the full equipment list and our packing notes if you like to be thorough.
Who does May suit? Nervous first-timers, who get calm water and an instructor with time to spare; certified divers who want the deeper sites without a queue; and anyone who dislikes crowds. Live prices are shown below — from €43 for a Kumköy day to €50 in Antalya. Reserve free, pay on the day, cancel free up to 24 hours before, or message us for current availability.
| Dive trip | Departure | Adult | Child | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrilling Scuba Diving Adventure in Alanya | Alanya | €43 | €26 | Book |
| Side Scuba Diving & Underwater Museum Tour: Dive into the Deep Blue | Side | €45 | €27 | Book |
| Exciting Scuba Diving Tour from Antalya | Antalya | €50 | €30 | Book |
| Scuba Diving Tour from Kemer | Kemer | €43 | €26 | Book |
| Scuba Diving Adventure from Kumköy | Kumköy | €43 | €26 | Book |
° No prepayment — reserve free online and pay on the day of the tour.
Around 21–22 °C. Coming up from about 17 °C in winter and heading towards 28–29 °C by late summer, May is the month the water turns properly inviting. A wetsuit — included in every trip — is comfortable rather than essential-feeling, though you will notice the cool towards the end of a longer second dive.
Generally yes. Late spring into early summer is one of the two windows when visibility on this coast is at its best, the other being autumn. The winter water movement has settled and the summer traffic has not yet begun. Conditions still vary day to day with wind and swell — see our <a href="/blog/visibility-diving-side">visibility guide</a> for what actually drives it.
Noticeably less than in high summer. May falls before the peak, so groups tend to be smaller and there is more instructor attention to go round — on the Underwater Museum trip we keep it to 3–4 divers per instructor regardless of month. Availability varies by date, so message us to check the day you have in mind.
Yes, and it is a good month to start — no licence needed, from about age 10. Beginners do a morning dive at 5–8 metres and go to roughly 13 metres maximum on the second, always with an instructor within arm's reach. Certified divers dive their normal profiles around 30 metres, and up to 60 metres on the deep sites when suitably qualified. Start with our <a href="/diving/discover-scuba-diving">discover scuba page</a>.
The Sea Is Waiting
Reserve your place free in under a minute. You pay on the day you dive — nothing up front, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before.