Bodrum
The Historic Riches of Bodrum
Bodrum Underwater Museum
Ancient Shipwreck
The Glass Shipwreck
The Carian Princess Ada
The Ancient Settlements
Halikarnassos
Around Bodrum and it's Coves
Bardakçı
Gümbet
Akvaryum Koyu
Bitez
Aktur Koyu
Ortakent (Müsgebi)
Kargı Koyu
Bağla
Aspat
Karaincir
Akyarlar (Kefaluka)
Turgutreis
Kadıkalesi
Gümüşlük
Karakaya
Gündoğan (Farilya)
Türkbükü
Göltürkbükü(Karyanda)
Ilıca Bükü-Cennet Koyu
Torba
Bargilya-Tuzla
Güvercinlik
İçmeler
Yalıçiftlik, Çiftlikköy
Orak Adası
Karaada
Mazı
Wild Nature
Virgin Shores
Hurma Beach
Diving in Bodrum and Diving Points
Walking Trails
Bodrum Gulets
The Sailing Bodrum Regetta
Bodrum Guide
Fist Part
Second Part
The Historic Riches of Bodrum
BODRUM
"Do not think that you will leave as you came, those of you came before were the same. However, they all left their mind in Bodrum and left." This was what Cevat şakir Kabaağaçlı, known as Halikarnas Balıkçısı (the Fisherman of Halicarnassos), wrote about Bodrum. None of Turkey’s others holiday destinations have such a different image as Bodrum. Everyone has a different Bodrum of their own. If you like let us begin with the Fisherman of Halicarnassos, who promoted Bodrum in Turkey and internationally. " In the past, houses were built on high hills for protection from war or for defence. These were not called house but "towers". But with the longing for the sea, with their admiration for the blue, with their clogs that had the scent of pine, with a clanging they slide down from the hills and lined up between the creaking gravel stones of two coves. Those who were in the back tiptoed and stared in surprise at the sea over the shoulders of their sisters. Some of the more courageous houses dipped into the sea and became a caique (small Turkish boat) and became joyous and playful on the waves, teasing their diffident sisters. This is why houses, caiques and mandarin fields have a fast kindred spirit. The caiques that are tired of coming and going from the sea either became houses or mandarin fields." For those who do know Bodrum what Cevat şakir writes might sound like a lie but believe it, is exactly as he says.
Bodrum is one of Turkey’s most talked about holiday resorts in Turkey. This fame is greatly due to the Fisherman of Halicarnassos who did so much to promote it, who caused our intellectuals to fall in love with the place, so much so that now many of our writers and artists can be found for most the year in Bodrum. There are so many stories or novels by famous writers such as Selim İleri, Vedat Türkali that are based in Bodrum. In Bodrum, whose fame and number of visitors are increasing parallel to each other, you can surely come across one of our poets, authors or artist that you know. However, the town’s fame does not just spring from this.
The big hearted sponge divers, captains who are in love with sea, the fishermen, the white washed houses, the purple flowering begonias that climb the walls, the clean coves around it and most of all the long entertaining nights that stretch to dawn all add to Bodurm’s fame.
Bodrum is not only a place to rest. Entertainment is definitely added to holidays in the town. In Bodrum holidays days are divided into two. During the day it is time to swim in extremely blue coves, to leave your body to the hot sunshine and in other words to rest and get ready for the night. Once the sun sets and the stars begins to fill the sky another call of life is heard. It is impossible to close your ears to this call. This is the call of the Bodrum nights. Who can resist the call of friendship, dreams and love, especially if a full moon decorates the sky?
The restaurants are ready for the night, on the water front, in nearby villages, on streets of white houses and on the hills. The fish, the grouper, stuffed mussels and especially the octopus, that were caught in the nets of master fishermen or on the rods of anglers, have been laid on ice and are waiting. If you sit at a table where the traditional Turkish drink rakı is drunk you cannot do without the octopus salad. It is not known whether this is due to the taste of the octopus or the talents of the cooks but this is how it is. In Bodrum, everyone can find a place according to their preferences to pass the evening. There are both the fishermen’s meyhanes (small eating places featuring a wide range of entrees) and pizza parlours. There are places that play traditional Turkish music called fasıl and places that play rock. The street lined with bars are Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Neyzen Tevfik Caddesi, Azmakbaşı; in brief everywhere is full of bars and meyhanes. It is your choice.
The Historic Riches of Bodrum
Bodrum is not only a town of sea, sun and fun nights. The story of civilisation in Bodrum has a history going back 3,000 years. The historian Herodotus says that the city was founded in 1000 BC by the Dorians on the location where the castle is today. In those days the place was an island. The height of Halicarnassus was in the 4th century BC. During the 24 years rule of King Mausolus he made the city the capital of Caria and began construction of the magnificent monument, the Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Unfortunately, all that remains of the Mausoleum are its foundations. King Mausolus died before the monumental tomb was completed and the work was continued under the direction of his wife and his sister, Artemisia II. However, before its completion she also died, though artisans completed the work. In the end a marvellous architecture, an Ionic style temple of 42 metres square surrounded with 36 columns, was built on top of a pyramid which was climbed by 24 steps, surmounted by a statue of Mausolus and his wife riding a chariot. Some of the statues and pieces from the Mausoleum are today displayed in the British Museum. They were not looted, with permission for the artworks to be taken to Britain given by the sultan of the day. After the death of Artemisia, Isruis replaced her and then Princess Ada took the throne. Ada who was overthrown by her younger brother and sister, was returned to the throne by Alexander the Great when he took the city in 334 BC. We will visit Princess Ada in the Bodrum Castle.
Following the Alexanderian era, the region came under the rule of Lysimachos in 301 BC and later was controlled by Ptolemid kings. In 180 BC, Bodrum was associated with Rhodes and then, in 167 BC, to the Kingdom of Bergama. It was in 4th century AD, under the rule of the Carians, that the region became a centre of an episcopacy. In 1247, the Menteşe Beyliği (Turkic kingdom) was founded here and during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent it became a part of the Ottomans. Little has been done in the way of excavation in Bodrum as each new city was built atop the remains of its predecessor. The theatre, built during the time of Mausolus, is an exception. Sited on a hill above the present town, it was uncovered while a road was being constructed and has been restored.
Ancient Shipwreck
In the hall where the finds from the Yassıada shipwreck, found off the coast of the Bodrum Peninsula are on show, there is also a model of the wreck that you can walk over. In the ship, which was dated to the 6th century AD, there were many amphorae that were filled with wine was the cargo of the ship. During excavations, kitchen utensils, the remains of food and equipment of the vessel were salvaged. All the iron original artefacts that were salvaged were so badly corroded by the effects of the salt water that their character could not be made out. The most interesting find was the plaque bearing the name of the ship’s captain, George, engraved on it. The plaque has on it an image of a pig’s face. The room in which the ship is displayed was once used as a chapel by the knights.
The Exhibition Hall of Bronze Age Wrecks: This exhibition is to the east of the castle, in front of the British Tower, where are displayed pieces salvaged from the oldest shipwrecks found in Turkish waters. The şeytanderesi Batağı (The Streamlet of Satan Wreck) was found in a crevice in the Gulf of Gökova and the finds consist of cups and jars. While there was no information on the ship itself, the pieces recovered were dated to the 16th century BC and highly believed to come from the city of Keramos, named for its pottery production centre. The second wreck in the hall is the famous Gelindonya Point Wreck, which was carrying bronze plates, an anvil and shipping and agricultural tools when it sank.
The Gelindonya Wreck is believed to be the oldest shipwreck in Turkey. The vessel started its journey from the Caananite state in Palestine and according, to Egyptian records, was a merchant ship. In the vessel, which was dated to the 13th century BC, there was a cup from the Mycenaean world. Another wreck on display is that from Kaş-Uluburun. The finds from this wreck are displayed as they found in a full scale replica of the ship’s skeleton. Most of the pieces are merchandise that came from Egypt, Caanan and Cyprus. The items of ivory and ebony in the cargo section are of African origin. There were copper blocks from Cyprus, and Caananite amphorae that were filled with Arab mastic incense. Moreover, many extraordinary pieces such as the golden seal belonging to the Egyptian Queen Nerfertiti that was sold to a scrap collector, an ivory fringed wooden book, a statue of the goddess of Caanan that protected ships and Egyptian blue glass blocks were recovered. With the study of the rings in the wood of the ship the vessel was dated to around 1316 BC. You have to pay an extra fee to visit this section of the museum.
The ancient settlements on the Bodrum Peninsula
Besides the ancient city of Halicarnassos there are 12 other ancient settlements on the peninsula. These cities are Pedasa, Telmossos (Gürece), Termera and the Castle of Aspat, Müsgebi (Ortakent), the old and new Myndos, Uranion, Madnasa, Sibda (Side), Yeni (New) Karyanda, Syangela, Theangela, Kindye (Sığırtmaç), Eski (Old) Karyanda, and Bargylia. A large proportion of these are Leleg settlements. During the reign of the Halicarnassos’ King Mausolus II the citizens of six of these cities were forced to migrate to Halicarnassos while those of Myndos and Syangela were moved to other places and the cities rebuilt in the Hellenistic style. Thus, instead of the having a scattered and weak population, Halicarnassos was made stronger and prosperous. Barring the ancient city of Bargylia, most of what remains from these settlements are parts of walls and towers. The settlements are generally on hills and mountains. A visit to one or all is recommended to those interested in archaeology and for those who want to discover nature by walking. We should mention that the view is much more impressive than the ruins. (For details for these walking paths section see the Bodrum guide pages.)
Pedasa is four kilometres away as the crow flies, on the top of a hill covered with trees. As there is no road and you can only get there on foot. For those who are interested this trip will give them a pleasant hike and great satisfaction. The ruins can be seen on the top of the hill, within a circle of 150 metres in diameter. The remains are generally of the walls and the inner castle. To the south and south east of this area you can see tombs in the style of the Lelegs.
Telmossos is on the Bodrum-Turgutreis road, three kilometres past Ortakent. The site is in the village of Güirece, which is two kilometres before the turn for Gümüşlük, with the hill where the remains are to be found to the north of the main road. You can see remains of the Hellenistic period, mainly the towers of the city’s walls. The historian Herodotus say that there was the Temple of Apollo here and that is was famed for its oracles. However, no traces of the temple have survived.
Müsgebi in Ortakent was also a Leleg settlement. During the excavations conducted in the necropolis of this city, pottery from the 15th and 13th centuries BC from Mycea was unearthed.
The Aspat Kalesi (Castle of Aspat) is on the top of the conical hill facing Aspat Cove in Akyarlar. The ancient settlement of Termera is two kilometres further along on Asarlık Hill, one kilometre from the village of Mandra. You can only walk there. However, you can get to Mandra by car by following the road from the village of Gürece where Telmossos is located.
The city of Termara is like the other Leleg cities, with very few traces or ruins that have survived to our time. The inner castle on the top of the hill is completely destroyed, though some part of the lower wall is standing.
Eski Myndos (Old Myndos) was also a Leleg city. Its ruins are located on Bozdağ Hill, one kilometre inland from Kadikalesi. There is no road to the hill and walking up takes about an hour. On top you will the ruins of the city walls and the remains of a square building. The view from the top, which encompasses the whole of modern Gümüşlük and a large part of the peninsula, is extremely impressive. The people of Old Myndos were relocated to New Myndos during the rule of Mausolus II.
Yeni Myndos (New Myndos) is intertwined with the village of Gümüşlük. The city was not much added to after the reign of Mausolus II and was almost forgotten in the Roman period. This is another reason why little remains from the city, as is the case with some other ancient cities on the peninsula. The walls that surrounded the city can be also seen from the islet Gümüşlük. If from Turgut Reis you follow the road to Gümüşlük and drive for one kilometre, at the side of the road you can see tombs hewn into the rock.
Three kilometres to the south west of Yalıkaval, on the two hills above the village of Geriş, there are the ruins of the Leleg settlement that was believed to be Uranion. On the top of the hill near the shore there is the ruins of a mausoleum, walls and towers.
On one of the hills that face Türkbükü and Gölköy is Madnasa (Kökpınar Tepesi) and the other hill Sibda/Side (Karadağ). In both cities there are the remains of walls and towers from the acropolis and some ceramic and pottery pieces. In order to get to Sibda you have to turn off the road to Yukarı Gölköy and go to the village of Belen by car. By walking from Belen for 40 minutes you get to the ruins of a church and a castle. Another 40 minutes walk gets you to Karadağ where the ruins of Sibda are to be found. While the ruins are not very spectacular the view that gives you a panorama of the peninsula are.
In the Gulf of Gökova region, on the hill above the Alazeytin district of the village of Çiftlik, there are the ruins of the ancient city of Syangela. You get to the ruins after a 20 minute walk through olive trees from the end of Alazeytin. All that remains from the ancient city are ruins of houses and other buildings. From the hilltop you can see the Gulf of Gökova and Orak Island.
The city of Theangela, where Maudolus II relocated the people of Syangela, is on a hill one kilometre from the village of Pınarbelen, along the Mumcular-Bodrum road. The path leading from the village to the hill is very steep and the walk takes some time. It is recommended to take a guide from the village. However, the ruins at the top are worth the effort. If you feel energetic, if it is not too hot and you have the time, this trip of exploration might be interesting.
Kndye: The ancient site is near the Milas-Bodrum road, past the turn for Güllük on the hillside between the villages of Kemikler and Sığırtmaç. Little remains of the ancient city of Kndye apart from rough stone walls.
If you head towards the Gulf of Güllük and get to the edge of the peninsula and the Cove of Varvil you will find the ancient city of Bargylia. The site where there are remains is four kilometres off the main road. You can get there by four wheel drive, though it is much easier to get here by boat from Güllük. At the site of the ancient city, which had its heyday during the Hellenistic and Roman eras, you can see the columns, the walls of a Roman temple, an altar with reliefs, a small part of a theatre, the ruined foundations of a stoa, fragments of a Roman era aqueduct, city walls and the town’s cemetery.
There is talk about some ruins from the ancient city of Karyanda on Salih Island opposite Güvercinlik. It is claimed that Yeni Karyanda (New One) was located on the site of the current settlement of Gölköy. However, there are no remains to prove that these were the locations of these ancient cities.
HALICARNASSOS
Halicarnassos developed in the region of the castle, where there used to be a tiny town called Zephyria. According to legend, its founder was called Anthes of Troezen, the son of Poseidon. The Aiolloes, Ionians and other later comers to the Aegean, the Dorians, formed a union between the six cities in the region.
The growth of Halicarnassos was jump started in the era of the Carian satrap Mausolus. Mausolus was aware of the opportunities of possessing a port city and formed the city according to the Hellenic tradition. Halicarnassos was blessed by being one of the few cities in the region not to be struck by earthquakes during the period of Roman rule and was twice blessed by being the birthplace of the historian Herodotus. In 1291, Bodrum was captured by the Menteşe Turks, in turn falling to the Ottomans in 1424, being made part of the province of Menteşe.
The Mausoleum: The Mausoleum was completed in 350 BC after the death of the Carian satrap Mausolus by his wife and sister Artemisia II, the actual construction being done by the architect Pytheos. The monument tomb was in the centre of Halicarnassos, rising over a large plot of land, with sections of the walls bearing inscriptions and was decorated with statues. In its centre are Ionian columns and the inner walls were covered with reliefs. On the top of the pyramid there was a chariot drawn by four horses, with the figures of the King and Queen riding in it. The famous sculptors Skopas, Leokhares, Bryaksis and Tomotheos worked on the status and reliefs. As can be seen, the city had its heyday in terms of art at this time and its most famous work of art has passed into all languages with the word "mausoleum". At his death, Mausolus was cremated in a huge fire and, after some gifts were left in the burial chamber, the tomb was closed with a huge rock. On the staircases of the monument there were bones of animals sacrificed as part of the ceremonies to mark his farewell.
In the 15th century, the Knights Hospitaller of St John, then based in Rhodes, came to the region and demolished much of the mausoleum, using the stone to build the castle, named after St Peter. In 1857, Charles Newton conducted excavations for the British Museum and gathered what was left and transferred the finds to the museum. In recent years, excavations and modern research have been conducted by the Dutch archaeologist Christian Jeppesen, with his finds being put on display in the museum under the monument. The Mausoleum can be reached by following the Gümüşlük road and then onto the road that turns at the Tepecik Mosque.
Some sections of the walls of the Mausoleum can be seen around the Myndos Gate on the Gümbet road. The part of the castle that has survived was built by the last of the Knights of St. John with the permission of Sultan Çelebi Mehmet, with work beginning in 1402. The stones that were dislodged from the Mausoleum in an earthquake, as well as others taken by the knights, were used in the building of the castle. Each of the castle’s towers were named after the nation of knights that defended it: giving us the French, Italian, German, Spanish and British towers. The castle now serves as Turkey’s Museum of Underwater Archaeology, the only such museum in the country.
Gümbet
Gümbet is a region where there are many hotels. It is right near the town centre, only two kilometres away and just a five minute ride by minibus. Its name comes from the many white domed cisterns in the area. It developed rapidly as it was near to the town centre and has the closest and most popular beaches in the area. It has become crowded and everyday more bars, restaurants and entertainment places seem to be added, to the point where it has become a rival to Bodrum. In the summer, the shared minibuses run 24 hours. Gümbet’s waters are shallow and sandy, which make it suitable for families with children. Gümbet Cove, which is located between the points of İnceburun and Adaburun is also suitable for aqua sports. The most popular aqua sports centre on the peninsula is in Gümbet. It has ideal conditions for windsurfing, parasailing and water skiing. There are also aqua sports facilities on the waterside.
As it grew, and as numbers of hotels have increased,
Bitez
Further along from Gümbet comes Bitez. It has a long beach in the shape of a half moon. The eastern side of the cove around the Adaburnu Point is not suitable for swimming as it is shallow and slightly marshy. Both the beach and the sea are very clean. As the sea only deepens gradually, it is ideal for children. The streets of the town are very well ordered and clean.
Also attractive for families is that the road is behind the hotels, pensions and restaurants and not running above the beach. Those who travel by car should not worry as there is ample parking space.
It can be said that Bitez is the best place for wind surfing, not only on the peninsula but throughout Turkey. The British discovered this ages ago and set up a wind surfing school on the cove, Sun World Sailing. There is no charge for the umbrellas and long deck chairs that cover the beach of Bitez. It is possible to eat in the restaurants with their gardens facing the water and have drinks in bars or cafes.
Another name for Bitez is "Ağaçlı" (With Trees). Towards the inner part there are still fields of mandarins trees. The houses all have gardens and there no newly built lines of houses next to each other.
When the evening comes people leave and there is no sound or crowd to disturb one However, the restaurants and bars near the shores get lively. Contrary to Bodrum and Gümbet, those who want a peaceful, quiet night find what they want in Bitez.
Bitez is also a popular stopping point for daily boat tours that leave from Bodrum.
Ortakent (Müsgebi)
After Bitez comes the longest beach of Bodrum, Ortakent in Yahşi yalısı. Ortakent is 12 kilometres from the centre of Bodrum. The sea is a bit colder then the rest of the beaches on the peninsula but it is so clean that it was given a Blue Flag certificate.
The area behind the beach is a very green plain full of citrus fields all the way up to Bodrum on the road. In recent years, the Yahşi yalısı waterside area in Ortakent has had many new and high quality hotels built. There are hotels that can suits all types of budgets. One kilometre from the centre and archaeological excavation was conducted. Some of the pottery, ceramic and bronze pieces on display on the Bodrum Museum were unearthed here. It is known that there was a settlement here during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras.
On the site of present day Çakmaklı, there was a temple to Apollo that was converted into a church in the Byzantine era and became an episcopacy centre where the head priest was named Episkopi. It is believed that the name Müsgebi came from the local name of Episkopi.
The old two storey Greek houses called "Arpranga" are covered by a heritage protection order. The houses are sited so that they face the view of the all cove. We recommend walking on the kilometres of beaches in the mornings and evenings.
Gümüşlük
Gümüşlük, which is built on the top of the ancient city of Myndos, is one the pleasantest places on the peninsula. Everything is so cute here, with the place retaining its identity as a village, and with fisherman restaurants that are the best for cooking fish and octopus. You can even roll up your trousers and walk through the sea to Tavşan (Rabbit) Island where there are lots of rabbits to justify the island’s name. Before you reach here from Bodrum you pass the Peksimet Strait and the hill where there are windmills. Stop your car and get out. Look at Gümüşlük from above first. At the entrance of the cove you will park your car in the parking area and then walk. Even though we say walk it is only few steps. The Leleg city of Myndos is lying partly under the water and if you know how to dive you can see the remains. The cove is a natural and sheltered port. Today in sunken Myndos you can see the stadium, theatre, walls and a mosaic covered plateau. The church, which was from the Roman era, is currently in use as an art house. There are cushions on the ground, a little forest of cactuses and the sea right at your feet.
The region is a protected historic site. Gümüşlük is beautiful at every time of the day. Try to have breakfast in one of the waterfront restaurants or pastry shops: a hot Turkish breakfast roll (poğaca) or flat bread with chosen ingredients (gözleme) and a well brewed Turkish cup of tea.
You can stroll in the morning to Tavşan Island, through water that does not get above your knees. You can also get to the village of Karakaya above the village and look out at the view. The stone houses that once gave the impression of being an evacuated village are now returning to life again in the hands of new owners. The inner port area is like a lake, well protected by Dönmez Point. Even in the worst weather this cove that is still sheltered and very popular with Blue Cruise boats.
You can swim all around the shores of Gümüşlük, the beach, the stony area and in the open sea. Everywhere is clean. This was the reason for these shores being granted the Blue Flag certificate. The shores of the Sporat group of islands offer incomparable variety. Another day you can swim from Koyunbaba Cove on the Yalıkavak side. The green rocks that look like they were cut by a knife make a good picture, isolating those swimming in the area from the outside and taking them into its bosom. These soft and easy to work stones were used in the making of the Mausoleum that was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
The Gümüşlük Evenings
The best times in Gümüşlük begin with the twilight of the evening. In Gümüşlük the morning comes late and the evening descend even later. As the sun passes over the hill late it turns the sea in the evening into thousands of different colours. The colour of the water first turns into red and then to silver.
The best fish restaurants of the Bodrum Peninsula are here. You can sit at a table put on the beach that is covered with starters followed by a treat of fish and rakı. Do not forget to ask for a local dish of kabakçiçeği dolması (a dish of stuffed marrow flower), home made pickles and vegetables. The local market is on Wednesdays and at many stalls you can get fresh fruits and vegetables.
Turgutreis
After Bodrum the largest residential area is Turgutreis. In the town there is a statue of great seaman Turgut Reis, a famous captain from the region that is named after him. The waters around the small island of Çatal in front of Turgutreis has suitable winds for wind surfing, and with its cool airiness and the variety of quality hotels it is a rival to Bodrum. The region is also developed as an agricultural area. There are an abundance of mandarins, figs and grapes.
The 14 large and small and islands forming the Sporat group are lined up in front of Turgutreis. Greek islands such as Kos (İstanköy) and Kalynos are right next to them. Co-operative housing complexes just like those in Bodrum have also touched Turgutreis. For those seeking inexpensive holiday options it has quite reasonable hotel and pension prices.
The waterside bars have become more orderly after regulations were put in place over the last three years. This beautiful spot also gained a yacht marina. The region now is quite lively.
Wind surfing is also an option around Turgutreis.
Torba
Torba is one of the coves that is closest to the to Bodrum, being only six kilometres away. The pines almost grow right down to the coastline here. Although badly damaged in a fire some years ago the general greenness of the area remains. The northern side of the Bodrum Peninsula is greener as the winds are more humid, while on southern part it is drier and the vegetation is mainly maquis.
Torba is a quite and pleasant settlement, the only historic remains uncovered there being the ruins of a monastery dated to the 4th or 5th centuries.
Since the cove is closed even in windiest weather the sea is smooth. A large holiday resort, as well as high-quality and small hotels, line the shore. The beach area between the ferryboat terminal and the yachting marina is good for swimming. The sea is shallow and clean. It is recommended for those who want a quite and calm holiday. You can take a ferryboat trip from the terminal to Didim.
Diving in Bodrum and Diving Points
Big Bango
Small Bango
Kargı Island
Köçek Island
Karaada-Kaçakçı Cove
Karaada-Delikli Cave
Karaada-Aksona Point
Yassıkaya Island
Orak Ada-Porint
Bodrum has made a significant name for itself in Turkish tourism with its yachting, beaches, coves and nightlife but it has also become known for its diving with important diving points and new diving locations opened in September 2001.* The only underwater archaeology museum in Turkey is in Bodrum and is also increasingly drawing people to the region.
The most important and interesting diving points around Bodrum are listed as follows:
Big Bango:
It is one of the symbol diving points of the region, with a maximum depth of four metres. It can be reached by sailing 20 minutes from Bodrum. The waters around Bodrum, Gümbet and İstanköy gradually get deeper whereas in the Karaada region the sea bed plunges, with the shallows being 28-32 metres. In some of shallows and on the outskirts you can see pieces of amphorae, even if in small numbers.
It is certain that you will come across large grey mullet, grouper, large rock grouper, octopus and shoals of sargo and sea bream. If you are lucky you even see turtles and barracuda.
Small Bango:
The Küçük (Small) Bango is about 200 metres from the Büyük (Big) Bango. Initially the depth is five to six metres, then increases to eight metres before graduating out to 28-30 metres. All types of life forms the you can see in Büyük Bango can also be found here. These two sties, that are popular with the Bodrum diving schools, are so interesting that they make one say, "Are there this many types and numbers of fish in the Mediterranean Sea?" If you go close you can see clearly from the boat.
Kargı Island:
The island of Kargı is about one and a half hours sail from Bodrum or 500 metres off Akyarlar Point. This island is the closest point to the Greek island of Kos (3.5 sea miles). On the top of the island is a lighthouse. The diving point is the side that faces the gulf, though there are other points suitable for diving. In the area facing towards Kos, at a depth of five to 25 metres, there are pieces of amphorae that are possibly related to a Roman ship wreck from the 4th century AD. The interesting part of diving here is the perpendicular rocks which are towering like hills from the bottom to the surface on the shores, on the hill 50 metres distance from the shores, the shallows out to 17 metres from the surface. The waters off the coast of the island are 20-22 metres in depth, with rocks at 36 metres. Fish here are also plentiful. You can certainly see many shoals of sea bream and barracuda. The only disadvantage to this location for diving are the strong currents at certain times of the year towards the island of Kos.
Köçek Island:
Köçek Island is a sea mile away from the island of Kargı in the direction of Bodrum and has small rocky islets. It is one and a half kilometres from the coves of Akyarlar, Karaincir and Aspat Hill. The advantage of this islet is that there are not many rocks near the surface but around it there are lots of pieces of amphorae from various centuries. The part near the land is 8-10 metres deep, while on the Bodrum-Kargı side it is 20-22 metres and on the Gökova side is 32-34 metres. In the direction of Gökova two iron anchors belonging to the late era are now intermixed with the rocks. At this diving point, where the number of barracuda and silver coloured sea bream are highest, other than the fish you will come across in Kargı shelled sea animals such as triton and pina.
Karaada-Kaçakçı Cove:
This is a small cove at the far end of Karaada island. The diving clubs usually prefer to use this region for their educational classes. It is possible to dive on both points at the end of the cove. The feature of this location is that there is a cave in the cove with its opening one metre under water which runs 40-50 metres inside the island. It is advised to dive with a diving tutor or an expert as the entrance to the cave is narrow. The stalactites in the cave are impressive. Moreover the temperature of this sea is 5º celcius warmer than other waters.
Karaada-Delikli Cave:
The Delikli Caves face in the direction of Kos and are in the centre of that side of Karaada. The depth in the area where the caves are located is 20-25 metres and on the small cove on the other side the depth is as much as 40-45 metres. The entrance to the first cave is 15 metres deep but it is not advisable to enter as its opening is very narrow. The second cave is 20 to 30 metres away from the first and its entrance is quite wide and comfortable to get into. It is at a depth of 12-14 metres and if you look at crevices here it is likely that you will see scorpion fish, crayfish and lobster. At the top of the cave you have a gap of one metre and you can easily get through and get to depth of six and seven metres. What is interesting is that there are air pockets everywhere once you get out of the cave. In the front of the cave, at a depth of 25 metres, you can see seaweed and it is possible that you see two very large grouper.
Karaada-Aksona Point:
Aksona Point was named by the sponge diver that discovered the place first. It is on Karaada Island in the direction of Gulf of Gökova, in other words in the south. Starting from the shore the water is three metres deep, then gradually reaches 20 metres and then further out 40-45 metres over rocky peaks. Apart from seeing archaeological pieces on the bottom, if you are lucky you can also see a wide range of fish, including octopus, grouper, sea bream, sea bass, and barracuda. If you are really lucky can see thornback rays and crayfish. For some months of the year the current is strong and sometimes there is a strong current towards the point.
Yassıkaya Island:
This island is off the south end of Karaada, some 300-400 metres from Aksona Point. The waters facing Karaada and in the north are shallow and, since it is heavily seaweed covered, is not suitable for swimming. On the south east end of the island the water is deeper as rocks drop down in sets while on the south side it is deeper and rockier still. At this point, on almost at all of the dives, you can see lobsters, octopus, see bream, crayfish, sea bream, barracuda and black tail. On some of your dives you will get to see a thornback ray at least three metres long. The divers should pay attention to the strong current on the surface or bottom that sets in from the direction of Knidos.
Orak Island and Point:
This point is in the Gulf of Gökova and is in a one and half hour sail from Bodurm. It is also the furthest point reached for daily diving. The point has an unbelievably beautiful underwater topography for those who like wall diving. You anchor in the small cove right in from the mooring point and can dive on both sides of the point.
The diving at the point facing the Gulf of Gökova is very exciting. In this direction at the 32-34 metre level there a cave covered with purple sponges. It is the dream of all divers to go down at this spot from the Point onwards as it has such interesting underwater wall diving, firstly at 25 metres and then to 65-70 metres. Although there is a not high probability of seeing fish you can still see lobster, sea bass, and 2.5 to five metres long thornback rays.
*Though Bodrum has the most interesting and beautiful diving spots in Turkey, until 24 September 2001 the only areas where diving was permitted was Akyarlar Point and Orak Island. In the Official Gazette issued on this date, as was the case in many other coastal areas of Turkey, the Bodrum Peninsula (barring the area between Gümüşlük and Yalıkavak)was fully opened up to tourism and scuba diving.
