Bodrum - C-47 Dakota Wreck

Bodrum · Mugla Province · Turkey

The C-47 Dakota wreck off Bodrum is one of the most unusual and photogenic dive sites in the Aegean Sea: a complete military transport aircraft resting on the seabed in the warm, clear waters of Pacoz Bay on Turkey's southwestern coast. This Douglas C-47A Dakota, with its distinctive twin-engine profile and 29-metre wingspan, served for decades in the Turkish Air Force before being decommissioned and deliberately sunk on 1 July 2008 to create an artificial reef and diving attraction. The main body of the aircraft rests upright on a sandy bottom at 17 to 22 metres, its wings spread wide and its cockpit windows staring blankly into the blue. The fuselage is intact and accessible for viewing from outside, with the cargo door and cockpit windows providing glimpses of the interior. Marine life has gradually colonised the aluminium surfaces: sponges and hydroids soften the fuselage lines, while schools of damselfish and sea bream swirl around the wings. In 2010, heavy winter storms broke the aircraft apart, and the tail section with a portion of the rear fuselage drifted to deeper water at 32 to 33 metres. This creates a two-part dive: the shallower main section accessible to all certified divers, and the deeper tail section offering a more advanced exploration with the drama of finding aircraft components scattered across the sand. The journey between the two sections follows a debris trail across the seabed that adds to the exploratory feel. The surrounding environment is typical of the southern Aegean: warm, clear water with visibility regularly exceeding 20 metres, a sandy seabed dotted with rocky patches, and abundant Mediterranean reef life. Groupers have taken up residence around the engine nacelles, moray eels hide in gaps between fuselage panels, and octopuses are frequently found sheltering under the wings. Scorpionfish lie camouflaged on the wing surfaces, and the sandy areas around the wreck harbour flatfish and starfish. Bodrum is one of Turkey's most popular coastal destinations, and the dive infrastructure is excellent, with numerous professional centres offering daily trips to the Dakota wreck. The boat ride from Bodrum harbour to Pacoz Bay takes about 20 minutes. For underwater photographers, the aircraft wreck offers extraordinary composition opportunities: the recognisable shape of the plane against the blue water background creates images that are immediately striking. The C-47 Dakota is a testament to creative reef creation, transforming a retired military asset into a thriving underwater ecosystem and one of the eastern Mediterranean's most memorable dive experiences.