Dive sites in Bulgaria

The Sozopol area contains several diveable wrecks spanning different historical periods. The most accessible include an Ottoman-era wooden sailing vessel at approximately eighteen metres depth, whose hull timbers are remarkably preserved by the Black Sea's cold, low-oxygen conditions. A World War I-era cargo vessel lies in twenty-two metres with its bow section largely intact. Additionally, the ancient harbour area off St. Ivan Island contains scattered anchors, amphora fragments, and stone structures from Sozopol's history as the Greek colony of Apollonia Pontica, founded in the seventh century BCE. Not all wreck sites are open for recreational diving; some are protected archaeological zones that require special permits. The dive centres in Sozopol can advise on which sites are currently accessible.

The Black Sea at Sozopol presents unique diving conditions. Water temperature ranges from twelve degrees in early summer to twenty-four degrees at the surface by August, with a sharp thermocline often present at eight to ten metres below which temperatures drop significantly. Visibility is typically five to ten metres, lower than Mediterranean standards but adequate for wreck exploration. The Black Sea's unique chemistry means a hydrogen sulfide layer exists at depths beyond approximately one hundred and fifty metres, but this is far below recreational limits. Surface conditions can change quickly, and the dive season is relatively short from June to September. Full wetsuits of five to seven millimetres are recommended even in summer. The lack of tidal variation means that current is rarely a factor.

Three dive centres operate in Sozopol during the summer season, offering guided wreck and reef dives with equipment rental. The town is located approximately thirty-five kilometres south of Burgas, Bulgaria's main Black Sea city, which has an international airport with seasonal flights from many European cities. Sozopol is also accessible by bus from Sofia in approximately five hours. The dive centres are based near the fishing harbour and offer boat dives to wreck sites that are typically ten to twenty minutes offshore. Advance booking is recommended during July and August when the town fills with summer tourists. Some operators offer combined packages that include both wreck dives and reef dives around the offshore islands of St. Ivan and St. Peter.