Gallipoli Peninsula, Thrace dive sites

The area contains several significant World War One wrecks including HMS Majestic, a pre-dreadnought battleship torpedoed in 1915, lying in about 24 metres. Other diveable wrecks include the French submarine Saphir and the Turkish minelayer Nusret (a replica, as the original was recovered). Some wrecks are designated war graves and have restrictions on penetration. The Turkish government manages access and certain sites require special permits.

The Dardanelles strait has strong tidal currents that can exceed three knots, making dive planning critical. Visibility is typically moderate at 5 to 15 metres due to sediment carried by the currents. Water temperatures are cooler than the Aegean coast, ranging from 12 to 24 degrees. The combination of current, limited visibility, and the depth of some wrecks means that advanced certification, drift diving experience, and ideally technical diving qualifications are strongly recommended.

Some wrecks, including sections of HMS Majestic at 24 metres, are within recreational depth limits and accessible to Advanced Open Water divers during slack current windows. However, the strong currents mean that dive operators carefully time descents and many dives are conducted as drift dives. The deeper wrecks and submarine remains require technical diving certifications. All diving must be arranged through licensed operators in Eceabat or Canakkale who understand local current patterns.