Kaş Canyon

Kaş Canyon is one of the signature dive sites in Turkey's premier diving destination, the small Mediterranean town of Kaş on the ancient Lycian coast. The canyon is a natural geological formation carved into the limestone seabed, creating walls, overhangs, and swim-throughs that harbour a rich community of Mediterranean marine life. The dive begins with a descent along the canyon's outer wall, which drops from around 10 metres to the sandy canyon floor at approximately 30 metres. The walls are covered with colourful sponges, bryozoans, and encrusting organisms typical of the eastern Mediterranean. Large dusky groupers — protected in Turkish waters — are the canyon's most charismatic residents, often allowing close approach. Octopus are common, their intelligence and curiosity making them engaging dive companions. Scattered across the sandy bottom and among the rocks, fragments of ancient amphora provide a tangible connection to the Lycian, Greek, and Roman merchants who sailed these waters millennia ago. Kaş was the ancient port city of Antiphellos, and its coastal waters are littered with archaeological remnants. Divers must observe strict regulations against touching or removing these protected artefacts. Moray eels peer from holes in the canyon walls, and schools of Mediterranean barracuda cruise the upper water column. Amberjack make periodic appearances, and the rocky surfaces support a diverse community of nudibranchs, sea stars, and crustaceans. The combination of natural beauty, archaeological interest, and excellent visibility — often exceeding 30 metres — makes Kaş Canyon a thoroughly rewarding Mediterranean dive.

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