Altinorfoz (silifke-mersin)

When you go 20 m out by boat to the west side of the bay where Altınorfoz Hotel is located (the side facing Susanoğlu) and descend to a depth of 9 m to 15 m, there is a wall on the bottom. If you go from the middle of the place called Lahit toward the direction of Cyprus, you will come across rocky areas. In dives made here, sea hares, seahorses, various fish and seashells, and sea urchins can be seen. An ideal bottom structure for those who take underwater photographs

Important Note:

For the safety of life and property, do not dive without obtaining the necessary permits and taking safety precautions.

In order to protect the cultural and natural assets located under the seas of our Country, which is surrounded by seas on three sides, to prevent the smuggling of historical artifacts, and to ensure that underwater diving activities are carried out in accordance with the legislation, the Coast Guard Command prevents the dives of those who dive in prohibited areas during the activities carried out at sea by divers and diving centers organizing dives, and legal/penal action is taken against persons diving in prohibited diving areas within the scope of Law No. 2863 on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets and Law No. 5326 on Misdemeanors.

Pursuant to Article 35 of Law No. 2863 on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets, all kinds of diving other than scientific studies are prohibited in the areas related to Cultural and Natural Assets Required to Be Protected Underwater, which were determined by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and whose coordinate lists and areas were specified by the Council of Ministers Decision published in the Official Gazette No. 24533 dated 24 September 2001. For sport dives conducted outside Prohibited Diving Areas, on diving boats, the “Tourism-Oriented Sports Activity Permit Certificate” issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is checked, and the dives of diving clubs/organizations and persons who do not have this certificate or who have a certificate but operate in prohibited areas are prevented, and the reports prepared about these clubs/organizations and persons are sent to the Provincial Directorates of Culture and Tourism.

On Diving Boats, the “Diving Center Authorization Certificate” issued by the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation is checked, and the dives of diving organizations without this certificate are prevented and the reports prepared are sent to the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation. It is checked whether Diving Organizations have notified the authorized units (Coast Guard, or if not, Police and Gendarmerie Units) of the diving date and the location of the area where they will dive, and the possible alternative location in case weather conditions are not suitable, and the dives of diving organizations that conduct dives without making the necessary notifications are prevented.

Information about prohibited diving areas is available under the publications link on the Coast Guard Command's website www.sgk.tsk.tr.