Sunken City of Kekova
Also known as: Batik Sehir, Dolkisthe
Best time to dive
May; June; September; October; July to August
What you might see
- Sea turtlePossible
Sightings are seasonal probabilities, not promises - even in peak season nature does its own thing.
Certification & difficulty
Open Water
Snorkelling
Snorkel-friendly - Yes, but only at nearby designated bays (Tersane Bay, Akvaryum Bay) included in boat tour swim stops - NOT directly over the sunken city ruins, where swimming/snorkeling is explicitly forbidden
Safety notes
Legal/protected-area restrictions (fines/enforcement risk for swimming, snorkeling, diving, or jet-skiing directly over the ruins); zone declared a Specially Protected Area 18 Jan 1990 (Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forest), with a diving ban reported in place since 1986 to protect the archaeological site; boat traffic congestion in the narrow sound during peak season
Permits & fees
No separate visitor entrance ticket; access bundled into boat tour pricing from TURSAB-licensed operators. Approx. 2025 pricing found: shared full-day boat tours ~EUR 40-45 pp; private charter ~EUR 240-290 (half day) / EUR 340+ (full day); combo tours with Myra/St. Nicholas Church ~EUR 60-75
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Location
Nearest hub: Kas/Demre
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand dive report. Coordinates are approximate.