Under the Radar: Why Diving in North Cyprus is the Mediterranean’s Best-Kept Secret
When you think of premier scuba diving destinations, names like the Red Sea, the Maldives, or the Great Barrier Reef usually steal the spotlight. But there is a hidden gem in the Eastern Mediterranean that offers crystal-clear waters, remarkable visibility, and centuries of history preserved under the waves—all without the overwhelming crowds of typical tourist hotspots.
Welcome to North Cyprus, an underwater paradise waiting to be discovered.
With over 200 miles of untouched coastline, minimal commercial shipping traffic, and one of the longest diving seasons in Europe, North Cyprus offers a genuinely authentic and peaceful diving experience. Here is everything you need to know about taking the plunge into these ancient, azure waters.
Why Dive in North Cyprus?
What makes this region so special is its relative isolation. Unlike areas of the Mediterranean that have been heavily impacted by over-diving and coastal development, North Cyprus remains largely unspoiled.
- Exceptional Visibility: Thanks to the unpolluted waters, visibility regularly reaches between 30 to 40 meters, making it a dream destination for underwater photographers.
- The Climate: The diving season is impressively long, stretching from April all the way through to November. During the peak summer months (July to September), the water is incredibly warm, meaning you can comfortably dive in light wetsuits or even just a rashvest!
- Unique Marine Crossroads: Because of gentle currents coming up through the Suez Canal, you get a beautiful mix of native Mediterranean species and visitors from the Red Sea.
- No Crowds: You won’t be playing bumper cars with twenty other dive boats. Here, you often have an entire reef or wreck all to yourself.
What Lies Beneath: Marine Life & Topography
While you won’t find the neon-colored coral reefs of the tropics, North Cyprus makes up for it with dramatic underwater topography. Expect to glide past massive underwater boulders, steep drop-offs, deep canyons, and hidden caves covered in vibrant yellow and white sea anemones.
As for the locals, keep your eyes peeled for:
- Sea Turtles: North Cyprus is a major nesting ground for both Green and Loggerhead turtles. Diving between July and September gives you an excellent chance of sharing a quiet swim with them.
- The Big and the Small: You’ll regularly encounter groupers, octopuses, moray eels, barracudas, and stingrays, alongside smaller treasures like colorful nudibranchs and parrotfish.
Top Dive Sites You Can’t Miss
Most of the region’s top dive schools operate around Girne (Kyrenia) central north coast of North Cyprus, which acts as the main hub for underwater exploration. Here are a few must-visit sites:
Paradise
Advanced boat dive site off Alsancak, North Cyprus. It features a deep reef beginning at 24 meters, dropping to a sandy sea floor at 43 meters. Due to its open-sea exposure and frequent strong currents, it is strictly reserved for Advanced Open Water or Deep Diver certified individuals.
The site boasts 40-meter visibility, cuts, and vertical drop-offs. Divers encounter Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, large resident dusky groupers under rock overhangs, and pelagic visitors like amberjacks.
The Wall
Is a dramatic, deep-water dive site, part of the same underwater ridge as the Zephyros and Paradise reefs, it features a sheer vertical drop-off. The top of the wall begins at 21 to 25 meters, plunging steeply down to a rocky and sandy bottom at 32 meters.
Characterized by exceptional visibility of up to 40 meters, the limestone rock face is honeycombed with crevices harboring colorful sea anemones and large scorpionfish. Divers regularly encounter moray eels, octopuses, squid, and summer schools of amberjack and tuna.
Zephyros Reef
The dive site we use when you finish your open water course. Where there is every chance of meeting a turtle or a ray, the top of the reef begins at 17m. You can see over the sheer vertical drop-off, plunging steeply down to rocky pinnacles and an ancient anchor and chain at 25 – 30 meters, automatically tempting you to start an advanced course.
Divers regularly encounter moray eels, octopuses, squid, and summer schools of amberjack and tuna.
Rock Garden
Is a captivating deep reef dive site. Functioning as a key component of the region’s interconnected underwater ridge system, it directly borders the west of the Zephyros reef system.
True to its name, the site features an intricate underwater topography of fragmented limestone boulders and scattered rock formations that resemble a natural garden. Averaging depths between 24 and 32 meters, it is subject to varying open-sea currents. The structured rocky recesses shelter local marine life, specifically large groupers, camouflaged slipper lobster, and invasive lionfish.
SG70 Wreck
Lying directly in front of the Merit Crystal Cove hotel, at a max depth of 36 m, this ship was purposely sunk for diving activities in Northern Cyprus. The former coastguard vessel is perfectly upright, with gun turret and fly bridge seat available to create the perfect Instagram picture, with multiple levels of penetration dependent upon your qualification level.
*Important Note: While it is breathtaking to look at, the removal of any shells or historical artifacts is strictly prohibited and illegal in North Cyprus. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles!
Planning Your Trip: Insider Tips
- Getting Certified: Whether you want to try a “Discover Scuba” session or advance your certifications, North Cyprus is a fantastic place to learn. Dive centers here are highly professional, fully accredited, and significantly more affordable than those in Western Europe.
- Currency & Travel: The local currency is the Turkish Lira, though British Pounds, Euro & US Dollars are widely accepted by most dive shops.
- Solo Diving: Solo scuba diving along the coast is illegal; you must always dive through a certified, licensed dive center.
- Topside Exploration: Don’t spend all your time underwater. When you’re off-gassing, make sure to visit the historic Girne Harbor, tour the Girne Castle (which houses the fully preserved hull of a 2,300-year-old ancient merchant ship recovered from the seabed), or watch the sunset from Bellapais Abbey.
Final Thoughts
If you are tired of overcrowded dive resorts and are craving an adventure that feels a bit more rugged, authentic, and steeped in history, North Cyprus deserves a spot on your bucket list. It’s a rare corner of the Mediterranean where the water is still crystal clear, the marine life remains undisturbed, and history rests quietly just beneath the surface.
