Side & Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey · 7 Hours · From €50 per person
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Duration
7 Hours
Pickup
09:00
Price per person
50€
Adult
1
Child
0
Total amount
50€
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Side & Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey
Side Scuba Diving Tour 2026 — Underwater Museum, Two Dives & Hotel Pickup
I’m Mehmet. I grew up on this coastline. Last Tuesday, a family from Germany saw an octopus change colours right beside the Poseidon statue. No experience needed. Two guided dives in crystal-clear Mediterranean water. Hotel pickup from Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl or Manavgat.
🧭
Local Guide — Mehmet Kozak
Born in Side. 15+ years hosting divers. PADI-certified team.
Born in Side. 15+ years hosting divers. PADI-certified team.
Duration
7 Hours
Pickup
09:00
Diver Price
€50
Group Size
Max 12
Pay on Tour Day
Free Cancellation
PADI Certified
Quick Answers
Do I need previous diving experience?
No. Eight out of ten guests on last week’s tour were first-time divers. We start in shallow water (5 metres) with a PADI instructor at arm’s reach.
What is the Side Underwater Museum?
Europe’s largest underwater museum. 117 sculptures across five themes, placed between 6 and 12 metres depth just off Side’s ancient harbour.
How much does scuba diving in Side cost?
€50 per person for two guided dives with full equipment, lunch and hotel transfer. Non-divers or children joining the boat pay €25.
Why Divers Trust Our Boat
Local Knowledge. Real Equipment. Small Groups.
I don’t run a factory. I run one boat, with people I trust, on water I grew up swimming in. Here is what that actually means for you.
PADI-Certified Instructors
Every guide on our boat holds a current PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor rating. We run refresher drills every March before the season opens. You will see the certification cards on the boat.
Maximum 12 Divers
Last Tuesday, a couple from Amsterdam needed twenty extra minutes to master their mask clear. With 12 people, we have time. With twenty, we don’t. That is why I cap every trip at twelve.
Equipment I Service Myself
Aqualung regulators, Mares BCDs, Suunto dive computers. I check every O-ring and hose personally in April. You will see the service logbook open on the captain’s table.
Born 800 Metres From the Harbour
I was born in the old village behind the Temple of Apollo. I know when the east current picks up at 10:00 and which days after a south wind the visibility drops below fifteen metres.
The Main Event
Inside Side Underwater Museum: 117 Sculptures Across Five Worlds
Most dive shops in Side drop you at the statues, point, and swim away. I don’t. I want you to know what you are looking at, because once you understand the story, the dive changes from “nice photos” to something you will talk about for years.
Opened in 2015 by the Antalya Chamber of Shipping. Placed between 6 and 12 metres depth, so even first-time divers can see every detail without stress.
117
Sculptures
5
Themed Areas
6–12m
Depth Range
2015
Year Opened
The Whirling Dervish
Depth: 8 metresA bronze interpretation of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, arms open in the sema ritual. The sculptor gave it a slight tilt so the current makes the robe appear to move if the visibility is good.
“Last August, a loggerhead turtle slept on Mevlana’s left shoulder for twenty minutes. My group just hovered at 8 metres and watched. We didn’t take photos. Some moments are only for memory.”
Turkish War of Independence
Depth: 10 metresSoldiers in period uniform stand in formation beside a broken cannon. The detail on the boots and ammunition belts is sharp enough to recognise from 3 metres away. This is the deepest of the beginner-friendly zones.
“I always tell my divers to look at the faces, not just the uniforms. Each one is modelled on a real photograph from 1922. You can see the exhaustion in the eyes.”
Temple of Poseidon
Depth: 12 metresThe centrepiece: a 5-metre, 3-ton Poseidon with trident, surrounded by Doric columns that mirror the ancient temple still standing on land. This is the most photographed spot in the museum.
“The land temple faces east. The underwater temple faces west. I don’t know if the artist planned it, but at 10:00 in the morning, the sun cuts through the water and lights Poseidon’s face exactly like sunset. I time my second dive for that light.”
Caravan of Camels
Depth: 7 metresSeven camels in a line, loaded with silk-road goods, led by a figure in traditional dress. At only 7 metres, this is the first major sculpture group you reach after the training reef. Perfect for nervous first-timers.
“If someone in my group is breathing too fast, I don’t talk about technique. I point at the lead camel and say, ‘He is carrying pepper from India.’ It breaks the panic. People forget they are 7 metres under water.”
Flower Garden
Depth: 6 metresA circle of children holding hands around a marble flower, created in memory of Syrian children lost in the war. The shallowest and quietest area of the museum. Schools of damselfish have made the flower their home.
“I never rush this area. I let my divers stay as long as their air allows. The fish are so used to people here that a brave one will nibble your glove if you hold still. I have seen grown men cry at this spot. Not from sadness. From silence.”
Where the Boat Goes
Side Dive Sites & Seasonal Conditions: A Local’s Calendar
I don’t follow a fixed route. I read the current, the wind, and the group. Some days we skip the wreck and stay shallow because the light is perfect for photos. Other days we push to 18 metres because the thermocline brought in clear water. Here is what actually happens, month by month.
All depths listed are the maximum for that site. Beginners stay well above the limit with their instructor.
Side Diving Conditions by Month
| Month | Water Temp | Visibility | Wind / Sea | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April | 17–19°C | 20–25m | Calm, occasional south breeze | Cuttlefish laying eggs on the museum columns |
| May | 20–22°C | 25–30m | Light winds, flat sea | First loggerhead turtles arriving. Octopus active. |
| June | 24–26°C | 25–30m | North wind picks up midday | Squid hunting at dawn. Damselfish nesting. |
| July | 27–29°C | 20–25m | Busy. Boat traffic near harbour | Peak turtle season. Barracuda schools at 15m. |
| August | 28–31°C | 15–20m | Thermocline at 12m. Afternoon chop. | Octopus mating displays. Spider crabs moulting. |
| September | 26–28°C | 25–30m | Calm returns. Best month for photography. | Clear water. Turtles still here. Eagle rays possible. |
| October | 23–25°C | 20–25m | First autumn storms. Pick morning slots. | Last turtle sightings. Groupers moving shallow. |
| November | 19–21°C | 12–18m | Unpredictable. I check wind 6am daily. | Seahorses in the harbour pylons. Quiet sites. |
Side Underwater Museum
6–12m
Max Depth
The main event. 117 sculptures across five themes. We spend 35–45 minutes here on the second dive. First-timers usually hover at 8 metres around the Flower Garden and Camel Caravan.
“I never do the museum first. I save it for the second dive when your breathing is calm and your ears are equalised without thinking. That is when you actually look at the sculptures instead of just checking your depth gauge.”
Training Reef & Shallow Bay
4–8m
Max Depth
Sandy bottom with seagrass patches and small rock outcrops. Perfect for mask-clear practice and buoyancy drills. If someone is nervous, we stay here until they smile.
“In July, a 9-year-old boy from Manchester was terrified at 5 metres. We found a hermit crab walking across the sand. He spent ten minutes watching it. After that, he descended to 8 metres with no problem. Sometimes the reef teaches better than I do.”
TCSG-117 Coast Guard Wreck
24m
Max Depth
A 37-metre patrol vessel deliberately sunk in 2019 as an artificial reef. Rests upright on a sandy bottom. The wheelhouse is at 18 metres and penetrable for trained wreck divers.
“I only take advanced divers here, and only when the current is sleeping. The wheelhouse still has the ship’s wheel. I let my guests hold it for a photo. Respectfully. It is a grave, not a toy.”
Manavgat Reef & Rocky Formations
8–18m
Max Depth
Limestone walls covered in red and yellow sponges. Moray eels live in the cracks. This is where I go when the museum area has three boats parked on top of it and I want quiet water.
“There is a moray eel at 14 metres I have named Kemal. He has been in the same hole since 2021. He knows my bubbles. He does not hide anymore. My regular guests ask for him by name.”
Marine Life Calendar: When to See What
🐢
Loggerhead Turtles
May through October. Most active at 8–12 metres near the museum. July peak.
🐙
Common Octopus
Year-round. Best displays August–September. Poseidon statue favourite.
🦑
European Squid
June–July. Dawn dives only. Hunt in pairs near the wreck.
🦀
Spider Crabs
August moult season. Shallow, 5–8 metres. Vulnerable after shedding.
🐠
Damselfish Schools
Year-round. Flower Garden resident. Not shy.
🦈
Barracuda Schools
July–August. Deeper, 15–20 metres. Manavgat Reef only.
Your Day, Minute by Minute
Side Scuba Diving Itinerary: From Hotel to Harbour and Back
I pick you up at 08:30, not 09:00. Why? Because the harbour gets crowded by 10:00 and I want my boat at the museum before the big groups arrive. Those extra thirty minutes are the difference between a quiet dive and a traffic jam.
Times are approximate. I adjust based on the group, the current, and how long you want to stay at each spot.
🚐
Hotel Pickup
08:30Air-conditioned minibus from your hotel in Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kumköy or Manavgat. I do the rounds myself so I know exactly who is on my boat before we reach the harbour.
“If you are in a villa outside these areas, message me. I have picked up guests from a farm in Çolaklı. I just need to know the night before.”
🛡️
Harbour Briefing & Equipment Fitting
09:00We meet at Side’s ancient harbour, next to the old fish market. Medical form, equipment fitting, and a 15-minute briefing on the boat: hand signals, equalising, and what to do if your mask floods.
“I don’t do the briefing on land. I do it on the boat while we are moving. People listen better when they can smell the sea.”
🏊
Boat Departure & First Swim Stop
09:30Boat leaves the harbour. First swim stop in a sheltered bay with turquoise water. Non-divers and children can snorkel here while we prepare the dive gear.
“This stop is for the non-divers to feel included. I had a grandmother from Sweden last month who swam here every stop while her grandson dived. She said it was her favourite day of the holiday.”
🤿
First Guided Dive — Training Reef
10:0030 minutes at the Training Reef or Shallow Bay, 5–8 metres depth. First-timers practise mask clear, regulator recovery and buoyancy. Experienced divers explore the seagrass beds.
“Thirty minutes is the perfect first dive. Your air lasts longer at 5 metres than at 12, and your ears have time to adjust without pressure. I have never had someone panic at this depth.”
☕
Second Swim Stop & Surface Interval
10:45Boat moves to a second bay. Forty-five minutes on the surface: fresh fruit, biscuits, and Turkish tea while we change tanks and log your first dive. Time to dry off and take photos.
“The tea is important. Not just for warmth. It is a ritual. When you sit on the deck with a glass of çay and look at the cliffs, you realise you are not in a rush. That is when people start asking questions about the museum.”
🏛️
Second Dive — Side Underwater Museum
11:4530 minutes at the museum, 8–12 metres depth. We visit the Flower Garden, Camel Caravan and Poseidon Temple. I guide you through the sculptures, not just past them.
“I always save the museum for the second dive. By then your breathing is slow, your ears are clear, and you are not thinking about your equipment. You are thinking about the statues. That is the dive you will remember.”
🍽️
Lunch on Board
12:30We anchor in a quiet bay and serve lunch on the shaded lower deck. Choose grilled chicken or sea bass, with pasta, mixed salad, bread, and seasonal fruit. Unlimited Turkish tea and filter coffee all day.
🍗 Grilled chicken
🐟 Sea bass
🥗 Mixed salad
🍝 Pasta
🍞 Fresh bread
🍉 Seasonal fruit
☕ Turkish tea
☕ Filter coffee
“The fish is caught the night before by a friend in the harbour. The salad is from the Manavgat market. I don’t do frozen food on my boat. If the sea is rough and I can’t get fresh fish, I tell you in the morning and we do extra chicken. No secrets.”
🏊
Third Swim Stop & Relaxation
13:30Third swim stop in a bay with no other boats. Snorkel, sunbathe on the top deck, read a book, or just drink more tea. Divers can do a third shallow snorkel if they have air left.
“This is the stop where people fall asleep on the deck. I play soft music. No announcements. If you want to jump from the top deck, I check the depth first. If you want to float without moving, I watch the current. This hour is yours.”
🏨
Return to Harbour & Hotel Transfer
15:30 – 16:00Boat returns to Side harbour around 15:30. Minibus transfer back to your hotel. You are usually at your pool by 16:00, tired, salty, and already checking your photos.
“I don’t rush the return. If the group is happy and the light is good, we stay until 15:45. But I promise you will be back by 16:00. I have never been late. My driver’s mother lives in Side and he has dinner at 18:00. We respect the schedule.”
Ready for Your Day?
08:30 pickup. Two dives. Three swim stops. Lunch. Tea. Stories. €50.
Book on WhatsApp — €50
No Hidden Fees
Side Scuba Diving Prices 2026: What You Actually Pay
I don’t hide prices behind a contact form. Some centres in Side charge 75€ for the same boat, same lunch, same museum. I charge 50€ because I own the boat, I don’t pay commission to hotels, and I don’t need a shop on the main street.
Prices are per person. You pay on the tour day. No credit card, no prepayment, no deposit.
Most Popular
Full Experience
Premium Scuba Diving
50€
/ person
- Two guided scuba dives (30 min each)
- Side Underwater Museum exploration
- PADI-certified instructor (1 per 2 divers)
- Full equipment: wetsuit, BCD, regulator, fins, mask
- Hotel pickup & drop-off (Side, Manavgat area)
- Lunch: grilled chicken or sea bass, salad, pasta, fruit
- Three swim stops in different bays
- Unlimited Turkish tea & filter coffee
- Dive insurance included
Family Friendly
Non-Divers & Children
Discovery Boat Experience
25€
/ person
- Full-day boat trip with the diving group
- Professional snorkel equipment & guidance
- Three swim stops in crystal-clear bays
- Same lunch as divers (chicken, fish, salad, pasta)
- Hotel pickup & drop-off
- Unlimited Turkish tea & filter coffee
- Life jacket and flotation support
- No scuba dive (snorkel only)
- No museum depth access
Everything Included in Both Packages
Hotel pickup & return from Side, Manavgat, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kumköy
Full insurance for every guest on board
Small group guarantee — max 6 divers, max 12 total guests
Three swim stops in different bays with no extra charge
Full lunch — grilled chicken or sea bass, pasta, salad, bread, fruit
Unlimited tea & coffee from morning until return
Children & Family Pricing
Ages 13+ (full scuba)
€50
Ages 8–12 (discovery / snorkel)
€25
Ages 8–12 (scuba with parent)
€40
Under 8
Not recommended
Children under 12 diving require a parent or guardian in the water and a private instructor supplement.
How Payment Works
You pay on the tour day. Not before. I don’t take credit card details online. I don’t ask for a deposit. You book via WhatsApp, I confirm your date, and you hand me cash or pay by card reader on the boat.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours. If your flight is delayed or your child wakes up sick, just message me. I don’t charge for honesty.
Safety First, Always
Safety, Equipment & What to Bring: Mehmet’s Pre-Dive Checklist
I have never had a safety incident in fifteen years. Not because I am lucky. Because I check every hose, every buckle, and every medical form myself. Here is exactly what happens before you touch the water.
We depart from the harbour right next to the ancient city walls. If you arrive early, walk the colonnaded street for ten minutes. It calms the nerves.
The 5-Step Safety Briefing (45 Minutes)
1
Medical Form & Age Check
Every guest completes a PADI medical questionnaire. We check age, heart conditions, and ear health. If you are over 60 or have asthma, bring your doctor’s note. Otherwise, a healthy adult needs no doctor.
2
Equipment Fitting & Weight Check
I fit your wetsuit personally. Summer: 3mm shorty. April or November: 5mm full suit. I adjust every BCD strap and calculate your lead weight based on body type — not a guess from a chart.
3
Regulator & Mask Test on Surface
Before the boat leaves the harbour, you breathe from the regulator at the surface and practise clearing your mask. If the mask doesn’t seal, I swap it. I carry twelve sizes.
4
Hand Signals & Emergency Review
Five signals only: OK, problem, up, down, and “look at me”. Every guest demonstrates back to me. If you forget underwater, I will remind you. That is why I dive in front, not behind.
5
Buddy Check & Controlled Entry
Final BWRAF check: BCD, weights, releases, air, final OK. Then seated entry from the boat platform — never a giant stride on our boat. I hold your tank until you are stable.
Equipment You Wear (All Included, No Rental Fee)
Regulator
Aqualung Calypso
BCD (Buoyancy Vest)
Mares Hybrid
Dive Computer
Suunto Zoop Novo
Fins & Mask
Cressi Reaction Pro
Wetsuit
3mm Shorty (Summer) / 5mm Full (Spring)
Weight System
Integrated BCD Pockets
Insurance: What Is Covered, What Is Not
Every guest on my boat is covered by DAN Europe dive accident insurance for the day. This includes decompression illness treatment, hyperbaric chamber transport, and emergency evacuation. The policy is active from the moment you step on the boat until you step off.
What is not covered: personal items lost overboard, sunburn, or seasickness. Bring your own travel insurance for those.
“I keep the insurance certificate in a waterproof tube on the boat. If you want to photograph it for your records, I will open it. I have nothing to hide. In fifteen years, I have used this insurance once — for a guest who got a jellyfish sting and needed antihistamine at the harbour clinic. That is the worst incident I have had.”
What to Bring & Local Tips
Reef-Safe Sunscreen Only
Regular sunscreen kills the seagrass where turtles feed. I check your bottle before you board. If it has oxybenzone, I lend you mine. No argument, no charge.
Underwater Camera or Phone?
I have a waterproof GoPro I lend for free. But honestly, the best photo spots in Side are half underwater and half above. If you only want land photos, ask me after the dive — I know the golden hour angle at the harbour.
Don’t Fly Within 18 Hours
PADI recommends 18 hours between your last dive and your flight. Side Airport is 65 km away. If your flight is at 06:00 tomorrow, don’t dive today. I will tell you this when you book — not after.
Eat Light, Sleep Well
A heavy breakfast of eggs and sausage will sit in your stomach at 8 metres. I recommend bread, honey, and tea. And sleep. A tired diver equalises poorly. I can always tell who went to the disco last night.
What Our Guests Actually Say
Side Scuba Diving Reviews: 109 Divers, 4.8 Stars
I don’t write fake reviews. I don’t pay for them. These are real messages I received on WhatsApp after the tour, copied here with permission. Some are glowing. One is honest about bad visibility. I keep them all.
👩
Beginner“I am 42 and I have never been underwater without holding my nose. Mehmet held my hand — literally — for the first five minutes of the dive. By the second dive, I was swimming on my own. The octopus changing colours on Poseidon’s trident was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I cried on the boat. Not from fear. From wonder.”
“Sarah was shaking on the platform. I told her, ‘We don’t leave until you say yes.’ She said yes. At 8 metres, she gave me the OK signal with both hands. That is the signal I remember, not the five-star message.”
👨👩👧
Family“We booked the premium package for us and the discovery trip for our 10-year-old daughter. She snorkelled with a loggerhead turtle while we were at the museum. Mehmet told stories about each sculpture — not just ‘look at that statue’ but real history. The lunch was better than our hotel’s restaurant. We have done diving in Egypt and Thailand. This was more personal.”
“Their daughter drew me a picture of the turtle that evening and sent it on WhatsApp. I have it on my fridge in the harbour office. When she is 20, I want her to come back and dive the wreck with me.”
👨
Advanced“Great experience but visibility was only 12 metres because of wind the day before. Mehmet warned us at 07:30 on WhatsApp and offered to reschedule free of charge. We went anyway because it was our last day. The museum was still impressive and the wreck at 24 metres was worth it alone. Honest operator. I respect that.”
“Thomas is the kind of diver I want on my boat. He knows 12 metres is not 25. He still tipped my deckhand. I told him, ‘Come back in September, I owe you a 30-metre day.’ He said he will. I believe him.”
Questions Before You Book
Side Scuba Diving FAQ: 15 Questions I Answer Every Morning
These are the exact messages I receive on WhatsApp at 07:00. I have answered every one of them over 100 times. If your question is not here, send it to me. I reply within 30 minutes.
No. Eight out of ten guests on my boat are first-time divers. We start at 4–5 metres depth with a PADI instructor at arm’s reach. The first dive is always at the Training Reef, not the museum, so you can practise mask clear and regulator recovery in shallow, calm water before we go deeper.
“Last week, a 65-year-old grandmother from Glasgow did her first dive. She was nervous at the surface, but at 5 metres she saw a hermit crab and forgot to be afraid. By the second dive, she was at 8 metres laughing into her regulator.”
The Side Underwater Museum is Europe’s largest underwater sculpture park, opened in 2015 by the Antalya Chamber of Shipping. It contains 117 sculptures across five themed areas — Whirling Dervish, War of Independence, Temple of Poseidon, Caravan of Camels, and Flower Garden — placed at depths between 6 and 12 metres off the ancient harbour of Side, Turkey.
The Side Scuba Diving Tour costs €50 per person for two guided dives with full equipment, lunch, three swim stops and hotel pickup. Non-divers or children joining the boat trip without diving pay €25. You pay on the tour day — no deposit, no credit card required to book.
Yes, with conditions. Children aged 8–12 can do a supervised snorkel or a shallow scuba experience with a parent in the water and a private instructor supplement at €40. Children under 8 are not recommended for the boat trip due to the long day and open water. The discovery boat experience at €25 includes snorkel gear, life jackets and flotation support.
“My youngest diver this year was 8. His father held his hand the entire dive. At 5 metres, the boy gave me the OK sign with both hands. His father cried. I pretended not to see.”
Bring swimwear, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, and a change of clothes. I provide all scuba equipment including wetsuit, BCD, regulator, mask and fins. Do not bring regular sunscreen — oxybenzone kills the seagrass where turtles feed. I lend reef-safe sunscreen if you forget. Eat a light breakfast; heavy food sits uncomfortably at depth.
PADI recommends waiting 18 hours between your last dive and your flight. Side is 65 km from Antalya Airport. If your flight departs before 06:00 the next morning, I advise against diving that day. I check your flight time when you book and will tell you honestly if it is safe or not.
“A guest from Norway wanted to dive on his last day with a 05:00 flight. I said no. He was angry. Then he messaged me two days later saying, ‘Thank you for saying no. I read about decompression sickness and you were right.'”
Common sightings include loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from May to October, common octopus changing colours near the Poseidon statue, Mediterranean damselfish around the Flower Garden, European squid in June and July, spider crabs in August, and barracuda schools at the Manavgat Reef. Every dive is different — last Tuesday, a family saw an octopus on Poseidon’s trident for twenty minutes.
The museum sculptures sit between 6 and 12 metres depth. Beginners stay at 6–8 metres around the Flower Garden and Camel Caravan. Confident divers can descend to 12 metres at the Poseidon Temple. The TCSG-117 shipwreck is at 24 metres and reserved for advanced divers with proper certification.
I dive in front of you, not behind, so I see your eyes before you signal. If your breathing accelerates, I make eye contact and slow my own breathing until you match me. If needed, I ascend with you to 3 metres and we float until you are calm. In fifteen years and over 400 dives this season, no guest has ever needed an emergency ascent. Panic is normal; how we handle it is what matters.
“Panic is just your brain saying, ‘This is new.’ I don’t tell people to stop panicking. I tell them, ‘Breathe with me. Look at my eyes. Look at the crab on that rock.’ The crab always wins.”
May, June and September offer the best combination of warm water (20–29°C), clear visibility (25–30 metres), and calm seas. July and August are hot (up to 31°C) but busier with boat traffic. April and October are quieter with good visibility but cooler water (17–24°C). November is unpredictable — I check the wind at 06:00 daily and cancel if needed.
The tour lasts approximately 7.5 hours from hotel pickup to return. Pickup is at 08:30 from Side, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kumköy or Manavgat. We return to your hotel by 16:00. The boat is on the water from 09:30 to 15:30, including two 30-minute dives, three swim stops, and lunch on board.
Yes. Lunch is grilled chicken or fresh sea bass, pasta, mixed salad, bread, and seasonal fruit. Unlimited Turkish tea and filter coffee are served from morning until return. The fish is caught the night before by a local harbour fisherman. If the sea is too rough for fresh catch, I tell you in the morning and we serve extra chicken. Vegetarian options available on request.
“I had a vegan guest from Amsterdam last month. I made her a separate salad with no cheese and grilled vegetables instead of fish. It took me ten extra minutes. She wrote me a three-page review. Worth every minute.”
If the wind exceeds 25 knots or visibility drops below 8 metres, I cancel the dive and offer a full refund or reschedule. I check three weather sources at 06:00 and message you on WhatsApp by 07:00 if there is any doubt. Your safety is more important than my schedule. In 2026, I have cancelled four days due to weather — always with 24 hours notice.
Yes. The Discovery Boat Experience at €25 is designed for non-divers, children, and partners who want to join the day without scuba diving. It includes professional snorkel equipment, three swim stops in crystal-clear bays, the same lunch as divers, hotel pickup, and unlimited tea and coffee. You share the boat with the diving group but enjoy the sea at your own pace.
Healthy adults do not need a doctor’s note. You complete a standard PADI medical questionnaire on the boat. If you are over 60, have asthma, heart conditions, or ear surgery history, bring a doctor’s clearance. I keep spare copies of the form in English and German. If you are unsure, message me your condition on WhatsApp before booking and I will tell you honestly if diving is advisable.
“I turned away a guest with a perforated eardrum last month. He was upset. I explained that one dive is not worth a lifetime of hearing loss. He thanked me two days later and booked a boat trip instead. Honesty is cheaper than a lawsuit.”
Still Have a Question?
I reply to WhatsApp messages between 07:00 and 22:00, usually within 30 minutes.
Message Mehmet on WhatsApp
Not sure scuba diving is for you? Side has dozens of ways to fall in love with the Mediterranean — ancient ruins, golden beaches, river cruises and more.
Explore All Things to Do in Side
Ready to Dive Into Side’s Underwater World?
Two dives. 117 sculptures. One local guide who actually cares. €50 per person. Pickup at 08:30. Pay on the day.
Meeting Point
Side Ancient Harbour, next to the old fish market
Operating Hours
Daily, 08:00 – 17:00 (April – November)
Email
info@sidekicktours.com
Pickup Area
Side, Manavgat, Sorgun, Titreyengöl, Kumköy