Kemer Underwater: Three Islands, Two Wrecks and a Sea Full of Stories
Why a diving holiday off Kemer is worthwhile – from the rocky reefs near Üç Adalar and the Paris II shipwreck to an aircraft on the seabed. And why the rarest encounters deserve particular consideration.
Cover image: Diver behind an overgrown rock opening. Archive 2023, T.C. Kemer Belediyesi. The images in this article come from the 2023 Kemer Underwater Days and the Erendiz diving archive from 2006. They illustrate the underwater world and are not identification images of the wrecks or animal species described.
From the shore, the Mediterranean initially appears as a flat expanse. Underwater, it becomes a landscape: rocks gain depth, a shoal of fish changes direction in the next moment, and the shape of a wreck can emerge from a dark outline. Those who dive in Kemer discover another side of the coast.
The appeal lies in the variety. Around the Three Islands off Tekirova, rocky underwater landscapes and diverse dive sites take centre stage. Off Kemer, the Paris II tells of a past war. A sunken transport aircraft, in turn, combines the history of technology with a new role underwater. Not every destination suits every level of experience – which is precisely why it is worth planning a diving holiday carefully.
Üç Adalar: Three Islands, Many Perspectives
Üç Adalar means “Three Islands”. The island group lies off Tekirova in the Kemer district. The Visit Kemer tourism portal describes an extensive area with several reefs. The marine life mentioned includes groupers, moray eels, barracudas, squid and other fish species. Which of these can be seen on any individual dive is decided by nature. Dive area profile from Visit Kemer
PADI’s dive site directory lists both shallower areas and more challenging reefs, walls and wrecks for the area. This variety is crucial when planning a holiday: the name “Three Islands” does not refer to a uniform dive profile. The specific site and chosen route must suit the guests’ training, experience and condition on the day, as well as the local conditions. Üç Adalar in the PADI dive site directory
For photographers, the appeal lies precisely in looking slowly. The shape of a rock, a shoal in open water or light on the seabed can make a more powerful image than the search for the rarest possible species. You do not have to work through the sea according to a wish list to experience an impressive dive.
Paris II: History off the Coast of Kemer
“Paris” here refers to a ship. The Paris II lies as a wreck off Kemer Marina. According to the municipality, it was sunk on 13 December 1917 by coastal artillery commanded by Mustafa Ertuğrul. The town cites a depth of around 33 metres and reports that the wreck was rediscovered in 1995. Paris II, Kemer Municipality
This gives a dive a historical dimension. The shape of a ship is a reminder that this coast was not only a holiday landscape. Behind the name are people, shipping and the conflicts of the First World War.
At the same time, the depth makes clear why a wish to dive a wreck should be mentioned during planning. Paris II is not a routine item on a first introductory dive. Before making a commitment, the dive centre must check which training and experience are required for the planned visit. Viewing a wreck from the outside is also different from entering it.
An aircraft that now lies underwater
There is also an aircraft wreck near the Three Islands: a Douglas C-47 Dakota. Both local dive centres and a publication by the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, TÜRSAB, describe the sunken transport aircraft off Tekirova. It is a different dive destination from the Paris II. TÜRSAB publication on wreck dive sites
Local descriptions place the wreck roughly between just over twenty and around thirty metres deep. However, their information on the year it was sunk and the exact depth does not fully agree. For a booking, the current information from the dive centre actually conducting the trip is therefore what matters. A date from an older website description does not replace a current briefing. Tekirova Diving Center, Diving Kemer
As a subject, an aircraft underwater is unusual: an object built for the sky lies on the seabed. Anyone planning this dive should state this explicitly and indicate their own level of training. An offered wreck destination is not a guarantee that every group can visit it on every day.
The rare neighbor: the Mediterranean monk seal
The natural history of this coast includes the Mediterranean monk seal, scientifically Monachus monachus. For Üç Adalar, for example, an encounter from April 2020 has been documented. Such an observation confirms its presence; it does not make it a regularly bookable activity. Documented sighting at Üç Adalar, DHA
The species remains threatened. The Marine Mammal Commission refers to its classification as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN since 2023. Older reports sometimes contain different threat categories and population figures. These should not be repeated as the current status without verification. Species profile by the Marine Mammal Commission
Undisturbed refuges are especially important. The Turkish conservation organization SAD-AFAG describes how visits to coastal caves can drive seals away and disrupt their resting and breeding sites. Seal caves therefore do not belong on a tourist discovery list. In the event of a chance encounter: keep your distance, do not pursue or feed the animal, and let it continue on its way. SAD-AFAG on diving and seal protection
The best way to handle a rare encounter may be to keep it brief. The sea remains the animal’s habitat; we are visitors.
A striped fish raises new questions
How attentively divers can observe is shown by a report from 24 September 2026. According to the AA report published on Son Dakika, Hakan Erdön and Hüseyin Soylu photographed a strikingly striped fish near Kemer. Professor Mehmet Gökoğlu of Akdeniz University assigned the images to the Abudefduf group; the report names two possible species identifications, qualified with “cf.”, and announces a scientific publication. AA report on Son Dakika
This is an interesting observation, but not yet a reason to claim a conclusive species identification or a newly discovered animal species. For a diving holiday, it suggests something else: good underwater photos can be more than memories. They can raise questions that experts then investigate.
Anyone documenting unusual animals should do so without touching or pursuing them. An animal should neither be lured nor moved to a supposedly better background for a photo.
A region engaged with its sea
Kemer’s connection to diving is also reflected in the International Underwater Days. As part of the 25th edition, the district administration documented a diving programme at Üç Adalar on 17 May 2026. The event offers another way into the region: through underwater images, encounters, and engagement with the sea. District administration review
The review is not a future event date. Anyone wishing to combine their trip with the Underwater Days should wait for the next official announcement.
How to plan your diving holiday at Erendiz
When making an enquiry, please tell us your travel dates, the number of people, and your diving experience. It is particularly helpful to distinguish between a first guided diving experience, regular dives with certification, and a specific interest in wrecks. Information about your health belongs directly in the designated procedures of the dive centre, not in a general hotel enquiry.
Erendiz Garden Hotel is your accommodation; external diving services are arranged with a specifically named provider, scope, and price. Equipment, transfers, and dives are not automatically included in the room rate. Whether a requested site can be visited is decided with the provider and according to current conditions.
On our diving in Kemer page, you can enquire about your stay and requirements.
Kemer is worthwhile beneath the surface because different stories come together here: the formations of a rocky coast, the traces of a ship, the silhouette of an aircraft, and the life in between. Those who take time for it return with more than a list of dive sites visited.
Research status: 5 October 2026. Dive sites and animal sightings are not guaranteed services; the specific arrangements are clarified with the dive centre.