Sawan's Bay

Sawan's Bay is an advanced dive site on Lebanon's southern Mediterranean coast, in the waters near Tyre. This site offers experienced divers an opportunity to explore the rich but less-visited underwater landscapes of southern Lebanon, where rocky reefs and archaeological remnants create a uniquely layered diving experience. The underwater topography at Sawan's Bay features a rugged rocky seabed typical of the southern Lebanese coast, with limestone formations creating walls, overhangs, and cavern-like features. The rocky substrate has been shaped by millennia of wave action and tectonic activity, producing a complex terrain with numerous swim-throughs and sheltered pockets where marine life concentrates. The advanced rating reflects the site's exposure to Mediterranean currents and swell, particularly during the winter months when storms from the west can generate challenging surface conditions. During calmer periods, typically from May to October, the site becomes accessible to experienced divers, with visibility reaching 15 to 20 metres on optimal days. The Levantine Mediterranean's marine ecosystem is well represented at Sawan's Bay. Groupers of multiple species occupy the rocky overhangs, while parrotfish graze on algae-covered surfaces. Barracuda are occasionally sighted patrolling the deeper areas, and schools of damselfish create clouds of activity above the reef. The rocky crevices shelter moray eels, octopuses, and various crustacean species including slipper lobsters. The proximity to the ancient Phoenician city of Tyre adds a cultural dimension to diving at Sawan's Bay. While not a dedicated archaeological dive, the area's long maritime history means that occasional artifacts and ancient structural remnants may be encountered on the seabed, though these should be observed and not disturbed. Water temperatures range from 17 degrees in February to 29 degrees in August. Sawan's Bay offers adventurous divers a rewarding experience in one of the Mediterranean's less-explored diving regions.