Heybeli Ada Wall

The Heybeli Ada Wall runs along a section of Turkey's Mediterranean coast that divers visit for clear water and healthy rocky reefs rather than crowds or shipwrecks. This wall dive drops from near surface depth to around 30 metres along a sheer face carpeted in soft corals, sponges and the patient handiwork of moray eels that have dug themselves in over years. The site fits comfortably into an Open Water certification as long as you stay within your training depth, and it gives more experienced divers plenty of reasons to stretch down into the orange and red sponge zone lower on the wall. Access is by boat from the nearest small harbour, a few minutes by fast RIB or a longer, more relaxed sail on a day boat. Entry is a negative drop into the downcurrent side of the wall, and you follow the contour on whichever shoulder the day is favouring. Currents are generally modest and work with you when read properly. The wall itself is full of small caves and cracks, and most of the interesting encounters happen within arm's length of the rock rather than out in the blue. Beginner level is correct for the top half of the profile, with Advanced Open Water recommended for anyone planning to work the deeper ledge. Marine life leans Mediterranean classical. Dusky and white groupers tuck into the larger recesses, octopus drape themselves over the rock at dusk, and nudibranchs of several colours decorate the softer coral patches. Schooling damselfish and saddled seabream run above the wall and scorpionfish sit motionless on the ledges waiting for whatever swims past. Occasional visits from barracuda and amberjack punctuate the slower pace. Conditions are most reliable from May through October. Water temperature ranges from 17 degrees at the start of the season to 26 in late summer, and visibility sits between 20 and 30 metres on a calm day.