Is there a legal depth limit for scuba divers in Turkey?

Is there a legal depth limit for scuba divers in Turkey? - Woman in Body of Water

Last year (2014), the guys from our dive center in Turkey told us that there is a (new) legal depth limit of 30m (100ft) for all scuba divers (including CMAS 3* and PADI Dive Master) which is enforced by the coast guards. The only exceptions seem to be training dives.

Is it true that there is (was?) this kind of limit, or did they just pretend it to prevent us from diving deeper?

Note: I do not care about limits by diving organisations (PADI/CMAS/...) or insurances.



Best Answer

According to this site indeed scuba diving in Turkey is heavily regulated. There's an organisation called TSSF which defines rules and regulations for scuba diving. According to the linked site, the limit for > 18yo CMAS 2* and above is indeed 30m:

Here a short summary of what is of interest for everybody.

  1. Foreigners are not allowed to dive in Turkey without a licensed Turkish Guide Diver.
  2. Maximum depth limit for OWD/CMAS* - 18m and they have to be accompanied by a Divemaster/CMAS*** in minimum.
  3. Maximum depth limit for AOWD/CMAS** and higher – 30m. If they are below 18 years their maximum depth is 24m and only if they are accompanied by a Divemaster/CMAS*** in minimum.
  4. Scuba Diving is not allowed for minors below the age of 14.



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Can I scuba dive in Turkey?

Ka\u015f is the diving capital of Turkey. It is one of the top 100 dive sites of the world because of its abundance of marine life and ancient relics. There are over 30 dive sites, all within a 20 minute boat ride from the dock. You can wreck dive, cave dive, and explore deep canyons.

How deep can you go with scuba certification?

The industry standard depth limit for recreational divers is 130 feet (39 m) at sea level. During the basic scuba certification, students experience depths of 30-60 feet (9-18 m), and a \u201cdeep\u201d dive is considered more than 60 feet (18 m).

How deep is the diving in Turks and Caicos?

Often also called the Turks & Caicos Channel, the passage reaches a depth of over 7000 feet. Visitors to the islands will find a relaxed environment with an atmosphere that conveys a local feel. Simple accommodations are the most common.

What is the deepest you can dive without decompression?

A diver at 6 metres (20 ft) may be able to dive for many hours without needing to do decompression stops. At depths greater than 40 metres (130 ft), a diver may have only a few minutes at the deepest part of the dive before decompression stops are needed.



What Is The DEEPEST A Human Can DIVE? Myths Debunked (Animation)




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