ZEUS III - Bodrum
The Zeus III wreck in Bodrum is one of those sites we always recommend for a chill afternoon dive, especially if you’ve got newer divers in the group. She’s a ferry, sunk back in 2001 after an unfortunate encounter with a charted but unlit rock. Now, she rests upright in just 5 metres of water, making her ridiculously accessible. What we love about Zeus III is the way the light plays on her, even on a cloudy day. Sunlight dapples through the surface, illuminating the deck and superstructure. You can glide over the remains of the passenger cabins, peeking into the ghostly doorways. Schools of juvenile damselfish flit in and out of the rusted metalwork, and we’ve often spotted octopus tucked away in crevices on the deck. It’s a gentle exploration, perfect for photographers wanting to practice their wreck composition without worrying about deco limits. Our advice? Go in the late afternoon; the low sun really makes the colours pop, and the crowds tend to thin out.
- Location
- Bodrum, Turkey, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 37.098835, 25.861166
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Best Time to Dive in Bodrum
The warmest water temperatures in Bodrum occur in January, averaging 18.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 18.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 18.9°C (air: 11.7°C)
- February: 18.9°C (air: 12.1°C)
- March: 18.9°C (air: 13.1°C)
- April: 18.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- May: 18.9°C (air: 21.6°C)
- June: 18.9°C (air: 26.1°C)
- July: 18.9°C (air: 29.8°C)
- August: 18.9°C (air: 28.8°C)
- September: 18.9°C (air: 25.9°C)
- October: 18.9°C (air: 21.5°C)
- November: 18.9°C (air: 17.0°C)
- December: 18.9°C (air: 14.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Bodrum
- AEGEO STAR - 40m (wreck)
- Aksona
- ALEXANDROS M - 20m (wreck)
- BUKHARA - 11m (wreck)
- Büyük Resif (reef)
- Cavern Reef (cave)
- Douglas C 47 A Dakota airplane wreck (wreck)
- HASLAMAN I - 10m (wreck)
- HMS Eclipse (reef)
- HMS Intrepid (wreck)
- IREMIA - 45m (wreck)
- Kara Ada (Black Island) - 5-25m (cave)
- Kargi Island - 10-30m (reef)
- Kerveli scouba diving
- Kirburnu
Nearest Dive Centres to ZEUS III
Marine Life in Bodrum
Home to 32 recorded species including 18 reef fish, 4 seagrass & algae, 4 whales & dolphins, 2 other, 2 crabs & lobsters, 1 sea urchins.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Silver-cheeked Toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) - Reef Fish
- Mediterranean tapeweed (Posidonia oceanica) - Seagrass & Algae
- Redcoat (Sargocentron rubrum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Studded Pufferfish (Torquigener flavimaculosus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Slender Seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Goldband Goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) - Reef Fish
- Common Spiny Lobster (Palinurus elephas) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) - Reef Fish
- eelgrass (Zostera marina) - Seagrass & Algae
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Red Band-fish (Cepola macrophthalma) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for ZEUS III
Based on average water temperature of 18.9°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories