airplane

Best months: Aug–Oct

Why dive here

airplane is a wreck dive where divers can encounter dolphins, sea turtles and sperm whales. Water ranges 18-30°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeAug–Oct

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeDolphins, Sea Turtles and Sperm Whales

Water18-30°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive

The Airplane Wreck in Kaş offers a genuinely different kind of dive. It's an Italian Savoia-Marchetti SM79 bomber, sunk during World War II, resting upright at around 20-25 metres. We love how intact it is; you can still clearly make out the cockpit, fuselage, and the distinctive triple tail fins. Swimming through the bomb bay is a highlight, imagining its original purpose. This site isn't just a piece of history, it’s a living reef. Yellow barracuda often school around the wings, and we’ve spotted redcoat and the occasional studded pufferfish tucked into crevices. Keep an eye out for African blue swimming crabs scuttling over the metal. Visibility here is usually excellent, giving you clear views of the entire plane. Our tip: go in the morning; the light filtering down onto the wreck can be quite beautiful, illuminating the details. It’s a comfortable dive for advanced open water divers, offering plenty to see without being overly challenging.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Today06:0517:3311h 28m daylightGolden hour 16:58

airplane Wreck History

Year Sunk

2009

Vessel Type

aircraft

Cause

scuttled

Resting on the seabed near Kaş, this impressive aircraft is a Douglas C-47 Dakota, a military transport plane with a storied past. After serving in the Turkish Air Force for decades, this particular C-47, nicknamed "Ottoman," was given a new mission in retirement. In 2009, it was purposefully sunk to create a unique artificial reef and an exciting destination for scuba divers.

Today, the Dakota sits upright on a sandy bottom at a depth of around 22 meters. Its large size, with a wingspan of nearly 30 meters, makes for a compelling sight as it emerges from the blue. Divers can explore the exterior, swim under the broad wings, and peer into the stripped-out cargo bay. The wreck has become a thriving habitat for local marine life, attracting schools of fish and offering countless photo opportunities for visiting divers.