F O L L O W I N G A C T I V I T I E S I N C Y P R U S
S C U B A D I V I N G
Northern Cyprus has a very rare attribute; it's still undeveloped and virtually untouched, which makes our country the ideal diving holiday destination, whether you are an accomplished diver or just wanting to learn diving. We have the warmest, clearest waters in the region. With water temperatures ranging between 14c in the winter to a very pleasant 32c in the summer months, and the visibility at a steady 20+ meters.
Diving On Our Northern Coast Line
The above sites only represent the local areas to the Girne region, special weekend dive trips can be arranged to the Karpas area where you can explore deep underwater caverns, breathtaking walls and an large cargo ship that sits broken on the bottom at 20 meters.
1. Pinoccio: A very good site for multilevel training and navigation dives. Depth 14 to 26 meters.
2. Zephyros: This is one of our most exhilarating dives you can enjoy. There is a large multilevel reef with a drop off from 18 to 28 meters, plenty of marine life to be found on this dive.
3. The Wall: An interesting dive for all experienced divers, again a large multilevel reef with a drop off from 13 to 30 meters, on the bottom as well as a multitude of marine life there is a very old anchor, with the 25 meter long chain still attached.
4. Paradise: The deepest of dives on offer at 40 meters plus, a definite for the very experience diver the name says it all about this site.
5. Lost: Great site for a relaxing afternoon dive, Turtles and Ray have been spotted here many a time. Depth 18 meters.
6. Mare Monte Islands: Curious divers find this site stimulating. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to be explored, while been accompanied by Turkish Wrosse and Rainbow fish. Depth 14 meters.
7. Mare Monte: A site for sports diver training, just follow the rocks that will take you to the end of the dive. There is a Grouper waiting for you under every rock. Depth 18 meters.
8. Antique Shop: A very large Grouper guards this cove which is decorated with broken pieces of amphorae. Curious soldier fish watch your every move. Depth 25 meters.
9. Rita: The main attraction for this dive is the large anchor stuck between the rocks, enjoy the long dive after a relaxing boat trip. Depth 12 meters.
10. Bambi: Another relaxing afternoon dive, during their season baby Amberjacks will follow you around the site, you can visit the small underwater cove which is decorated with tiny coral formations, which is always inhabited by large Groupers. Depth 14 meters.
11. Zeyko: A firm favorite with photographers, the underwater scenery is breathtaking, you will find a very old broken up anchor on this site. Depth 14 to 22 meters.
12. Anchor + Cockpit: Just the the east of Girne castle, this site offers views of ancient artifacts, an anchor and a airplanes cockpit canopy. Depth 27 meters.
13. Unknown Wreck: There were hardly any crew member's when she went down, her name was Lazy Days and now she sits with her companion Crazy Boys. Depth 17 meters.
14. Fred: Everyone raves about this site, the only site in the north were you can feed the marine life during the dive, you sit on the bottom of the reef at 25 meters and enjoy the side show as the fish hustle and bustle for the food you have on offer for them.
15. Wreck Site: Before participating on this dive you should visit the the wreck in the Girne castle, its said to be the oldest shipwreck know to man, the site is still pegged out from the original excavation, they also left wooden crates on the bottom which contain the large amphora she was carrying at the time of her sinking. Depth 30 + meters.
16. Chicken Farm: This site consists of long and narrow rock formations. The holes in the rocks make many a home for Moral eels. Depth 18 meters.
17. Power Station: The site is very scenic with a under water peak at 13 meters. A good site for the underwater photographer. Depth 13 to 30 meters.
18. Kormakiti: A brilliant variety of marine life awaits you at this dive site after your long relaxing boat trip along the northern shores of the island. Depth 25 meters.
T U R T L E W A T C H I N N O R T H E R N C Y P R U S
For about one hundred million years, our waters have been visited by the Green (Chelonia Mydas) and the Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) Turtles. The Green Turtle only nests in Cyprus, southeast Turkey and sometimes Israel, you are all invited to come and observe this while holidaying on our beautiful island.
Since 1992 the Marine Turtle Research Group, in conjunction with the Society for the Protection of Turtles in Northern Cyprus and the Department for the Environmental Protection, has been undertaking an annual survey, of recording the Turtles egg laying and hatchlings activity during the summer months.
In the company of the team at Alagadi Beach (20 minutes drive from Girne) you to can share in this unique event. Just before sunset you can join the students, and witness this one hundred million year old wonder as the female Turtles begin to lay their eggs, if you are lucky you might be able to observe this happening several times in the same evening. The best time to observe the egg laying is the end of June and the beginning of July.
The eggs will fertilize in the nests for about 50 days after which you are invited again to come down to the beach to watch the hatchlings emerge from their sandy nests. The hatchling numbering up to 100 per nest and no bigger than 6-7 cm in size fight their way from the nest to the relative safety of the sea, for only one in a thousand will ever make it to adulthood.
The best time to observe the hatchlings is at the end of August and the beginning of September. Even less would survive if it was not for the special conservation project taking place here in Northern Cyprus. We feel its our responsibility to help these creatures to survive and to be able to continue without threat to their nesting grounds. This has been their home longer than it has been ours.
W A L K I N G I N N O R T H E R N C Y P R U S
For those of you who like to get away for it all and keep active, there are walking trails that are all marked out for you not far behind our complex.
Recommendations
1. A good pair of walking shoes or mountain shoes.
2. Wear a hat and T-shirt to avoid the sun during the summer months.
3. Always carry at least 1lt of drinking water per person.
4. Many shepherd paths crisscross the mountainside follow the appropriate colored sign, if in doubt backtrack and search for the colored markings.
5. For you own safety trails should not be used in the dark.
6. The trails have been marked out by a keen walker not a professional so take them at your own risk.
