UNDERWATER CAVES IN THE GULF OF FETHIYE
The coastal town of Fethiye and its environs in
southwest Turkey have been home to numerous civilisations throug-hout
history. This is an area of spectacular beauty, with its famous
Ölüdeniz lagoon, wonderful sand beaches, steep rocky shoreline
and pine clad mountains. Fethiye, which is a short distance from
Dalaman Airport, is also attracting people who come to delight in
its lesser known underwater world.
Divers exploring the sapphire seas around Fethiye
have recently been discovering many previously unknown underwater
caves. Since the caves generally have quite large entrances and
most are situated at depths of less than 30 metres, so that light
filters inside, they are safe for all divers with a certificate.
On day tours from Fethiye it is possible to make two thirty minute
dives to visit these caves. Three of the most interesting are situated
beyond Sahin Point to the east of Fethiye: the Afkule, Turkish Bath
and Mexican Hat caves.
The Turkish Bath Cave’s dome-like cave roof
and architectural entrance inspired the name. A cleft in the roof
admits light for part of the day, creating beautiful effects within
the cave, whose entrance lies at 10 metres.
Longer boat trips along this lovely coast enable divers to visit
more remote caves, such as that in the bay of Asi west of Fethiye.
This large cave lies on the southeast headland of the bay, and its
wide entrance is at a depth of 12 metres. When we entered it took
some minutes for our eyes to become accustomed to the darkness.
The first thing we saw were tiny red cardinal fish swimming near
the roof of the cave. We turned on our torches and began to search
round for other inhabitants.
Between the rocks were spiny scorpion fish, and
peering from its lair was the head of a moray eel. In the base of
the cracks in the caves sides were colonies of shrimps by the thousand,
and on the cave walls were white tube worms.
Beyond was the second entrance to the cave, glowing
with extraordinary beauty. The strong light illuminated the floor
and ceiling of the cave within the entrance in a myriad shades of
blue. Sailing from Fethiye to Ölüdeniz lagoon, we stopped
in the bay of Sariyar, where the rocky sea bed forms a labyrinth
of tunnels, crevices and passages of all shapes and sizes. Here
live colonies of seahorses, which are found no-where else in the
area, tuna fish and turtles.The island of Balaban is another fascinating
spot for divers, with its sheer cliffs plunging deep into the sea.
Here it is possible to explore the entire periphery in a single
dive. At the southern end of the island, Mediter-ranean barracudas
are almost always to be seen. The Gulf of Fethiye is full of surprises.
In the bay of Turunç Pinari one late afternoon we saw a school
of sardines progressing in waltzing movements, and donning our masks
and flippers we set out to follow them. When one of us dived into
the centre of the shoal, it divided into several parts, then immediately
joined up together again.
This feat of choreography was an amazing sight!
Watching the swirling motions of the silver fish, we were as captivated
as if by a firework display. At that moment two bonitos began to
feast on the sardines at the outer edges of the shoal.
Later we were told that the sardines swim together
to give the impression of one enormous fish, so scaring away predators.
By dividing the shoal we had enabled the bonitos to discern the
individual sardines, and they had promptly come in for the attack.
Musing over the endlessly fascinating wonders of nature, we made
our way back to dry land.
By Ali Ethem KESKIN
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