Imprisoned in Belek, Turkey

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Trip Report:

What a gem there is undiscovered for divers in Turkey!

I met quite a few divers there doing 65msw to 85msw weekly, on a single tank of air. Some of those we got to know a little better can certainly hold their own against the best UK divers. When they have trimix, it will be most interesting what is done in Turkey. The Turkish divers can swim like a fish, and there is a great deal to see there underwater.

Teoman Naskili is THE man in Turkey. After a week of getting gear together, to overcome some Customs issues as I went into Russia on way to Turkey, we got some good dives done. A piccy below from one particularly memorable dive: Blue Fin Tuna from 200kg to 700kg in a holding area (they are encircled by a big and very deep net when wee, then fed as they grow to maturity, with their siblings circling outside the net in the open sea). Another dive saw sea turtles on the surface, and artifacts under with Yellow Fin Tuna swimming freely.

Teoman was on a Submatix and I pulled a Meg out of the lab due to aforementioned Customs difficulties. As a SCR I was impressed by the Submatix as a unit: just needs a triple PPO2 monitor and a Hydrogom valve. We did not have the right tank bands, so cables were a mess, but we got the dives in. Nice and warm: diving in trunks and T-shirt.

Nihat Gurer was a brilliant photographer and diver, and with Prof Mehmet Gokoglu their diving justifies a return trip next year, with full expedition rebreather kit. It felt like there was a global competition on to see who was the warmer and more hospitable people, but I am sure it is on every day of the year there!

Alex

Attached Images

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Mark Chase

WOW i must get Ling on to that Tuna dive she will love it to bits.

Please PM the the details when you get time.

ATB

Mark

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See my "Doing It Chasey" video where I'm locked into a padded room, naked, with two ball bearings and within an Hour, I manage to lose one and break the other!!!

Kevin Juergensen 16/11/08
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