Underwater atlas born from an interview
In the Maritime Trade Newspaper news dated June 10, 2013, diving instructor Sırrı Özşen explains that there are approximately twenty diving spots around Çandarlı. The names Kız Kulesi, Kara Ada, the two banks between Karadağ and Kız Kulesi, and Maltepe Burnu on the coast of Denizköy are clearly mentioned in this narrative. The value of such ancient descriptions is not that they provide a map of today's routes, but that they document a local diving memory.
Geography and route are not the same thing
Just because a spot is mentioned in the press does not mean that it is open to diving freely today or that it is suitable for every diver. In diving activities, permits, maritime traffic, diver proficiency, weather conditions and the team's operational evaluation are decisive. The general description in the 2013 news that rocky debris continues deeper in some places should not be used as a depth target or training limit to be applied to every point.
Why is it important to convey names correctly?
When the spelling of a local name changes, not only the search engines but also the memories divers pass on to each other are shattered. That's why we keep the names that appear in the archive: Is İki Banko a collective name or two independent sites? Are Küçük Ada/Taxi two names for the same place? Can the Montenegrin coastline and the Kara Ada island formation mix? The final answer to these questions will be given by Sırrı Hoca's field notebook, old logbook and map markings.
How will we complete the atlas?
We use a separate identification card for each dive site: name and alternative name, date of first sighting of the source, general description of the location, dated photographs, date of last inspection of the diveworthiness assessment and release. We do not assume that sensitive coordinates should be made public. We also distinguish between tagging photos as “Çandarlı zone” and linking them to a specific verified spot.
Today's equivalent of Sırrı Hoca's words
The 2013 statement carries the voice of an instructor who wants greater recognition of underwater life on Çandarlı. Our new atlas is an attempt to preserve this memory and enrich it with current observations. If the spot you are looking for is not on the list, you can share your photo with your name and date. A sighting will not be published as a new dive route until it is confirmed.
Related: Çandarlı diving spots · Sırrı Özşen
Sources
This is an informational text. It is not a substitute for an updated dive plan, operational clearance and personal medical evaluation. Source, place, date and usage permission are required for photographs.