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Carol 202 | profile | all galleries >> Scuba Diving >> Diving Ovacik, Mersin, Turkey: Nov 2007 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Diving Ovacik, Mersin, Turkey: Nov 2007

Ovacik is a beautiful small beach town in the Mersin district. We have gone there to do night dives from the shore. The area is surrounded on 3 sides by mountains, but the village is on gently sloping land. There are some vacation homes, a couple of hotels and restaurants, and that's about it. Our simple and inexpensive hotel is near the beach, with the restaurant on the beach and about 50 ft from the water. The setting almost rivals Hawaii. During most of the year, it's very quiet and peaceful, and our dive group often has the place to themselves. I didn't think this would be an exciting place to dive, but the nights are full of wonderful creatures like white-spotted octopus, flatworms, flounders, turtles, squid, and filefish. In the early morning, there is great snorkling with many turtles and rays sleeping on the sandy bottom. The water is crystal clear at this time of day.
Bob free diving down to an ancient wreck.
Bob free diving down to an ancient wreck.		 Another view of the wreck.
Another view of the wreck.		 A turtle sleeping by a submerged log
A turtle sleeping by a submerged log		 Schools of bait fish
Schools of bait fish
Comb starfish
Comb starfish		 This little hawkfish isn't in any of my Mediterranean fish books. I suspect it's from the Red Sea.
This little hawkfish isn't in any of my Mediterranean fish books. I suspect it's from the Red Sea.		 Another photo of the hawkfish.
Another photo of the hawkfish.		 Scorpionfish--they are very numerous on the night dives near a rock wall.
Scorpionfish--they are very numerous on the night dives near a rock wall.
White-spotted octopuses are common around the wreck and rock walls.
White-spotted octopuses are common around the wreck and rock walls.		 These octopus ran for cover under me when disturbed by some other divers.
These octopus ran for cover under me when disturbed by some other divers.		 Our morning breakfast table. We had a typical Turkish breakfast with an unbeatable view.
Our morning breakfast table. We had a typical Turkish breakfast with an unbeatable view.		 Another view of the Hayat Motel's patio.
Another view of the Hayat Motel's patio.
Breakfast at the Hayat Motel
Breakfast at the Hayat Motel		 I think the hotel mascot liked my Turkish bag almost as much as Gabby.
I think the hotel mascot liked my Turkish bag almost as much as Gabby.		 Our room was spotless. We had our own patio.
Our room was spotless. We had our own patio.		 Another view of our room at Hayat Motel.
Another view of our room at Hayat Motel.
The bathroom was clean and functional, but no shower curtain...
The bathroom was clean and functional, but no shower curtain...		 This bay is east of Hayat Motel. We got down to it via a dirt road off the highway.
This bay is east of Hayat Motel. We got down to it via a dirt road off the highway.		 It was coverd in flat pebbles, but the surrounding earth was orange.
It was coverd in flat pebbles, but the surrounding earth was orange.		 This young lady and boy were very friendly. She told me she plays guitar, and I think she does hair.
This young lady and boy were very friendly. She told me she plays guitar, and I think she does hair.
Some day Bob and I might explore this perfect valley. I want to go through the pass to the sea.
Some day Bob and I might explore this perfect valley. I want to go through the pass to the sea.

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sieglinde Olivier 29-May-2012 09:53
is there a possiblity to dive together with a diving center in Mersin our Adana?
Pleas contact me
sieglinde.olivier@live.be
greetz from Belgium
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