Sea Kayaking in Turkey Merges History & Natural Beauty

8-minute read

Turkey offers sea kayakers a unique blend of the clear, turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, beautiful and dramatic coastline, and history that stretches back millennia. 

The stunning coastline of southern Turkey is full of archeological treasures and natural beauty

Oğuzhan (Osi) Durmuş is an experienced sea kayak guide in his native Turkey who we’ve recently welcomed to the Aqua Bound Ambassador team. 

We enjoyed a video call with him to learn more about his kayaking background, the growing paddling scene in his home country, and what makes Turkey such a unique and special place for sea kayakers.

Here’s our interview with Osi:

AQUA BOUND: Tell us about your kayak guiding life in Turkey.

OSI: I guide for a company named Dragoman Diving and Outdoors, which was established in 2002. It's one of the first companies in the area. I'm located in the southern part of Turkey, in a place called Kaş, which is in Antalya. This area is considered the birthplace of organized sea kayaking in Turkey. 

Oğuzhan (Osi) Durmuş is a Turkish kayaker, guide and Aqua Bound Ambassador

We're focused on sea kayaking expeditions and daily tours with tourists along the coastline. We offer many different routes and options, adjusting to the group size and whether kids are involved. The daily tours are our most popular ones with our guests.

The shortest multi-day trip we offer is 4 days around the Kaş region. We also have longer 7-day trips towards the west, to Datça Peninsula with even more history. These can be camping-based, where we carry our own food. 

Our older groups often prefer hotel-based tours, so we offer those as well. We’ll do our kayaking outings, then put the kayaks on the trailer and drive back to a comfortable hotel for the night. We really try to combine and customize based on what people need, want and can afford.

AQUA BOUND: What makes sea kayaking in your area of Turkey so special?

OSI: What's truly special about our region is the harmonious blend of history and nature. It’s so accessible—you don’t have to choose one over the other.

The crystal-clear water makes it easy to spot the sunken ruins

For example, today I kayaked in the Kekova region, where we paddled over a sunken city. We then had lunch by the sea, seeing a sunken tomb, all overlooked by a castle built by the Lycians and later used by the Crusaders. You see historical structures from the Lycian, Roman, Ottoman, and Hellenistic periods, often all in one day—on our shortest tour!

Combine this with the crystal-clear, turquoise, and blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and it becomes a truly magical spot. The coastline from Izmir towards Antalya is full of this history and nature, and most places are still very unspoiled. Many spots are only reachable by paddling or by boat. When you add the fantastic Turkish cuisine to this, it becomes a complete experience.

Turkish history under the surface of the Mediterranean’s blue-green waters

It used to be a very affordable destination compared to Greece or Croatia, offering great value and a more authentic, less European feel. However, due to the economic situation and the exchange rate (the dollar exchange rate went from about 4 Turkish Lira 6-7 years ago to over 40 Turkish Lira now), Turkey has become more expensive.

AQUA BOUND: Are your guests mainly international tourists or do you get a lot of Turkish people too?

OSI: For many years, it was mainly tourists. Turkish people aren't really into the active holiday mentality yet. They prefer to relax on the beach. However, this is starting to pick up, and we’re getting more and more Turks.

Unfortunately, due to the economic situation and increasing prices, that increase has slowed down a bit. Companies like Decathlon have played a huge role, making affordable and good-quality outdoor gear accessible, which has led to more individuals with inflatable kayaks and stand-up paddleboards along the shore. This has definitely boosted the number of Turkish people getting out on the water.

Our guests used to be mostly from the UK, but in the last 6-7 years, it has changed a lot. We now have a very diverse clientele, including Americans, people from Uruguay, Belgians, Dutch and lots of Canadians this season. I can no longer say it's just mostly Brits. It’s quite varied, from all over the world.

A panoramic view of ruins, town, the Mediterranean and nearby islands

AQUA BOUND: Are other places along the Turkish coast opening up to sea kayaking as well?

OSI: Yes, definitely. With the rise of inflatable kayaks and canoes, more people are getting on the water, and this has caught the attention of the Turkish Canoe Confederation, which traditionally focused on athletes. Now, they have a new section for sea kayaking and paddleboarding and are even issuing certifications. Last season, we received our official Turkish training and sea kayaker guide cards.

Osi has guided for Dragoman since his late teens, located in Kaş (Antalya)

In Istanbul, particularly in the Black Sea region to the north, sea kayaking has become quite popular. There are also good spots in the central lake region of Turkey, though these are more for locals than tourists. Tourists mostly go along the southern and western coasts of Turkey.

In Kaş, three new kayaking companies have opened in the last two seasons alone, and they're consistently getting customers. In Istanbul, there are also companies and even sea kayaking clubs where you can become a member and get access to kayaks and equipment.

While there isn't a formal sea kayaking club in Kaş in the same way you might see in the States, there's a growing paddling community thanks to inflatable kayaks and paddleboards. People organize meetups on Instagram, paddling together. So, it's starting slowly. There are also plans for a new rowing club here that hopes to include a sea kayaking club, which would be a more official step.

Osi with one of his tour groups

AQUA BOUND: How long is your sea kayaking season?

OSI: Our season starts around mid-May and continues until mid-November. This isn't because the conditions aren't good later in the year, but because we don't get as many tourists. 

Where I live, the winter months see temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius (59°F), and the sea remains quite mild. Kaş is particularly suitable for beginners due to Kekova Island, which creates a natural harbor and makes the water almost always flat like a lake and well-protected.

I'm trying to become more international and attract people in the winter, as many paddlers up north have a very short season and look for places to go. Turkey, though a bit far, is a great spot during those times for those willing to travel.

People can fly into either Antalya or Dalaman airports. Antalya is a 3-hour drive away, while Dalaman is about a 1-hour and 45-minute drive. Dragoman arranges our own transfers from the airport, so guests don't have to worry about finding their way.

AQUA BOUND: Tell us about your kayaking background.

OSI: I first came to Kaş in 2009 during a summer break from school. My cousin was a tour guide here, and I joined a kayaking tour for the first time. They gave me a single kayak, and though I struggled, I loved it! I kept asking to join more tours, and they saw my interest. I ended up spending most of my summer break in Kaş, trying out canyoning, paragliding, diving and hiking.

The following season, I became a tour guide assistant. By 18 years old, I was leading my first group as a guide! 

Osi demonstrates a kayak roll

At the time, Turkey didn't have an official federation for sea kayaking, so we brought in people from the UK to teach us. My initial training was a basic 3-day course, and everything else I do now is self-taught through experience and watching videos. Experience is definitely the biggest teacher.

AQUA BOUND: What else do you want our readers to know about your country?

OSI: Often, people don't know much about Turkey, especially from far away, and what they hear on the news is usually negative. But I want people to know that Turkey is a huge country and not officially a Muslim country. People are often surprised when they come here and see how European it is.

I don't want people to have prejudices against Turkey. Please do your research and give it a try. Turkey has so much to offer because it has been a bridge between Europe and Asia for centuries. There's so much to discover historically and geographically. The East is very different from where I live, and the Black Sea region is different from the central section. Customs, traditions, and food vary greatly. So, don't be discouraged by what you don't know. Do your research and you'll be surprised!

I always ask Americans and Canadians how they decided to come to Turkey, and they often say a friend recommended it. They're consistently surprised by how much they love it and want to come back. 

In tourist areas, you'll easily get by with English, as the new generation and those in tourism can usually speak it quite well. While there might be some tricky situations, Turks generally believe there are no problems, only solutions. They are genuinely welcoming and willing to help. Hospitality is a huge cultural value here. 

We want the word out that Turkey is a great sea kayaking destination, especially in the off-season, for many. We have quality guides and increasing certifications, making it safer than ever.

Our thanks to Osi for his time and devotion to sea kayaking in Turkey! You can follow Osi on Instagram.

Learn more about Dragoman Diving and Outdoors and see their full range of daily and multi-day kayak tours.

All photos courtesy of Oğuzhan Durmuş.

What paddling questions can our friendly Customer Service team help you with? Contact us at 715-755-3405 or sales@aquabound.com, or choose our online chat option.

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