Yasi Ada shipwrecks opened for diving near Bodrum

The Yasi Ada region off the coast of Bodrum, Muğla, has been opened for diving under a special permit issued by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This initiative, a joint effort between the Bodrum Chamber of Shipping and local diving centers, aims to establish the area as one of Turkey’s most prominent natural underwater museums.

Located on ancient maritime trade routes, the site contains approximately 10 to 11 discovered shipwrecks. These include five vessels from the Roman and Byzantine eras, an Ottoman shipwreck, and a more recent Lebanese cargo ship resting at a depth of about 20 meters. Beneath the Lebanese vessel lies a shipwreck from Rhodes dating back to the second century AD. The site also preserves thousands of ancient pottery jars and other artifacts.

Documentary filmmaker Hüseyin Gylan, working alongside the Bodrum Coast Guard and specialized divers, recently documented the site’s rich marine environment and historical remains. Marine archaeologist Ahsen Canbazoglu, who participated in diving operations in the area between 1981 and 1983, noted that excavations on a Roman shipwreck began in the early 1960s and resumed in 1974.