News
Diving with… Ahmet Durmaz, Sailing Liveaboard Okyanus JD, Turkey
In this ongoing series, we speak to the people who run dive centres, resorts and liveaboards from around the world about their businesses and the diving they have to offer…
What is your name?
Ahmet Durmaz
What is the name of your business?
We are J-Diving and Tourism LLC in Turkey.
What is your role within the business?
I am the owner of my company.
How long has the business operated for?
Since 2006.
How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?
I have been diving since 2000. I am SSI AOWI and CMAS 1* Instructor.
What is your favorite type of diving?
I like each type of diving as long as it’s away from mass diving tourism. I like diving slowly and enjoy each moment underwater.
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
I am the only Sailing Dive Liveaboard in Turkey where I can bring together diving and yoga. Divers may attend our special diving and yoga tours. Divers who would like to be away from mass diving tourism may attend our tours. On the other hand, starting this year I will offer yoga and breathing techniques to divers after each dive briefing to prevent back pains while getting ready and after diving. Divers will overnight in beautiful bays and wake up in amongst wonderful scenery each morning.
Non-Divers are very important for us. They can swim freely since our waters don’t have any dangerous species. Our SUP’s can be used each time cost free. And we like hiking on the hills after diving.
What is your favorite dive in your location and why?
ATABOL Reef is my favourite dive place. It is rich with groupers & barracudas and it has incredible underwater topography.
What types of diving are available in your location?
We have reefs and drop-offs.
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
I am always with my guests on my boat. I work for my guest’s happiness. I don’t leave my guests to others’ hands. I practice my yoga almost every day and my guests may join me. I love to take them hiking on the hills. We also snorkel together.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Groupers.
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
We have applied to the Turkish Navy to get old ships for artificial reefs.
As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
Over-fishing and spear-fishing.
Is your center involved in any environmental work?
We have applied to the Turkish Authorities to prevent over-fishing and spear-fishing in our region. We have also been cleaning underwater when we see any garbage and also doing beach clean up in the coves during our dive season.
How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?
Scuba Diving centres are struggling hard to increase the number of licenced divers. The problem is how to keep divers active. In Turkey most of the daily dive centers are offering equipment for free. They do not rent equipment like us. But they miss the point that the more divers have their own equipment the more they would like to go diving. Seeing dry dive equipment at home encourages divers to go diving. Freediving is attracting more interest recently. I am offering my Sailing Dive Liveaboard to Freediving Instructors so that they can organise their own tours.
In Turkey we need urgent measures to protect our country underwater. Our waters are very clean, visibility is sometimes up to 50 meters and water temperature is good. We only need protected dive sites.
What would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?
As J-Dive Turkey, we are specialized in Sailing Dive (Scuba and Freediving) Liveaboard in Turkey.
Where can our visitors find out more about your business?
Phone / Whatsapp +90 533 480 81 45
Social Media : OKYANUS JD
In early summer we were given a wonderful opportunity to visit Alonissos in the Sporades Islands in the northern Aegean Sea. This green and forested island sits at the edge of the Alonissos National Marine Park, the largest marine protected area in Europe. Our main focus was to be scuba diving, but during our short stay we were especially impressed with all of the other activities and experiences available on Alonissos for the discerning vacationer.
The scuba diving was really outstanding. In contrast to some areas of the Mediterranean, the marine biodiversity here was impressively diverse and abundant. Our short stay meant we just had a small taste of the diving available, however our hosts at Alonissos Triton Dive Center treated us to some exceptional sites from their impressively long list. The variety of marine life we encountered was a delight: large Gorgonian sea fans, many species of nudibranchs, small pipefish to large groupers, octopus, and much more.
One of the most incredible experiences was the chance to dive the oldest accessible shipwreck in the world, the Ancient Shipwreck of Peristera underwater archeological site from 500 BC … an amazing dive site with a very unique automated underwater museum monitoring system in place to protect its archaeological heritage. It was a busy but hugely satisfying few days of diving and we could certainly spend much longer on this idyllic isle!
Greece has a huge number of beautiful islands to visit, so why choose Alonissos?
This island is one of the quieter Greek islands and as such has a very relaxed and welcoming feel, where you can find an authentic slice of the Aegean region. And, it is really easy to get there — so many airports in the UK offer flight connections directly to Skiathos (the hub of the Sporades) that you should not have to drive more than 100km in the UK to an airport.
Finally, the variety of non-diving activities is hard to beat. There are boating day trips into the National Marine Park, taking you to visit secluded beaches and giving you a chance to see some amazing wildlife (such as monk seals, Eleonora’s Falcon, and several species of dolphin to name a few). Both the main port town of Patitiri and the old village of Chora are full of interesting shops, charming alleyways, and restaurants with delicious meals. As an added bonus, the Alonissos cheese pie is a particularly moreish local specialty!
As a holiday destination, Alonissos really had everything one could ask for. Look for our full print article in an upcoming issue of Scubaverse’s own Dive Travel Adventures magazine!
Thanks to:
The Municipality of Alonissos (https://alonissos.gr/en/)
Alonissos Triton Dive Center (https://bestdivingingreece.com)
Alonissos National Marine Park (https://alonissos.gr/en/marine-park/overview.html)
Paradise Hotel (https://paradise-hotel.gr/)
Albedo Travel (https://alonissosholidays.com/)
What is your name?
(Anastasios) Tasos Ktistis
What is the name of your business?
Sporades Diving: Skopelos Dive Center operates in Skopelos island and Ikion Diving that operates in Alonissos island, which is run by my business partner Kostas Danis.
What is your role within the business?
Master Scuba Diving Trainer PADI & Co-Owner of Skopelos Dive Center & Manager of Skopelos Island diving operations
How long has the business operated for?
Since 2014
How long have you dived for, and what qualification are you?
I have been diving since 2012. I am a Mechanical Engineer with a BA in Documentary Photography and since 2012 I am qualified as a Master Scuba Diving Trainer PADI, since 2021 Tec65 diver and since 2022 as a Tec40 Diving Instructor
What is your favorite type of diving?
Wreck Diving
If you could tell people one thing about your business (or maybe more!) to make them want to visit you what would it be?
We offer our clients a safe and relaxed type of diving in the exciting and crystal-clear waters of the Sporades islands in Greece. Christoforos and Peristera’s ancient wreck are two must dive destinations.
What is your favorite dive in your location and why?
My favorite dive location is the “Christophoros” shipwreck. A 83m long modern shipwreck that sank in 1983 in Panormos Bay in Skopelos island. As a wreck diving lover, I am so excited that as one of our dive locations I get to dive on this amazing site with our clients.
What types of diving are available in your location?
On our dive sites the rocky landscape is dominant with beautiful reefs, walls and caverns that I am sure everyone will enjoy. And of course wreck diving at the “Christophoros” shipwreck
What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
The satisfaction and the happiness on our clients’ faces after a dive.
What is your favorite underwater creature?
Nudibranches!
As a center what is the biggest problem you face at the moment?
I would say the fact that the Sporades islands have a short summer season (July-August) although the weather is ideal for diving from May till October.
Is your center involved in any environmental work?
Of course we are! First of all, we are all great advocates of the less plastic movement that has started in 2014, not only in Skopelos but also in Alonissos (Ikion Diving). We participate in underwater clean-ups as well as in projects for local management of plastic waste (#zeroplastic with iSea and Re-Shape plastic-funded by Beyond Plastic MED.)
Are there any exciting changes / developments coming up in the near future?
We currently aspire to get more involved in Scientific Diving projects by actively supporting the operations through our involvement in EU funded projects, while at the same time we are also exploring the possibilities of Technical Diving as me and my partner of the Alonissos base, Kostas Danis, are certified PADI Tec40 Instructors. We believe that in the future our business will be well known for not only its recreational diving services but also its involvement with the Scientific Diving community through its technical diving services and expertise.
How do you see the SCUBA / Freediving / snorkeling industry overall? What changes would you make?
I believe that SCUBA and in general alternative tourism becomes more inclusive and even more people are interested to get to engage in this type of activities that ultimately protect the environment by raising awareness of the public about the ecosystem of the sea and its significance to a viable future.
Finally, what would you say to our visitors to promote the diving you have to offer?
At Skopelos Dive Center and Ikion Diving Alonissos (Sporades Diving Group) you can create fantastic underwater experiences – including guided dives, PADI courses, and snorkeling tours combining the two islands. It is our goal to create a safe, comfortable experience for divers of all abilities.
Where can our visitors find out more about your business? (This is where you enter your contact details and any specific details on how our audience can reach you)
Website: https://sporadesdiving.gr/
Skopelos Dive Center (Skopelos Island)
+306940448000
Ikion Diving Alonissos (Alonissos island)
+30 6940 448 004 (WhatsApp: +30 6984181598)
Why Skopelos should be your next summer dive destination!
Amazing Alonissos – The all round dive vacation destination
Diving With… Sporades Diving Group in Skopelos & Alonissos Islands, Greece
DIVING Talks is back for 2023
Wining and Diving – The Azores
Cool Drysuit Dives
Scuba Diving and Marine Life: Monkfish or Anglerfish (Watch Video)
The underwater wonders of the UK’s seas, a story in photographs
Jeff chats to… Arlindo Serrao, Founder of PortugalDive.com about diving in Portugal, The Azores and Madeira (Watch Video)
Diving in Switzerland #6 – The Tadpoles are growing!
Diving in Switzerland #5 – Rediscovering a forgotten dive site
