The best places for diving in Crimea. Snorkeling and freediving in Crimea Where can you dive in Crimea

A regional interdepartmental team presented a project for the development of yacht tourism and extreme sports in the Republic of Crimea. The document provides for the construction of seven yacht marinas with almost four thousand places.

Seven by five

In terms of yacht purchases, Russia ranks second in the world after the United States (demand in 2017 increased by 37 percent), says Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Republic of Crimea Tatyana Maliy. - At the same time, their repair, storage, parking, and operation are carried out mainly outside of Russia. Russians spend about 200 million euros annually on the parking and maintenance of yachts. For example, the cost of wintering in Europe ranges from 4,500 to 30 thousand euros per year (up to 200 euros per day). This money is now going to other countries: Poland, Germany, Holland, Croatia, China, Taiwan and Turkey. While Crimea has great potential for the development of yacht tourism and related infrastructure.

Length coastline Crimean peninsula - 2500 kilometers. This is more than in Krasnodar region, where there are already yacht marinas. In Crimea there is only one like this so far, in Balaklava (Sevastopol). There are only six thousand small vessels registered in the two regions. For comparison: in St. Petersburg there are about 50 thousand of them.

The project developed by the interdepartmental group provides for the creation of seven yacht marinas with 3,850 places on the peninsula: in Yalta, Yevpatoria, Koktebel, Feodosia and two in Kerch. They are planned to accommodate both small and cruise ships. They also intend to organize ship escort, border and customs services and hotel services.

For example, in the Genoese Pier marina in Kerch, on an area of ​​6.6 hectares, it is planned to accommodate from 350 to 450 parking spaces, a hotel with 170 rooms, Olympic swimming pool, a hangar for storing small boats, a gas station and a parking lot. Marina "Arshintseva Spit" in Kerch will combine the production and maintenance of small boats and comfortable hotels and beaches. Koktebel will allocate three hectares for the marina, where 55 yachts can simultaneously anchor. In Yalta, the area will accommodate 270 small vessels, and in Yevpatoria it is planned to create year-round parking for 700 watercraft.

Geographical location of Crimea and climatic conditions allow transitions to inland waters Russia, to Europe through the Danube, to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic through the Bosphorus Strait, continues Maliy. - Favorable conditions for sailing - 7 - 8 months a year, which is comparable to Italy.

There will be more tourists

The initiative was developed in accordance with the socio-economic development strategy of the Republic of Crimea. Projects for the construction of yacht marinas are planned to be linked to the Federal Target Program, within the framework of which the necessary infrastructure will be created. The implementation of the plan will give a synergistic effect with the involvement of related industries, in particular, it will help to load enterprises of the ship repair and shipbuilding cluster with additional orders for the repair and maintenance of small vessels.

In addition, the construction of marinas will give impetus to the development of trade and the tourism industry, because in addition to yachting, the interdepartmental team proposes to actively develop extreme species sports and open four mountain sports and 12 water sports centers, which partially coincide with the location of the marinas. The sites for them have already been agreed upon with the Republican Ministry of Resorts.

Twenty percent of the peninsula’s territory is occupied by mountains, and there are more than a thousand climbing routes along them, says Dmitry Nadtochaev, a member of the interdepartmental team, Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy of Crimea. - In addition, there are more than 250 hiking trails, more than 300 caves accessible to tourists, many interesting diving sites: sunken ships, aircraft and underwater caves. Plus, we have a favorable wind rose not only for yachtsmen and windsurfers, but also for fans aerial species sports

A positive effect of the development of yacht tourism in the republic will be an increase in the duration of the active holiday season by at least 50 percent, which means that there will be one and a half to two times more vacationers, says Tatyana Maliy. - Potential growth in tax revenues and an increase in the share of tourism services in the structure of the domestic regional product by no less than doubling are predicted.

The project is planned to be implemented in several stages at the expense of private investors and the federal budget. The total investment is about 50 billion rubles, including 20 billion from budget funds.

According to preliminary calculations, additional tax deductions will begin approximately in 2024 and will amount to 1.5 - 3 billion rubles annually, from 2024 to 2017 - 3 - 7 billion rubles, until 2030 - 7 - 12 billion.

The numbers are large, but these are not direct budget revenues from the implementation of the project, but the total amount, taking into account the synergistic effect that it will give in other sectors of the economy, says Dmitry Nadtochaev.

Sanctions will not last forever

There are many obstacles to the implementation of this project, says Dmitry Nadtochaev. - Firstly, the lack of necessary infrastructure or its deterioration and imperfection of urban planning documentation. Secondly, administrative barriers. Thirdly, border and visa regimes will significantly complicate the implementation of projects. To achieve this, it is proposed to exempt a two-mile sea zone from border control. Crimean bridge to Donuzlav from border control so that yachts can make night crossings.

Another limiting factor is the lack of qualified personnel, because the project envisages the creation of at least 1.5 thousand new jobs. To prepare them, it is necessary that at least seven training centers be opened on the peninsula, which will train specialists to work in yacht marinas.

In addition, the government does not rule out that shadow business will oppose the project, because now entertainment services on the water are mainly provided illegally.

There will undoubtedly be stiff competition with neighboring countries“, first of all, with Turkey and Croatia, which have already created a developed infrastructure, and they do not need competitors such as Crimea,” he continues. - Therefore, we must create a product that will be fundamentally different from what our neighbors offer. But we have good prospects: yachtsmen should be comfortable moving from the Sevastopol marina to the Crimean marina, and then to the Krasnodar region.

The most important risk, according to officials, is sanctions that affect all sectors of the Crimean economy. But sanctions do not last forever, and marinas are built to last. .

Reading time: 8 minutes

Crimea has recently become a more popular holiday destination and activities such as diving are also gaining momentum here. Fortunately, Crimea has all the conditions for this interesting pastime.

Diving in English means "diving" (diving). More precisely, this activity involves immersion in water with special equipment or even without it. Naturally, the vast majority of divers dive into the water with special equipment that provides oxygen. The equipment most often includes compressed air cylinders, a regulator for them, a special wetsuit, masks, fins and a snorkel. Additionally, an underwater flashlight, compass, thermometer, depth gauge and other devices can be used.

It is worth noting that a diver is not a diver. These two concepts differ in that the diver is an amateur, and the diver is a specially trained professional who does not admire the underwater world, but carries out special work at the depths of the sea. Divers, for the most part, are people who are captivated by the exciting world of the underwater kingdom. So, where can you do this exciting activity in Crimea?

Diving spots in Crimea

The picturesque bays of the Crimean peninsula will not leave anyone indifferent, where by scuba diving you find yourself in a fabulous underwater water world. Perhaps the Black Sea does not look as colorful as the Red Sea, but it has its own amazing beauty with grottoes, underwater stone palaces, and sunken ships.

Balaclava Bay or Cape Aya


This place was once inaccessible to those wishing to dive, but since the bay was opened for recreation, it has become one of the most popular diving spots in Crimea. Today, in this area you can make a very interesting dive.

The beauty is that underwater in the area of ​​Cape Aya, at a depth of 15 meters, there are many anchors from different times. Apparently, once upon a time they were thrown into the water or even lost by ancient sailors.

Now this stunning place is called Anchor Alley. The area in the bay received this name due to the fact that all the anchors were collected and beautifully laid out one after another in the form of a chain. This was done so that everyone could examine all these ancient artifacts in detail.

Cape Chersonesos

This dive site also reveals traces of different eras to divers. At a depth of more than fifty meters you can see antique ceramic vessels, apparently belonging to the ancient Greeks.

It is worth noting that for beginners, descending to such a depth may not be easy, so some experience is required here. In addition, at the bottom of the sea near Chersonese lie many remains of combat aircraft that flew over Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War.

Tarkhankut

Among divers in Crimea, this place is one of the most interesting and popular. This beautiful place is located in the western part of Crimea. For diving, Tarkhankut is definitely worth including in your program. We can say that there is a whole museum underwater here, which includes underwater caves, beautiful grottoes and mysterious tunnels.

But besides this, at the bottom of the sea lies a whole collection of busts of former communist leaders and other representatives of this period. This place is also called the alley, only this time “Alley of Leaders” and is located at a depth of 12 meters near the seashore.

New World

A bunch of vivid impressions can be obtained by diving in the New World area, which is located in Sudak. It will be interesting here for both beginners and professionals, as there are good diving conditions for both. Great places For diving there are Green and Golubaya bays, as well as Cape Kapchik and a picturesque area under the romantic name “Bay of Love”.

These are the main places that are of great interest to divers, but if you wish, you can also dive in the vicinity of Sudak. The diving depth in these bays is approximately 10-18 meters. It is noteworthy that here at the bottom of the sea you can find many wrecks from ships of different times, fragments of ancient ceramics and perfectly preserved amphorae. In addition, the bays are interesting for their mysterious caves and many funny marine inhabitants.

Underwater exploration is underway in the Green Bay area archaeological excavations, since this area has great archaeological value. Accordingly, the water area is strictly guarded, and admission here is permitted by prior agreement with the instructors. The most curious divers often go here.

Love Bay is perfect for beginners. There is a rich marine flora and fauna here, and getting into the water is convenient and does not cause difficulties.

Cape Meganom is one of beautiful places in Crimea

Very close to Sudak there is a mountainous area called Cape Meganom, which is also of considerable interest to those who want to go diving in Crimea. The water here is clean and clear, which is why spearfishing competitions are sometimes held here.

But the main find for divers is the beautiful underwater landscapes, rich undersea world fauna, volcanic grottoes and caves. There are many legends associated with the cape and mysterious stories. The immersion depth in this zone reaches up to 20 meters.

You can dive to a depth of 10 meters in Dvuyakornaya Bay, which is located in the popular resort village of Ordzhonikidze.

There is a wide variety of underwater inhabitants, as well as beautiful underwater landscapes. Interesting artifacts are also found at the bottom of the sea in this area.

Sites of sunken ships in Crimea

Diving to sunken ships

In the Yalta passenger port, next to the wall, at a depth of 15 meters, a German barge was flooded, which was attacked by Soviet DB-3 aircraft, and due to numerous damages, sank. Flooding coordinates 44`15`N 34`05` E.

In Foros, at a depth of 10 meters, the steamship Alexander I was sunk, which washed up on the rocks in the 19th century. Of the fragments of the steamship, the bow with a windlass, an anchor chain with an anchor, and individual parts of the ship have been preserved.

In Laspi Bay, at a depth of about 18 meters, lies a Greek wine carrier, which was thrown onto the rocks in the 30s of the 20th century. The hull of the wine carrier was badly damaged because it was used during firing practice, but the rear part was preserved.

To points with coordinates 44038.333/N. 33025.464/ east in 1980, a pre-revolutionary submarine was discovered. It is classified as a Narwhal class ship with one tubular torpedo tube. It is believed that it was sunk in 1919 by the Anglo-French.

Cape Tarkhankut - at a depth of 52 meters lies the cruiser "Tsarevich Alexey", sank by the explosion of a mine laid by German-Turkish minesweepers. In Soviet times, attempts were made to raise the cruiser, but they all ended in nothing.

Where can you get diving training in Crimea?

Due to the fact that there are many places for diving in Crimea, there are a large number of dive clubs on the peninsula that teach diving skills and provide appropriate certificates at the end of the training.

For example, clubs such as Black Sea Divers, Team Nikolaev, White Griffin, "Atoll" offer various interesting training programs. With their help you can dive for thirty minutes, accompanied by an experienced instructor.

The cost of diving with an instructor in clubs in Crimea starts from 2000 rubles. and higher, depending on the pricing policy of the dive club. When training with an international certificate, prices start from 12,000 rubles. During training, theoretical knowledge is first given, and then only practice is performed.

Qualified dive instructors provide all the knowledge on equipment and operation, talk about how to properly dive into water and safety measures. It is worth noting that many diving instructors in Crimea are people who are in love with their job, so the quality of training here is second to none. high level.

Prospects for the development of diving in Crimea

Since Crimea has many opportunities for exciting diving, the prospects for the development of this activity on the peninsula are very good. In general, diving in Crimea has existed since the 80s of the 20th century, but now those wishing to dive into the waters of the Black Sea are growing at enormous speed. Accordingly, if there is demand, there is supply. Crimean dive clubs are constantly introducing new programs and offering dive tours that are of interest not only to beginners, but also to experienced divers.

Places such as Sudak are very popular among beginners, New World and Kara-Dag. Professional divers tend to dive in more difficult places, for example, the Blue Bay near Simeiz, some places in the New World or Tarkhankut.

The main conditions for diving in Crimea are experience and an appropriate certificate. If it is not there, you will not be able to rent equipment. Without a certificate, it is also not possible to participate in dive safaris or group dives. The only thing you can count on is to make an easy introductory dive accompanied by an instructor.

What is included in the price of an underwater tour?

  • A set of underwater equipment (wetsuit, mask, fins, cylinder);
  • Underwater photo and video shooting is possible (not in every tour);
  • Instructor assistance in training;
  • Delivery to motor boat to the dive site;
  • If there is a long instruction and dive, then the price includes meals.

The main advantage of snorkeling is its accessibility. You don't need expensive equipment: breathing systems, cylinders.

All you need is a mask and snorkel. Fins won't hurt, but you can do without them. Without fins, however, you will have to mostly stay on the surface of the water. It's difficult to dive without them. A wetsuit for cold water is also not the most important piece of equipment, especially if you make your first timid strokes in snorkeling at a water temperature of twenty-five degrees, which is not uncommon even in Crimea, not to mention the more southern seas.

If you enjoy swimming through underwater landscapes and chasing fish, then over time you will be able to master freediving. If you want, of course.

The most the best places For snorkeling, the following are considered: the Red Sea with its rich flora and fauna, the southern oceans. But does this mean that you must go to the ends of the world? Not at all. In Crimea there are also a lot beautiful beaches with an interesting bottom topography.

1. Sevastopol, open-air museum Chersonese Tauride

The beautiful bottom topography formed by fallen boulders, the large abundance of small colorful animals and, most importantly, the accessibility of the beach - this is what served to put it in the first place.

In fact, this is the only beach where the Sevastopol city bus goes.

The disadvantages include sharp stones on the beach. To make it less painful to go into the water, I used neoprene socks.

2. Wild beaches of Cape Sarych, Laspi Bay

The water is amazingly clean and these places are rarely visited - these are their main advantages. And in the water near the cape there is a lot of fish, even commercial fish. The most ideal option for combining snorkeling with a “savage” holiday.

3. Cape Tarkhankut, a diving paradise

The fact that it is the ships that diving schools come to train says a lot.

By the way, it was on Tarkhankut that I first saw what a “thermocline” is and what it looks like. It’s as if there’s another sea right under the water, only colder. A moving silver lens sways under you.

There are millions of rapans here, they were simply carried around in bags in front of us. Potatoes.

Accommodation is exclusively in tents. There are no people, no water. Yes Yes. Unlike Cape Sarych, the nearest civilization is about ten kilometers away, no sources have been found. And the landscape is ascetic, steppe, practically without a single bush. So if you want the sea, the mountains, and the shade at the same time, then this is Sarych. If you want to gorge yourself on fantastic underwater landscapes and rapana for the rest of your life - Tarkhankut.

Summer is a time for vacations and relaxation. Sea, sun and, of course, Crimea. What would a holiday in Crimea be without diving? There are a lot of good places for diving. This is the coast of Sevastopol, at the bottom of which lie the remains of sunken ships and cannonballs. There are many interesting caves and grottoes in Yalta and Evpatoria. Cape Martyan is famous for its beautiful underwater landscapes. Tarkhankut has clear water and you can dive down to fifteen meters. In Koktebel, the most popular diving spot is Crab Stone, where the legendary film “The Diamond Arm” was filmed. At Cape Ai-ya there is a deep cliff that will appeal to lovers of the abyss.

Diving equipment

A diving mask is made of rubber or silicone. Silicone mask is softer, stronger, and has a longer service life. Choose glass for the mask with a wide viewing angle and a special anti-fog coating on the lenses.

The tube must be secured to the belt to the mask with a special fastener. The tube is only suitable for shallow immersion depths, up to thirty centimeters. The higher and thicker the tube, the more gas will collect in the lungs and cause carbon dioxide poisoning.

Fins are definitely needed. Some divers say that you can dive without fins, but those who have already scuba dived believe that fins make it easier to move underwater and improve body flexibility.

A flashlight for scuba diving is a necessary attribute, it is not known where you want to swim. In addition, in water all colors are distorted and with deep immersion the colors disappear completely. As a rule, the flashlight is secured to the hand with a strap so as not to lose it.

Scuba gear is equipment for breathing underwater, which allows you to dive up to three meters. Consists of a regulator, a cylinder and a buoyancy compensator. The cylinder contains nitrogen-oxygen air, which on average lasts for thirty minutes of diving. How more depth dive, the faster the air in the tank will run out. It is better to buy scuba gear in specialized stores or rent it at diving centers.

A wetsuit is the main piece of diving equipment. The dry type of wetsuit is only suitable for cold water. A wetsuit is suitable for warm waters from 10 to 30 degrees. Protective wetsuit suitable for tropical waters.

A large percentage of divers are amateurs and know little about diving. You can’t put on a suit, grab some equipment and go conquer the aquatic world. There are diving centers where an experienced instructor will conduct training and the first dive. The approximate cost of training is about $300.

After training, the diver is issued a certificate of competency. There are many good diving centers in Crimea. Do not rent equipment from unvetted or amateur rental companies. For them, the main thing is profit, and for you, first of all, your safety. Before you start diving training, consult your doctor; there are diseases for which diving is prohibited (epilepsy, alcoholism, heart and lung diseases, various mental phobias).

If you have not dived under water for more than six months, you need to undergo training with an instructor, preferably in advance, and not on the day of the dive.

You need to swim underwater slowly, being careful, avoiding very thick algae, unstable boulders and snags. If you panic, you can always unfasten the weight belt and rise to the surface.

You can dive to a depth of 40 meters, but it is important to know that the beauty of the underwater kingdom lies in top layer water. Incorrect instructions or a careless attitude towards diving can harm your health. If you do not properly vent before diving, you can stretch your eardrums.

If you have a cough underwater, do not come up suddenly, continue coughing at the given depth.

Try not to dive into places where there is strong current, because it will be difficult for you to calculate the air in the cylinder.

To avoid getting lost under water, learn to develop your powers of observation, take a compass with you, if possible, make marks under water, memorize the special shapes of stones or rocks.

Diving, first of all, is relaxation and a charge of good emotions. Don't dive in a bad mood or with a headache. Your new hobby should bring, above all, joy.

Diving sites

To be fair, we agree that diving can be practiced in any body of water, but since our resource is called “Vacationists in Crimea,” we need to try to identify a narrower range of dive sites that are most popular among tourists and novice divers.

Wrecks, submerged objects, underwater caves and strange seaweed plantations, as well as others interesting places for diving we will consider, thus exploring the outlandish underwater world of Crimea.

Reviews confirm that diving in Crimea is in no way inferior to similar leisure activities in the most interesting corners of Europe. Well, who among us in childhood did not dream, at least for a day, of becoming like the amphibian man from the immortal novel by A. Belyaev and plunging into the depths of the sea in order to unravel its exciting secrets? The invention of scuba gear provided the opportunity for diving to almost everyone - both beginners and experts. You can read about the best places for diving on the Crimean peninsula and find out prices in 2019 for this entertainment below.

Crimea: best diving spots

There are all conditions for diving in Crimea. The underwater landscapes off the coast of the peninsula are incredibly picturesque, and specialized centers where it is easy to rent equipment are available at all popular resorts. You can dive everywhere in Taurida, but professionals have chosen several places here where the conditions are most favorable for this. These include:

Cape Tarkhankut . It is famous for its amazing landscapes, masses of grottoes and caves, and amazing transparency. It is no coincidence that the legendary and Soviet blockbuster were filmed here. attracts with its versatility. Professionals travel through the Valley of Anchors or K, located at a depth of 14-25 m. Experienced amateurs can take a unique dive trip to the Alley of Leaders and a tour of the Chucha Tunnel. Beginner divers enjoy diving to 6 m to the Neptune Grotto.

Balaklava and Sevastopol . Here you will feel like real archaeologists, doing excavations in Quarantine Bay or near the ancient one. Who knows, maybe among the fragments of ceramics you will be lucky enough to find a whole amphora or an antique coin, and nearby - a relic from the Second World War. Professionals will enjoy a 20-meter descent to the Dragon Cave and a journey through the intricate labyrinths of the Sinister Rocks. Beginners will admire the marine life in the shallow Omega Cove. At a distance of 100-200 m from the shore lie the remains of several sunken ships and aircraft.

New World and Sudak . Experienced divers here are interested in the picturesque Graviynaya Bay, teeming with inhabitants of the underwater world. To get to its bottom, you need to dive to 30 m. In Zelenaya harbor it is worth searching for historical artifacts, and inspecting a torpedo bomber that sank during the war. Beginners can dive at Cape Alchak, the coastal zones of which are densely populated with fish and crustaceans.

Yalta . In the vicinity of the popular resort there are no places that are particularly interesting for Crimean diving. But the coastal landscapes are very beautiful. The area contains amazingly beautiful karst caves. The object of attention will undoubtedly be several sunken small ships.

Evpatoria . Depths of the sea near polis with ancient history always of interest to divers. So, during a dive, you can examine the ruins of ancient buildings and port structures that once sank into the depths, the wrecks of ships, or look at historical artifacts.

Diving in Crimea for beginners: training and dive centers

Vacationers who have never scuba dived do it without difficulty for the first time in Crimea. In specialized centers, beginners will undergo a course of theoretical training, learn how to handle and use equipment. After this, they will have practical training. Trial dives are carried out to no more than 15 m and are accompanied by an instructor.

A one-day lesson, consisting of a theoretical part and practice, lasts about 3 hours, and costs from 2500 to 3000 rubles. In this case, a novice diver spends about 35 minutes directly under water. Those interested take a more advanced course, lasting 3 or 5 days. The cost in this case ranges from 8,000 to 12,000 rubles.

As practice shows, a healthy person can become a diver at almost any age. Scuba diving in Crimea is contraindicated for people suffering from claustrophobia, asthma, epilepsy, and diseases of the cardiovascular system. Otherwise, there are no restrictions, so feel free to book your first diving excursion on our website.

Best diving centers

There are diving centers at any major resort in Crimea. The most popular of these establishments are:

  • "Tarkhankut" in Olenevka. Provides services for conducting walks with an instructor, organizing diving, renting equipment, equipment, renting SUEX underwater tugs.
  • Black Sea Divers in Sevastopol. It features a wide selection of package services designed for both beginners and certified divers.
  • "Afalina" in Olenevka. It provides a unique opportunity to learn the basics of diving almost free of charge for volunteers who want to combine work at the center with training.
  • LEXX in . Organizes best diving in the waters of Laspi, which is a green pearl between Foros and Sevastopol.
  • "Varyag" in . The center is located next to the fantastic and fascinating Kapsel Bay. Near object of interest – sunken torpedo boat 300 m from the complex.

Interesting types of diving in Crimea. Prices in 2019

In addition to classic diving excursions, on the Crimean Peninsula, holidaymakers and wanderlust lovers are offered colorful views of descents into the depths of the sea, which will leave an unforgettable impression.

So, in Sudak, tourists turn into treasure hunters. Divers dive with Excalibur-2 metal detectors that can operate in water. If luck smiles, the diver will add coins, jewelry and even jewelry made of precious metals to his trophy collection. Entertainment price – 2730 rub.

If you come to Russia and your birthday falls on vacation, celebrate it with friends on the day, where you will find a gift prepared by your loved ones - a bouquet and a bottle of champagne. All the action is filmed on camera. You should definitely try such an original way to celebrate the holiday. Price – 3000 rubles.

To feel like a member of the famous Cousteau’s team, it is not at all necessary to sink to the bottom of the sea in a bathyscaphe. It is enough to come to Foros and take a dive at the picturesque one, wearing a helmet with panoramic glasses, into which air is pumped from the surface. The feeling is simply fantastic. Cost – 2100 rub.

Professionals will certainly be interested in a three-day diving safari to the main attractions of Crimea. You have to make 12 dives near Balaklava and Sevastopol. The tour costs about 30,000 rubles, which is a lot, but the impressions from such a vacation will be much greater!

Crimea can rightfully be considered best place for diving throughout the CIS, not only Russia. There is all the infrastructure necessary for this, and nature itself generously rewarded the Crimean coast with natural underwater beauties. Come and see for yourself!