Kekova Aquarium Bay

West of Kekova Island, wedged between two small islets, Aquarium Bay takes its name from the exceptional clarity of its water. The bay lies only a short boat ride from the harbour town of Kaş and sits within the wider Kekova Special Environmental Protection Area, a stretch of coastline set aside for its combination of marine habitat and the sunken Lycian ruins found nearby.

What sets Aquarium Bay apart is its shape: sheltered by land on both sides, the water stays calm even when a breeze picks up outside, and the sandy seabed slopes gently to a maximum depth of around 12 metres. That combination of clear, shallow and current-free water makes it one of the more reliable swimming and snorkelling stops in the region, popular with day-trip boats out of Kaş as well as multi-day gulet itineraries through Kekova.

There is no village or harbour infrastructure here; the bay is reached by boat only, which keeps it free of the crowds found at some busier anchorages nearby. It is best reached during a gulet cruise along the Turkey coast, usually visited as a half-day stop between the sunken city area and the anchorages closer to Kaş.