Self and chauffeur driven cars are also available (an excellent way to visit the country). Major highways are in good shape, but beware of slow moving vehicles, animals and especially Turkish drivers, who don’t seem to follow traffic rules. Snow and ice require extra caution. Driving is on the right though sometimes drivers ignore this rule! City streets are often narrow and congested with traffic.
Various cruise lines include Turkish ports on their Mediterranean itineraries. Turkish Maritime Lines connects major ports along the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean coasts it takes about six days to go from Istanbul along the Black Sea to Trabzon via Sinop very enjoyable.
Transport By Sea (Ferryboats, Cruises, Yatches)
“Although tree sides of the land is covered by sea, the scheduled ferry transport is limited.”
– Ferryboat from Italy and Greece to Istanbul and Izmir.
– Ferryboat from Sochi (Georgia) to Trabzon.
– Ferryboat from Northern Cyprus to Tasucu (Mersin).
– Ferry from Greek islands to Turkey. Samos to Kusadasi, Cos to Bodrum, Marmaris to Rhodes
– Cruise Ships docking at Turkish harbors such as Canakkale, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Dikili, Dalyan, or Bodrum.
Turkeys’ centrally located land has an easy access from both Europe, Asia and the States. Turkey and the main center Istanbul receive planes all around the world and is a stop over point for many airline companies. The best and most suitable “reach Turkey” way is through airlines. Turkish Airlines, Delta, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Sabena, Swissair and Olympic Airways serve Ataturk International Airport (IST), which is located 15 mi/24 km southwest of Istanbul (allow plenty of time to get to the airport during rush hour). Turkish Airlines, Austrian, Lufthansa and Sabena serve Ankara’s Esenboga Airport (ESB), which is located 22 mi/35 km northeast of the capital’s center. Turkish Airlines offers frequent domestic flights to major cities within Turkey.
All Car Rental Companies Provide Transfer Services Operating 7/24 from all Airports in Turkey. They Pick You Up From Your Airport Terminal Or Other Places To Your Destination, Hotel, summer house or bus station for a Fixed Price.
Forbidden Zones: Al kinds of diving excluding scientific studies in military forbidden zones as well as regions in which there are Cultural and Natural Wealth Required to be protected underwater according to 19/08/1989 date and 20257 numbered Official Gazette issued Decision of Board of Ministers, according to 35th article of 863 numbered Cultural and Natural Wealth Protection Law.
Certificate: Sportive aimed equipped divers, should have the sufficiency certificate (diving card) issued by Underwater Sports, Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. But certificates issued by organizations educating under international standards, are also valid. These certificates, can be turned into sufficiency certificate (diving card) with application to federation. Sportive dives, diving disciplinary authorizations, technical specifications and authorization certificates of Turks are issued complying with the principles determined and accepted by Youth and sports General Directorate, Underwater Sports Life Guarding and Water Ski Federation. For sportive aimed dives of foreign divers, they should be a member of International Underwater Sports Federation or national organizations or have a certificate issued by authorized organizations or institutions of their countries.
Responsibility: Diving and life security of the divers belongs to divers, but all of the responsibilities of course participant’s during training belongs to lecturer. In dives of Turks, taking guide skin diver is under request. Foreign divers should take guide skin diver during their dives. During diving, protection of cultural and natural wealth, maintaining of property and life security of divers during diving, are under the responsibility and obligation of guide skin diver. But all kinds of problems exist before diving and due to the personal mistakes of divers who violates the diving rules is not under the responsibility of skin diver.
Material: There is no equipment limit during sportive aimed dives. Whilst equipped sportive dives, balance vest (life vest, BC), tube pressure monitor, depth monitor and time hour usage is obligatory. But usage of lifting balloon or same aimed materials are forbidden. Decompressed dives are absolutely forbidden. Presence of high pressurized tube filling compressor in land or in ships, which took required permissions from corresponding authorities during dives is free. Diving organizing agency, club, establishment, hotel, holiday village, school etc. places as well as ships should provide first aid material in stock. Underwater photographing, video camera usage during dives is free. All kinds of materials for taking picture or video recording can be used.
Material Maintenance: Sportive aimed diving organizing tourism agencies, yacht operators, organizations and institutions as well as underwater clubs should perform the periodic test and maintenance of diving materials (such as tube regulator, balance vest) used and owned by skin divers. These tests can be performed in civil skin diver firm agencies or organizations authorized by Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Ships to be used during dives: During underwater dives, usage of Turk ships is basis. But dives are possible on condition that required permissions should be taken for foreign groups who wishes to dive from their boats as well as foreign divers who come with their ships.
Diving permission: Sportive aimed equipped dives are subjected to permission excluding forbidden zones. Dives, organized to places excluding forbidden zones in group by club, organization or institutions, should be informed to City Tourism Directorates or authorized organization. This information is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by correspondent organization. All kinds of equipped sportive dives are subject to permission for foreign divers.
Authorities which will issue these permissions are City Tourism Directorate or authorized organizations. One copy of permission forms to be issued will be submitted to Harbor Directorate and one copy of it is submitted to Regional Coast Guard Headquarters (or authority within the region) by permission issuing organization. Permission certificate, whose one copy remains at permission holding organization, should be shown to authorities during controls. Information submission and permission taking is not obligatory during dives with the aim of training as well as two persons friend system dives (excluding forbidden zones).