The geography, with brisk winds and crystal-clear waters, makes Çeşme & Alaçatı water sports a unique experience, especially for activities like windsurfing, kitesurfing, and sailing, and both are popular destinations for watersports enthusiasts.
Alaçatı is especially famous for windsurfing and kitesurfing due to its consistent winds and shallow bay, making it a perfect spot for beginners and advanced riders. Alaçatı is considered one of the best windsurfing spots in the world and frequently stages international competitions. The thermal winds are steady, averaging 15-25 knots during the summer, and the water is shallow, making it ideal for learners.
Many windsurfing schools operate in the area, offering lessons and equipment rentals. With similar wind conditions to windsurfing, Alaçatı also provides excellent opportunities for kitesurfers. The area has dedicated kitesurfing zones, and the calm, flat water near the shoreline is perfect for beginners to practice. Sailing is another popular activity in Alaçatı, and several companies offer sailing lessons, yacht rentals, and guided sailing tours around the Aegean.
Çeşme is another fantastic location for water sports, known for its beautiful beaches and excellent conditions for sailing, jet skiing, and diving. Although not as famous as Alaçatı, Çeşme still provides suitable conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing. The wind in Çeşme is robust and reliable during the summer months. Many beaches in Çeşme offer jet skiing rentals. The calm waters closer to the shoreline make it easy to ride, while the further you go out, the more thrilling the experience becomes with waves to ride on. The waters around Çeşme are clear, with vibrant marine life, making it an excellent spot for diving and snorkelling. Diving schools offer courses, guided dives, and equipment rentals. For those looking for more relaxed or family-friendly water sports, banana boating and parasailing are widely available at Çeşme’s beaches, offering fun for all ages.
Çeşme & Alaçatı Water Sports – Table of Contents
Sailing Clubs
Arkas Çeşme Water Sports Club – Yelken Spor Kulübü (Ilıca)
Location: Ilıca, Yıldızburnu Mevkii, 5253. Sk. 6/A, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Arkas Website (Turkish only).
Arkas Çeşme Water Sports Club is a prominent watersports facility established in 1985 to train athletes and sailors under the leadership of people passionate about sailing in Izmir. Among its founders are business people who have become national and Olympic sailors and have added very serious dimensions to Izmir’s industry, labour force, and economy. Since its establishment, Arkas Çeşme Sailing Sports Club has trained many national athletes. It has set an example for the Turkish Sailing community with its national and international medals and trophies. Today, it is a sports club that operates in six sports branches.
The club is known for its high-quality facilities and professional training programs for beginners and advanced athletes. It regularly hosts local and international sailing events, including regattas, making it a hub for sailing enthusiasts. Additionally, the club promotes youth sailing education, encouraging young sailors to develop their skills in a supportive environment. Its scenic location and excellent conditions add to its appeal for water sports lovers.
Windsurf Schools
Bora Kozanoglu Surf School – Sörf Okulu (Alaçatı)
Location: Alaçatı, 18015 Sokak no 5/1 E, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Surf Scool English Website.
Since offering their services in Alaçatı in 1990, Bora Kozanoğlu Windsurf School now serves domestic and foreign customers. Advanced courses are available for windsurfers who wish to improve their techniques, as well as beginner-level package courses. The school also rents out equipment. Pre-ordering your rental equipment needs in advance during the high season is advisable. The school makes learning to windsurf and improvement easier thanks to the “rapid windsurf learning techniques” developed by World and Turkey’s champion Bora Kozanoğlu.
Students are trained for two hours daily, and the overall training lasts five days, totalling ten hours. This duration is referred to as “Basic Training.” At the end of this period, students can easily windsurf independently. If they wish, they can attend an additional course, Intermediate Training, to become proficient in more advanced techniques. State-of-the-art rental equipment and materials of all sizes are available at the school. With the school’s windsurf garage, customers can confidently leave their equipment.
Çağla Kubat Windsurf Academy (Alaçatı)
Location: Akçakaya Mevkii, Liman Karşısı, 35000 Liman Karşısı Alaçatı/Çeşme/İzmir – Çağla Kubat Windsurf Academy Website
The Çağla Kubat Windsurf Academy is a renowned windsurfing school founded by Çağla Kubat, a professional windsurfer and former model, actress and beauty pageant titleholder. The academy is in one of the world’s premier windsurfing spots on the east side of Alaçatı Bay and benefits from the steady thermal winds, shallow waters, and stunning natural surroundings. The academy offers lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced windsurfers. Classes are taught by experienced instructors, including Çağla Kubat herself when available, ensuring top-tier coaching.
The academy features modern facilities, including a beachfront clubhouse, changing rooms, and equipment storage. Windsurfing equipment rentals are also available for those who don’t have their gear. Special programs are available for children, making it a family destination. The focus on creating a safe and supportive environment ensures that even the youngest learners can enjoy the sport. The Academy frequently hosts windsurfing competitions and events, attracting local and international athletes, including the Alaçatı Windfest 2024 in October, sanctioned by the PWA as a Youth Junior World Cup status event for the 2024 PWA World Tour. These events make it a vibrant hub for the windsurfing community.
Kite & More (Alaçatı)
Location: Alaçatı, 35930, 35450 Çeşme/İzmir – Kite & More English Website.
Kite And More is a family-friendly Kitesurfing Centre established to provide fun and adventure-filled days in Alaçatı during the summer season. The most reliable wind season for kitesurfing is from May to September. North prevailing winds are between 16-25 knots. Long sleeve and leg 4/3 mm and 3/2 mm wetsuits provide sufficient comfort in the autumn-winter period. Depending on the temperature, kitesurfers can enjoy the wind in spring and summer with a thin wetsuit, swimsuit or bikini.
The beginner’s “Basic Training Pack” includes environmental assessment, general information about coastal and weather conditions, control exercises on land with training equipment, equipment introduction and installation, kite launching and landing, safety equipment and precautions, and safe zone kite control exercises in the sea. Upwind and downwind body drag, power generation, one-handed kite control, deep water board recovery, board mounting, water start, two-way safe riding, acceleration and stopping and self-rescue exercises. Students just need to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a swimsuit; all necessary equipment is included in the package. They divide the program into 2 or 3 days according to the wind conditions and your suitability. Private lessons – 6 hours, or group lessons – 9 hours with a TYF and IKO-certified trainer.
Once students have completed the basic training package and are ready to learn the sport to its fullest extent, the “Advanced Lessons & Supervision” is available. With advanced lessons, students learn to ride upwind and transition so they can go solo on the water. Students can continue the lessons with experienced trainers and progress in toe-side, pop & load, jumping, kite loop, old school, and freestyle or reinforce what they have learned with supervision.
Diving Schools
Çeşme Deep Nature Diving Center – Derin Doğa Dalış Merkezi (Çeşme)
Location: 16 Eylül, Hürriyet Cd. No:1, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – No website
Derin Doğa Dalış Merkezi in Çeşme is a well-known diving centre offering a range of diving experiences and courses for divers of all skill levels. Known for its professional instructors, the centre provides training from beginner courses to advanced certification programs. They offer internationally recognized diving certifications, such as PADI and CMAS courses, making it an excellent place for beginners or experienced divers to advance their skills.
Çeşme’s clear waters and rich underwater life make for excellent diving. The centre organises trips to various diving locations, including reefs, underwater caves, and shipwrecks. The Aegean Sea’s biodiversity adds excitement to each dive, with sightings of colourful fish, octopuses, and more. For those not seeking certification, Derin Doğa Dalış Merkezi also offers fun dives and snorkelling excursions, allowing tourists to enjoy Çeşme’s marine life without an entire diving course.
Aquasas Dalış Merkezi (Karaburun)
Location: İskele, turyap vapur iskelesi, Fener Sk., 35430 Karaburun/İzmir
AquaSas Dalış Merkezi, located in Karaburun, is a well-regarded diving centre that caters to divers of all experience levels. It is known for its focus on safety, professional training, and access to some of the Aegean Sea’s most pristine underwater landscapes. AquaSas offers a variety of diving programs, including beginner courses, advanced certifications, and specialised dives such as night diving or deep diving. The courses adhere to internationally recognised standards like PADI or CMAS.
The Karaburun region is famous for its unspoiled underwater biodiversity. AquaSas organises dives to explore rocky reefs, underwater caves, and vibrant marine habitats teeming with fish, corals, and occasionally sea turtles and moray eels. The centre also arranges trips to nearby shipwrecks for adventure seekers, providing a thrilling and historical underwater experience. The centre offers high-quality diving equipment for rent and ensures experienced and certified instructors lead all excursions. Pre-dive safety briefings and detailed site explanations are provided for all participants.
Jet Ski & Banana Boats
Çeşme Waterland Su Sporları (Ilıca)
Location: Ilıca, Celal Bayar Mahallesi, 5152. Sk. No: 43/10, 35930 Çeşme/İzmir – Çeşme Waterland Su Sporları Turkish Website
Located on the beach adjacent to the Swissotel Çesme, the centre provides diverse water sports, including jet skiing, banana boating, parasailing, and water skiing. These activities are ideal for adrenaline enthusiasts looking for adventure on the turquoise waters of Çeşme. For those seeking a calmer experience, the centre also offers stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking. These activities allow visitors to explore the serene coastline at their own pace.
See also: LikeCesme.com – Çeşme Festivals & Competitions.