Coastal (bays/anchorages/beaches/islands) info for Adrasan Çavuşköy Cavus-Bay Antalya Turkey

Coast of the region
The coast of this region of Turkey is not developed so most places are still natural without a covering of whitewashed holiday apartments found in many other parts. The best way to see the coast is by boat as many of the attractive bays are inaccessible by road or even by walking. Fortunately using Adrasan as a base enables the use of daily boat trips operated by local Kaptans to enjoy a leisurely day out with plenty of swim stops and an onboard meal often of freshly caught fish. Trips usually operate as far as Olympos to the north and Water Island to the south although occasionally longer trips to Three Islands and Phaeselis are available. A typical day out route would be Adrasan - Sazak - Ceneviz - Olympos - Shepherd's Bay - Adrasan or Adrasan - American Beach - Water Island beach - Water Island spring - Adrasan. All stops good for swimming.
Image of North end of Adrasan Cavuskoy (Cavus-Bay) main beach
Adrasan - Çavuşköy  Bay
Adrasan Bay is horseshoe shape surrounded by pine wooded hills and mountains with several sandy coves suitable for anchoring and the main beach is over a mile in length. The beach is brown sand at the southern end and smooth round stones at the northern end where a river stream enters the sea. Near each end of the main beach is a small cove providing shelter during strong onshore breezes and in this sort of weather can get fairly crowded with visiting gülets (touring traditionally constructed timber boats).
Map of Boat trip anchorages by D Newbury
Image of Northeast cove of Adrasan Cavuskoy (Cavus-Bay) bay
Dive Caves
Around the northeast corner of Adrasan Bay are Dive Caves frequently visited by the Dive Boat operated by the Padi Diving School located at the north section of Adrasan main beach.

Nearby are sandy coves that make for good swim stops for the day trip boats.
Image of Shepherd's bay
Around the headland the first available bay is:

Shepherd's Bay - çoban lıman
No beach here and deep anchoring but some underwater remains fallen from the ancient buildings in the undergrowth on top of the cliff.
Image of Sazak bay Further along the coast and very difficult to make out from seaward as all the hills blend is the entrance to
Sazak Bay
with a superb gently shelving sandy beach with crystal clear sea.
Sazak is not too easy to get to overland but a few vehicles brave it along the dirt tractor track.
Image of Sazak bay
Image of Ceneviz bay Cenevİz Bay
Ceneviz is only accessible by sea with shear mountain walls all round but again with a superb sandy beach and even a makeshift fish restaurant tucked away at one end.
Used as a base for the second half of CH4's 'Jason and the Argonaughts'
Image of Ceneviz bay

Image of Olympos bayOlympos Bay

More signs of life here as Olympos is popular for it's wide crescent beach and ancient ruins scattered in the undergrowth. Accessible by road and dolmuş service plus many visiting gülets from busy tourist resorts to the north such as Kemer and also tourists from the nearby town of Ciralı. Superb mountain backdrop on a clear day and some snow can sometimes still be visible on the shady side of the mountain in early summer.

Further afield is:
Phaeselis
Again here there are unspoilt surroundings, sandy bays, excavated ancient ruins - aqueduct, marble road, tiny amphitheatre - and a small bay that was the ancient harbour.
Three Islands - Üç adalar
A close group of low lying islands with interesting anchorages for swimming and snorkeling.

The main attraction for Day Trips to the south of Adrasan Bay is a stay at Image of Water Island caves
Image of Water Island beachWater Island - suluada

An unusual barren 'mountain top' in the sea with a 'pink' colour pebbly beach made up of white, black and light brown pebbles that generally gets much too hot to walk on with bare feet!
Dramatic cave structures that it is possible to swim through and on the opposite side of the island to the beach - a strange feature - a fresh water spring that could be the best quality water source in the area.

American Beach

Usually no other boats here so very peaceful. Rugged surroundings and stone beach with white marble boulders fallen from above the surrounding cliff. Used as a base for the American expedition recovering remains of the ancient shipwreck at Gelidonya point - now on display at Antalya and Bodrum museums.