Gulf of Hisaronu

An inscription on the wall of a cave at the foot of the hill extending along the seashore announces that it is prohibited to remove offerings that have been dedicated to a sacred place. On some maps this harbor is called OpIosika.The harbor is sheltered against severe weather conditions. During the Peloponnesian wars, Athenian ships concealed themselves here for a while. The Athenian commander also used the place as a rendezvous point before the battle of Knidos in 395 B.C. In 335 B.C., Demetrios, son of Antigonos, built up his fleet here. The harbor at Bozukkale was also used during Roman and Byzantine times and by the Knights of Rhodes as well. On the southern side of the Loryma peninsula there are heaps of stone consisting of four or five blocks set atop one another. They may have been the foundations of altars. Two miles after Bozukkale is Serce Harbor. The entrance to Serce Harbor is like a giant door made of huge boulders. The western side of the harbor consists of steep slopes and rough, rocky terrain. One should sail with the Catal Islands to one's south or else between them: the passage between the mainland and Catal Island should not be used. Before the southern promontory of the bay is a small reef that is very dangerous and many ships have been lost throughout history on them. In 1025 A.D. in the month of September, a two masted ship measuring 15 m. in length and 5.13 m. abeam and displacing 30-40 tons set out with a cargo she took on at one of the harbors in the rich Fatimid countries. Just as she rounded Bozukkale however she was caught in a storm and tried to take refuge at Loryma but hit a rock and sank in 32 m. of water. Between 1977-79, Professor George Bass and a team of Turkish and American underwater archaeologists excavated the wreck. Besides a cargo of pottery, a large number of works of glass were brought up.

These 11th Century finds are in 200 different forms and are now on display at the Underwater Museum in Bodrum. In 1953, sponge divers brought up a bronze statue of Demeter that they found in a wreck off the Marmaris coast. This 4th Century B.C. statue is now on display at the Izmir Museum. After leaving Serce Harbor, we come to the lovely bay of Ince Island located north of the Ince Island Cape. Besides the extraordinarily beautiful scenery here one also notices medieval ruins. The olive covered hills afford protection against the winds. Leaving here, we come to the broad harbor of Ciftlik. One may pass along either side of the island before the harbor and drop anchor. There is a holiday village here. Setting sail from Ciftlik Harbor we pass Kadirga Cape with its light and enter Kadirga Harbor. There are possible anchorages southwest of Kadirga Harbor and also in the inlet to its northwest. This bay is quite close to Marmaris, and the daily tour boats leaving Marmaris also call here so the place is always quite active. After this bay comes Kumlubuk and we can tie up onto the jetty in this bay where the tour boats from Marmaris take out time for lunch.

In the crystal-clear waters you can swim together with those on a day's excursion from Marmaris. On the hill immediately above the jetty are the ruins of the ancient city of Amos. After leaving Kumlubuk we come to Turunc cove, with its numerous motels. Turunc cove is thickly wooded and green. The blues of the water, the whites of the hotels, and the greens of the forest present a picture that is poetic. Turunc is also connected to Marmaris by road and is a built-up, thriving place. One may anchor in the southern and northern part of the bay and enjoy this exquisite spot. After leaving Turunc; we enter Marmaris Harbor. On the west is the district of Icmeler where there are more hotels and motels. Before Icmeler is Keci Island. There are other islands in the bay including Nimara, which is actually connected to the mainland by a low isthmus called Yalanci ("False") channel, and the islands of Yildiz and Cennet. Before the peninsula is tiny Bedir Island. Mooring up in the Marmaris marina, surrounded by pine and storax trees, we enjoy the view of this lovely place, raising our glasses in the Marmaris evenings to our health and its beauty, greeting the world and happiness until at last we must set sail again. Having stayed here long enough and taken on all the provisions we need, we set sail again to see new places and discover new worlds in blue.