De Costa Bay

De Costa Bay is a sheltered coastal bay near Protaras, Cyprus, used as a shore-entry dive site with a maximum depth of 10 metres and a rocky bottom. An underwater buoyancy course has been installed on site, making it a dedicated training area for practising trim and buoyancy control. The site sits within the PADI AWARE Adopt the Blue programme and is actively monitored for marine conservation, with regular underwater clean-up dives carried out there.

The bay's protected position means there is no current, and the shallow, calm conditions make it well suited to Open Water Diver level and complete beginners. Entry is from shore. Afternoon dives are recommended, as tourist boat traffic has typically cleared by then, leaving the water quieter.

Marine life at De Costa Bay includes sea turtles, which are frequently seen at or near the surface, particularly after tourist boats have departed. In July the bay functions as a nursery, with large shoals of juvenile barracuda among the notable seasonal sightings. The rocky reef also hosts Mediterranean pufferfish, lionfish, wrasse, bream, blue-spotted cornetfish, octopus, and stingray. Turtle activity is most concentrated between June and November.