Tekirova Bay Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

Open bay SE of Phaselis. Sand and weed bottom — holding is fair as the weed can foul the anchor. Find clear sand patches for best holding. Open to SW and SE — not a comfortable overnight in southerly weather.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Tekirova Bay is primarily sand and weed with variable holding that requires extra attention. Use the following approach:

1. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder on the way in. At 4–12m, deploy at minimum 7:1 scope (84m chain at 12m depth).
2. Drop into the wind or current and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back — do not allow chain to pile on the anchor.
3. Set firmly in reverse. Apply moderate throttle astern for 30–60 seconds. The chain should tighten without the boat moving backwards.
4. Snorkel to verify. Given the fair holding here, it is strongly recommended to snorkel down and visually confirm the anchor is buried in sand, not resting on weed.

Recommended anchor types for this bottom: Rocna, Spade. See our guide to anchor types by bottom for detailed comparisons.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Tekirova Bay are feasible but require monitoring. The anchorage is exposed to S and SW and SE winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 60m radius before going below for the night.60m in the main bay. Seagrass makes holding variable — if the anchor drags, relocate to a clear sand patch or move to Phaselis (2nm N) which offers better shelter. S/SW/SE exposure makes this a daytime-only anchorage in any southerly forecast.

May–September for daytime stops. Overnight only in perfectly settled conditions. A useful waypoint rather than a destination anchorage.

Navigation Hazards

• Seagrass (Posidonia) — anchor in clear sand; weed can cause anchor to drag; snorkel to verify if possible
• S/SW/SE exposure — unsuitable overnight in any southerly forecast; move to Phaselis north bay
• Day boat traffic from Kemer and Antalya 10:00–16:00

Rules & Regulations

• Permit: Not required
• Anchoring fee: Free
• Restrictions: No anchoring in designated swimming zone buoys. Avoid anchoring in dense seagrass (Posidonia) — protected species under Turkish and EU environmental law.

For a full overview of Turkish anchoring rules, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Tekirova village (0.5nm)
• Restaurant: Small local restaurants in Tekirova village — accessible by dinghy
• Provisions: Available

Skipper's Tips

1. Good lunch stop on the Kemer–Finike passage — use Phaselis for the main overnight stop
2. Snorkel check after setting the anchor — the seagrass-to-sand transition is important to find
3. Tekirova village has a small market — useful for top-up provisions before heading to Finike