Gobun Bay

If you are entering the Gulf of Fethiye from the SW, The first bay you will encounter is Göbön Koyu, known locally as Tahir’in. It can be reached by manuevering through the deep, narrow channel between Domuz Adasi to the N and Kara Burun Peninsula, but be prepared for wind gusts.

This anchorage, which is surrounded by pine woods and Olive groves, provides shelter from winds in all directions whereby up to 50 vessels can moor here concurrently. If you visit here in the summer, be prepared to put up with the maritime traffic as it is a popular spot. Anchor off the NW shore at eight m. with a muddy bottom, which gives a firm anchor hold. Former diver Tahir Ozmen, who opened the first restaurant in the bays of Göcek at this spot, as well as a tailor who lives here will be able to repair any mangled sails for you as well.

There is another restaurant that serves delicious fresh fish, chicken and lamb dishes, all of which are raised in the immediate vicinity. You can work off that meal by trekking up to the top of the hill, from which you will have a spectacular view of the Mediterranean to the S and the Gulf of Fethiye to the N, so remember to bring along your handycam.

There is a cozy little bay between Göbün Koyu and Yavansu Koyu, sandwiched between two mountains, called ‘Merdivenli Koyu’ by the local villagers. The small beach inside the steep rocks on either side of the bay is very impressive. The cave situated behind the beach can be reached by climbing over some high steps. It must be because of these steps that the bay was called ‘Merdivenli Koyu.’

Though there may have been calm weather when you dropped anchor in the small bay, it is definitely not a good idea to remain moored if the yildiz (NW) and/or karayel (N) winds crop up.

There are restaurants that are open to serve guests who have arrived in this wonderful bay which has fused with nature.

The S quadrant of the bay, where there is an island as well as remnants of a Roman bath, is considered to be an ideal spot to anchor as it remains calm in stormy weather. However, you cannot drop anchor in the W side of the bay in winds coming in from the N as well as lodos. It is a comfortably nice place to spend the night as long as there is no wind blowing.

In the W part of Manastir Koyu is an old, long wall that runs by a restaurant called Wallbay. This wall was built to protect Lydae at the top of the isthmus and its village Arymaxa. From here it extends up to the hill and then back down to the sea again. Thusly, the peninsula was securely cut off from the mainland.

When you get to the top of the hill the beautiful view of Gokgemile Koyu is going to amaze you. The shoals off the coast are like a motif of the panoramic view.

The two wooden piers are for the dismemberment of the vessels’ passengers. There is a restaurant across from a long wall. It gets quite crowded around lunchtime with famished day-trippers on excursions from Fethiye. Once they cast off lines, the restaurant returns to its normal calm self.

Now, let’s untie our mooring lines from the trees along the seashore and set a course for a new bay while we continue our search for hitherto undiscovered hues of green and blue.