DIVING IN KYRGYZSTAN

When most people travel in Kyrgyzstan, they head up into the mountains, take a horseback ride to an alpine lake, or go paragliding above the countryside.  While these are all excellent ways to experience Kyrgyzstan, there’s another option available to travelers that takes exploration to a whole new level – diving!

Parts of Kyrgyzstan very much worth seeing are actually underwater.  To take a look at these areas of Kyrgyzstan that few have seen, diving is the way to go.  

WHERE IS DIVING AVAILABLE IN KYRGYZSTAN?

While some diving is starting to open up at Lake Sary Chelek, tours that involve diving will normally utilize Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan’s largest alpine lake and the world’s second largest. 

WHAT’S THERE TO SEE IN LAKE ISSYK KUL?

While the lake itself doesn’t hold vast amounts of underwater flora or fauna, the lake bottom does host the remains of ancient settlements that archeologists believe belonged to a 2500-year-old civilization.  These settlements are located in areas closer to the shore and are believed to have been swallowed up by flooding from the lake.  Here divers can find the remains of ceramics, household items, bronze battleaxes, bricks, bones of both animals and humans, and even items made out of silver or gold.

While underwater archeological studies are conducted here annually, only a small percentage of these settlements have actually been explored by archeologists to date (2014). While driving is made available to travelers in these areas, it’s requested that divers not disturb the remains so as not to hinder any future research by archeologists. 

IS ANY PREVIOUS DIVING EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DIVE IN KYRGYZSTAN?

No.  However, tours that offer diving in Kyrgyzstan utilize diving companies that require beginners to participate in an instructional class before diving.

IS DIVING INCLUDED IN THE COST OF TOURS?

Some tours include diving excursions and tutorial prices in the tour package.  However, some offer diving as an additional option you can engage in during your tour.  In these cases, the cost of diving will require extra payment.   It simply depends on the tour you purchase.