The Kapidag Peninsula lies on the south side of the Sea of Marmara, with water on three sides. On the same day one coast can be choppy while another is flat calm. That is the most important thing to know when choosing a route.
Which months?
The Marmara warms up through the summer. Mid-June to the end of September is the best time for open water, and the warmest water usually comes in August. You can swim in May and October too, but the water is noticeably cooler and needs experience.
How the coasts differ
- South and west (Gulf of Erdek, Ocaklar): more sheltered from northerly winds. The Zeytin and Tavşan islets off Erdek suit short and medium routes.
- North (Turan, Doğanlar, Ballıpınar): faces the open Marmara. Clear and beautiful on calm days, but exposed to the wind.
- East (Gulf of Bandırma shore, Tatlısu): good for beach-to-beach coastal routes. Because of boat traffic heading for Bandırma port, the course is chosen carefully.
Deciding by the wind
The northerly wind (poyraz) that often blows across the Marmara in summer raises waves on the peninsula's north coast. On those days the sheltered routes on the south coast are the better choice. On SwimRoad experiences the route is confirmed on the morning of the experience according to wind and waves; if needed we switch to a back-up route or postpone.
You can see all the suggested routes on the Kapidag route map.
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