Turkish resort town of Ayvalik, famous with its red corals which are also seen in Italy's Portofino, has opened the scuba diving season.

- 09 / 05 / 2008 12:04

Turkish resort town of Ayvalik, famous with its red corals which are also seen in Italy's Portofino, has opened the scuba diving season.

Western province of Baliker's Ayvalik town, with its dozens of islands in the north part of the Aegean Sea and several diving spots, expects thousands of scuba divers from all around the world this year, said Kemal Caliskan, a scuba trainer in Ayvalik.

"We have carried out a very well-organized publicity campaign in and outside Turkey," he said.

Red coral is the common name given to several related species of marine coral.

The distinguishing characteristic of precious corals is their durable and intensely colored red skeleton, which is used for making jewelry.

"Red corals are seen in Ayvalik because of clean water, plankton levels, heat of the water, and streams in this part of the Aegean Sea," he said.