If you want the ideal combination of water sports, sunbathing, cultural spots and mouth-watering cuisine, sailing around Turkey is the holiday for you. It offers the perfect blend of action-packed fun and pure relaxation that is perfect for romantic and family breaks like.

There are many reasons why the Mediterranean country is perfect for a yachting getaway, with three of the best ones detailed below.

1. It boasts stunning dive sites

With 8,333 km of coastline spanning four seas, it is no wonder that Turkey is home to some of the best scuba diving hotspots in the Mediterranean. There are dozens of sites you can head to in order to catch a glimpse of its amazing aquatic life, not to mentions ruins and shipwrecks.

The water's around Datca have dolphins, sharks and Mediterranean seals, so if you go down to between 10 and 40 m, you have a good chance of catching a glimpse of one or more of these creatures. Kuzu Harbour also has some ruins from the first world war, which will certainly make for an interesting dive, while you can find shipwrecks and anchors between the Mermer Lighthouse and the Anatolian Coast.

If you are something of an experienced diver, head to the seas around Kalkan. Sharks, thornback rays, tuna and turtles can be found here and delving beneath the waves will be a highlight of your yacht charter. A 14th-century BC cargo ship can be seen around 9 km south-east of Kas, while some of its contents are now displayed in the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum as a result of successful dives in 1984.

Another of the many intriguing dive sites you can find in Turkey is at the entrance of Antalya harbour. Here, you can dive to between 20 and 32 m to a French military transportation ship.

2. It has varied destinations to visit

Choose to go on a sailing holiday around Turkey and you will see and experience something different every day, such is the variety of its destinations. If you decide to leave from Orhaniye, you can see what the Lycian Coast has to offer. Its quiet anchorages and crystal-clear waters are perfect for swimming and snorkelling in, which is one of the many benefits of travelling by yacht. So long as it is safe to do so, you can drop anchor at a secluded spot and make the most of the warm sun and beautiful waters.

If your boat departs from Turgutreis, you can explore the Bodrum Peninsula, as well as the wild and rugged Carian Coast and the Gulfs of Gulluk and Gokova. A popular first port of call is the atmospheric Cokertme. Here, you can tuck into large plates of Turkish cuisine at one of its many restaurants while listening to folk music and live singers. If you want to splash some of your holiday spending money, go and watch a carpet being woven before haggling over the price. It will definitely be a lovely and unique souvenir of your time in the country.

After the hustle and bustle of Cokertme, the Kargilibuk inlet is a fantastic opportunity to sit back, relax and soak up the peace and quiet. Sunbathe or snorkel in the remote bay or grab your hiking boots and go for a walk in its thick pine forests.

Gocek is another part of Turkey that is suitable to begin your sailing break. If you select this option, you can visit a wealth of historical and cultural sites. Kaunos is where you will find cliffside tombs that date back to the 4th century BC, while nature lovers will enjoy watching the loggerhead turtles at the beach in the village of Ekincik.

3. It has fantastic sailing conditions

The third and final reason why Turkey is brilliant for a yacht charter is that its sailing conditions mean you can make the most of its weather and stunning scenery for long stretches of the year. The country enjoys long summers, with May, June, September and October the ideal months to sail thanks to the calmer Meltemi winds. During July and August, these pick up quite a bit so are best suited to experienced sailors.

Cool afternoon sea breezes, wind speeds of between 10 and 20 knots and typical water temperatures of 22 degrees C all add to the favourable sailing conditions.