He performed a free dive to a depth of 30 meters to draw attention to red corals.

In the Ayvalık district of Balıkesir, during the 19th International Olive Harvest and Tourism Festival, national swimmer Şahika Ercümen performed 3 free dives to a depth of 30 meters to draw attention to Ayvalık’s Red Corals (Gorgonia).
Despite the stormy weather conditions, Ercümen conducted a free dive without scuba gear at a depth of 30 meters in the Kerbela area to highlight the Red Corals located off the coasts of Italy’s Portofino and Ayvalık, aiming to contribute to regional tourism. Under extensive security measures, Şahika Ercümen made 3 free dives.
Diving instructor Kubilay Kılıç emphasized the importance of the Red Corals for Ayvalık, stating, “Today, the underwater corals in Ayvalık are truly very rare creatures. There is no such density anywhere else in Turkey. Ayvalık hosts underwater life in very large areas in eight major rifts that have undergone acclimatization, increasing ecological diversity, and playing a crucial role in the protection of the ecosystem. We call them Red Corals, but they are actually about promoting and protecting gorgonians. We are involved in an organization related to promoting our unique beautiful resort city of Ayvalık. Together with Şahika Ercümen, we will dive to a depth of approximately 30 meters to visit the corals. We will all take beautiful visual underwater photos and videos and share them. The promotion and protection of these corals are among the most important domino pieces of underwater cultural heritage, and we are organizing this event to promote and protect this structure.”
Despite the stormy sea conditions, national swimmer Şahika Ercümen, who made a free dive to 30 meters off the coast of Ayvalık to draw attention to the Red Corals, said, “This is very meaningful for our country and actually for the whole world, of course, and this is our red corals in Ayvalık. Underwater, I also encountered other creatures. It was a nice dive despite the cold weather and the fact that the storm season has started a bit. Everything went as planned. I hope that with this and similar awareness events, we can better promote our underwater beauties both in Turkey and worldwide.”