Türkiye: Diver and sea turtle build heartwarming bond in waters off Antalya, Türkiye.

SHOTLIST DEMRE DISTRICT, ANTALYA, TÜRKIYE (SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2026) 1. BOATS DOCKED AT CAYAGZI HARBOR AT DAWN 2. DARK COASTLINE AT DAWN 3. DRONE SHOT OF COVE AND HARBOR WITH BOATS ANCHORED 4. SERCAN DEMIRKAYA PADDLING CANOE AT DAWN 5. DEMIRKAYA WALKING IN WATER AND PULLING CANOE ASHORE AT DAWN 6. VARIOUS OF DEMIRKAYA LAUNCHING CANOE INTO WATER AND PADDLING AWAY 7. VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF DEMIRKAYA'S CANOE MOVING THROUGH CHANNEL 8. DRONE SHOT OF DEMIRKAYA PADDLING CANOE IN HARBOR 9. VARIOUS OF DEMIRKAYA SITTING IN CANOE ON WATER AS TWO SEA TURTLES SWIM AROUND HIM 10. VARIOUS OF DEMIRKAYA AND SEA TURTLE MAHMUT PLAYING IN WATER (UNDERWATER AND DRONE SHOTS) 11. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) DIVER SERCAN DEMIRKAYA, SAYING: “I hope that 15 years from now, I’ll still be able to swim with both Mahmut and Mahmut’s offspring. Even the thought of that is honestly an incredible feeling. Just imagining it is something very beautiful.” 12. WHITE FLASH 13. (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) DIVER SERCAN DEMIRKAYA, SAYING: “I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with saying this, but after this friendship and all these years, I genuinely feel very special because of it. And with Mahmut… I mean, sorry — more than feeling special, I feel very lucky. To be able to build this kind of bond with a sea turtle… I don’t know. I guess it’s not something everyone gets the chance to experience.”DEMRE DISTRICT, ANTALYA, TÜRKIYE (SEPTEMBER 5-6, 2026): An unusual friendship between a volunteer freediver and a female green sea turtle has developed over years in the waters off Demre district in Türkiye's southern Antalya province. For nearly five years, Sercan Demirkaya has regularly encountered the turtle, which he calls Mahmut, while carrying out underwater cleanups around Cayagzi Port. Demirkaya often heads out to sea early in the morning in his yellow kayak to collect waste from the seabed. During his dives, Mahmut frequently approaches him, swims alongside him and sometimes makes contact with her flippers. What began as occasional encounters gradually turned into a routine, with Demirkaya learning to distinguish Mahmut from other turtles in the area. Having lived in Demre for around 19 years, Demirkaya also works in photography and video production. He said his interest in sea turtles was among the reasons he chose to settle in the district. After reviewing his photo archive, he realized that he had first photographed Mahmut about 11 years ago, although at the time he could not distinguish individual turtles. Since 2021, however, Demirkaya has been able to recognize Mahmut and closely follow her behavior. While several turtles previously appeared during his dives, he said Mahmut was the one that continued to return and remain close to him. The turtle's name came from a Turkish comedy program Demirkaya frequently watched. Although he later learned that Mahmut was female, he decided to keep the name. Demirkaya believes Mahmut recognizes both him and his yellow kayak. During an experiment with friends, he said the turtle initially remained close to the kayak while he stayed on shore. But when he entered the water, Mahmut quickly left the kayak and swam toward him. The long-running friendship has also made Demirkaya protective of the turtle. He said he becomes concerned when Mahmut does not appear for several days because of the risks posed by boats, propellers and other animals. Local boat captains sometimes contact him when they spot her. One of their most memorable encounters came after Demirkaya stayed away from the sea for about a year following an accident. When he eventually returned to the harbor and entered the water only up to his knees, Mahmut appeared in front of him within minutes. Demirkaya said he generally avoids touching the turtle unless necessary, but Mahmut has become increasingly comfortable approaching him. During dives, she sometimes touches his head, face, shoulders or camera with her flippers or body. Demirkaya described Mahmut as unusually social compared with other sea turtles he has encountered. During the summer months, he usually looks for her while collecting underwater waste, and the two regularly find each other in the same area. Mahmut generally leaves the area around early October, and Demirkaya closely follows her return each year. Their friendship has also attracted attention on social media, where thousands of people follow updates about the turtle. Demirkaya said the bond has become a special part of his life and that he hopes it will continue for many years. "I hope that 15 years from now, I'll still be able to swim with both Mahmut and Mahmut's offspring. Even the thought of that is honestly an incredible feeling," he said. Demirkaya said the experience had also made him realize how fortunate he was to form such a connection with a wild animal. "After this friendship and all these years, I genuinely feel very lucky," he s