Hi, I’m Deniz Ulaşan
Leash on, PFD on. Same rules I teach.I’m the person behind MediterranSUP. I coach stand-up paddleboarding, I’m qualified to lead SUP tours, and everything on this site comes from time spent on the water.
I started the site while researching my own gear, because almost everything I found was written by people who had clearly never stood on a paddleboard. Then I went and got properly trained. Telling people how to stay safe on the water is something you should be qualified for, not an opinion you share.
So when a guide here tells you to wear a leash, or to be off the water before the wind builds, it’s the same thing I’d tell you in a lesson.
You can follow the paddling side of it on Instagram at @sup.trail.
What I’m Qualified to Do
How I Choose What to Recommend
Every gear guide here follows the same rules, whatever the brand:
- I compare real buyer reviews and community feedback, not press releases
- If Amazon flags a product as frequently returned, it doesn’t make the list
- No single-brand lineups. If every pick is the same brand, something’s off
- Every flaw goes in the cons list, even when there’s an affiliate link next to it
- I never write about a place as if I’ve paddled it when I haven’t
Some links on this site earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. That’s what keeps the site running, and it never decides what I recommend. If a budget board beats an expensive one, that’s exactly what you’ll read.
Where I’ve Paddled
Most SUP content is written for North American lakes or the UK coast. The Turkish coast works differently: thermal winds that build by late morning, sheltered bays that make near perfect classrooms, and water clear enough to change how you see the sport. These are the places I’ve paddled myself. Some don’t have a guide yet. They will.
Planning a trip or buying your first board for one? Start with the gear guides or the complete beginner’s guide.
Paddle With Me
From the 2027 season I’ll be running small-group lessons and guided paddles on the Turkish coast under the Aqua Trail name. If you’d like to hear when bookings open, send me a line and you’ll be the first to know.
The Other Half of This
When I’m not paddling, I write and build content systems for a living, which is the other reason this site exists: it’s where the writing and the water meet. If that’s what brought you here, my work is over on my portfolio page.
Get in Touch
Questions about gear, routes, lessons, or paddling the Turkish coast? I read everything and usually reply within a day or two.