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Diving Croatia
14 May 2024
Croatia has 66 inhabited islands and much of the best diving is off these. These, and the rest of the Croatia coastline, are on the Adriatic Sea, opposite Italy.
Sea temperatures range from 7 oC in the winter to around 24 oC in summer. There can be massive differences in temperature between one area and another. Freshwater springs upwelling into the sea in some areas means the water can be pretty cold even in the summer months - take gloves and hood.
When to dive Croatia
You can dive between between May and November. It is quietest in September and October and the water is still warm then. Don't forget to take diving travel insurance.
Best dive sites?
Vis island, one of the furthest from the mainland, has some excellent diving. Indeed, its Fortunal dive has been voted one of the best in Europe. The wreck of the Baron Gautsch is another excellent dive site.
Getting to Croatia
Many airlines fly to Croatia.
Croatia Dive Sites • Croatia Diving Operators • Your Comments
Croatia Dive Sites
Brac • Hvar • Istria • Korcula • Podgora • Rogoznica • Tucepi • Vis
Istria (or Istra) is a large peninsula at the far north of Croatia.
"At 18m, old small sailboat,lot of marine life, stonewall from 4m up to 20m depth"
Dragan, DC MEDUZA, January 2017
The Baron Gautsch was a passenger ship that sank in 1914 after hitting a mine during the First World War. One hundred and thirty people lost their lives. Today, it lies on the seabed at a depth of 40-45 meters.
The ship was built in Scotland in 1908. When WWI began she was rented by the Austro-Hungarian Navy to transport troops. On her way back to port in Trieste, carrying evacuated civilians and holiday makers, she strayed too close to the coast and struck a mine laid by here own navy (ref: wrecksite.eu).
Well-preserved, the wreck has much life around it including groupers, octopuses, lobsters and various species of fish. The visibility is generally good
Diving the Baron Gautsch is recommended for experienced divers, as the depth and current can be challenging. It is a protected national cultural heritage site.
"Seahorses habitat, a lot of fish, octopus. Max depth 18-35m"
Dragan, DC MEDUZA, January 2017
" Network of tunnels and caves throughout the island.Max depth 10-25m."
Dragan, DC MEDUZA, January 2017
Rogoznica is on a peninsula which was once a small island called Kopara. It is just north of Split
Photo credit: Frane Kapic, CC BY-SA 4.0
"A stunning wall dive which gave me vertigo the first time I dived it. The viz is excellent and the corals are stunning.
"
Lisa Tedstill, England
Sunk in 1944 by two spitfires, the Francesca da Rimini was a German cargo ship. Transporting ammunition, the ship exploded when under attack. Now the cargo load of guns is visible.
"This is a lovely wreck which is fully intact and upright standing in 48m. You can still see the cargo of explosives on board.
"
Lisa Tedstill, England
"Vrulja is an exciting dive site with a cave in 30m depth and a nice blue until purple vegetation at the wall around the cave. Even for trimix divers is that a good dive site 100m deep at the end of the canyons. Canyons are starting on 30m with a pinnacle and on 50m you can see some school of hake fishes from around 50 animals.
"
Sebastian Theilig, owner of Butterfly-Diving Tucepi, Croatia, 2012
Podgora is a busy tourist town, one and a half hour's drive down the coast from Split. Zuc Kamen is a short boat ride away from Podgora, about 300 m off shore. The water is cold, with thermoclines at 10 and 13 m. The dive comprises two strips of rocky outcrops, one at 9 m and one at 15 m. On this dive you can see a Pinna nobilis, the rare giant mussel which is is found only in the Mediterranean Sea. This is one of the largest bivalves in the world, growing to 120 cm long. It sticks up out of the sea bed so is easily seen when diving, once you know what to look for.
Fresh-water springs emerge from the sea floor on this dive - very interesting. Loads of pretty blue nudibranchs - Facelina auriculata (previously known as Facelina coronata), feather stars, octopus. Down to a sandy bed at 5 m then down a slope to a gap in rocks and a cave entrance. Further down there is a larger cave at 25 m. The cave is a resurgance (fresh water upwelling) in wet weather. After the cave you can follow the slope up and across to a series of resurgances. The water is cold and very blurry where the salt and fresh water mix. A good, if cold, dive.
"Better than most places I've been to in Croatia, if not the best.
"
Roni, August 2015
"Purple bay consists of four drop-offs, each of them a separate dive site. The rough walls with their many holes and notches are home to a wide variety of marine plants and animals, such as scorpionfish, sea fans, gold sponges and many more. If you're lucky you can even see the spotted shark there, which is very impressive with its length of approximately 1.20 m. This dive sites are very good for rebreather and nitrox diver
"
Sebastian Theilig, owner of Butterfly-Diving Tucepi, Croatia, 2012
"In the north of the island Hvar, right in front of a stony reef with many small caves, a long field with old amphoras stretches along depths of 12m to 28m. The amphoras belonged to a Greek ship that ran aground and lost its cargo. Now they offer shelter to many fish. The neighboring seagrass-fields on the other hand are home to many sea-slugs.
"
Sebastian Theilig, owner of Butterfly-Diving Tucepi, Croatia, 2012
Korcula is 20 miles long and around miles wide. South from the islands of Brac and Hvar, it is quieter here. It is the sixth largest island in Croatia and lies between Split and Dubrovnik.
"Tremendous wall, down to 50 meters, colourful sponges and gorgonia fans, snappers, lobsters, octopuses
"
Rob, Italy, 2007
"Superb wreck dive in crystal clear Adriatic at 10-15 m. Novice to any level can enjoy this one. Lovely walls in the vicinity with fantastic colours.
"
Tom Watson
The island of Vis is one of the furthest away from the Croatian mainland, with some of the best diving.
The Fortunal is the wreck of a fishing boat which sunk in 1991. Lies from 45 - 55 m at the bottom of a wall. Besides the wreck itself the wall is full of life and extremely interesting with excellent visibility. The bottom is covered with pale sand which reflects the light. The dive site also features a cave at 40 m. This dive site has been voted one of the best in Europe.
"Wreck which left me breathless
"
Marta
The anchor line is tied to the bow at 23 m. The stern lies at 50 m. An Italian transport ship in WWII, she hit a mine and sank in the Grebeni islands, close to Dubrovnik. She was carrying tractors and flour.
"The ship was carrying tractors and was sunk during WW2. If I do recall well, the boat is at 45meters and the tractors are at 52meters. I did not go see the tractors, the boat was deep enough for me.
"
Guy Gagnon, 2015
Croatia Diving Operators
Recommend a dive operator or list your diving company on this page.
Croatia Divers
Obala 1, nr 42
Tel: 00385 20 813508
Fax: 00385 0 813508
info@croatiadivers.com
croatiadivers.com
"5 star PADI IDC center, dive course packages, hotels, apartments and 35 fantastic dive sites on Korcula island."
Open from Easter until October. Dutch and English managed.
ISSA Diving Center
Obala pape Aleksandra III 29
Komiza
Island of Vis
Croatia
Mobile: +385 91 2012 731
Mobile Marko: +385989243940
E-mail: info@scubadiving.hr
Neptun Diving Center
Lokvisc'a 12d
51515 Silo
Krk Island
Tel: +385 51 604404
Fax: +385 51 604403
E-mail: info@neptun-silo.com
Dunat 50
51517 Kornic
Island of Krk
Croatia
E-mail: info@dive-center-krk.com
Podgora is a busy tourist town on the mainland, one and a half hour's drive down the coast from Split.
Branimirova obala 109
21327 Podgora
Croatia
Tel: +385 (0)91 563 3067
E-mail: oleg@birgmaier-sub.com
21420 Bol
Island Brac
Croatia
Tel: +385 98 425 496
"Will definitely dive with them again."
Roni, Croatia, August 2015
Hvar 21450
Podstine bb
Croatia
Tel/fax: +385 21 742529
GSM: +385 91 5689443
info@viking-diving.com
Book diving via Divebooker…
Tucepi is on the mainland, opposite Brac island and just up from Podgora.
At the harbour of Tucepi
Croatia
Tel: 00385 21 623 777
E-mail: Dive@Butterfly-Diving.hr
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
Masarykov put 20
20 000 Dubrovnik
Croatia
Tel: +385 (0)91/ 899 0973
E-mail: info@blueplanet-diving.com
Hotel Rixos Libertas
Liechtensteinov put 3
20000 Dubrovnik
Croatia
Tel: +385 99 445 5695
Jelsa 102
21465 Jelsa
Croatia
Tel: +385 (0)21 461 924
E-mail: scedro@st.t-com.hr
M/S Šcedro is 30 m long and welcomes up to 20 scuba divers.
German and Croatian managed. Offer apartments above the dive centre, good for families with children. Dive around Solta and the surrounding islands.
Stomorska Ronilacki Centar
Riva pelegrin 47
21432 Stomorska
Croatia
Tel: 00385 955189094
E-mail: tomonovakovic977@gmail.com
German and Croatian managed. Offer apartments above the dive centre, good for families with children. Dive around Solta and the surrounding islands.
Stjepana Radica 13
Tisno
Tel: 00385 98 843 233
E-mail: divetramonto@divetramonto.com
A wide selection of hotels or private accommodation near the club. Boat diving on request is available.
Koparska 29
Pula
Istria
Croatia
Tel: ++385/95 900 2446
E-mail: rcmeduza@gmail.com
Your Comments
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