Dive Sites in Croatia - Scuba Diving at its Best!

Diving Overview for Croatia

Croatia is great diving destination often visited by top underwater photographers and videographers due its due visibility and diverse marine ecosystem. Choose from colourful reefs to caves and wrecks with something suitable for all levels of diving.

Diving in the North Adriatic offers some great wrecks including the Baron Gauch passenger ferry sunk near Rovinj in 1914, head to Losini for amazing underwater life and playful dolphins. There are several small caves and wrecks to explore around Pula, Losinj and Cres.

The Kornati Islands, Korcula and Rogoznica in the Mid-South Adriatic have some of the clearest waters and steep drop-offs in the Adriatic. There are hundreds of small islands to explore with small caves, canyons, bright gorgonias and even an underwater botanical and zoological garden created by local ecology students. Don’t miss the beautiful reefs around Rasip and the Te Vega dive site (both in Korcula) where you can dive through a short tunnel to a sea lake filled with parrotfish and gobies and Margarita Reef which leads to a small wreck with ancient amphorae.

There are lots of spots for cave divers; try Lucice Bay (Brac Island), Premuda Island and Bisevo Grotto (Vis Island). For wreck diving there is the Baron Gauch (Rovinj), Lina (Cres Island), an S57 German Torpedo wreck (Peljesac Pennisula) and the merchant shipwreck Taranto (Grebenj Island).

The Adriatic Sea temperature changes from summer water temperatures of 25°C and drops as low as 11°C in winter. There are noticeable thermoclines, especially in summer.  Visibility is excellent especially in the Mid and South Adriatic away from river run-off which sometimes affects visibility in the North. It is possible to dive all year round but the general dive season is from May to November. Croatia has a whole range of dive sites and many dive training opportunities to suit all level of diver including many wrecks and deep canyons ideally suited for technical diving.

NOTE: Croatian diving is strictly regulated; all divers will need insurance, certification and a Croatian diving permit (valid for 1 year and available from local dive centre and dive clubs €13). Some locations and marine parks require a special permit which can be organized by dive centres in the area.

Videos of Croatia