Diving

DIVING CROATIA TOP DIVE SITES - DALMATIA





TOP DIVE SITES – DALMATIA

 


B-17

Bisevo Island

Brioni

Drvenik Island

Dugi Otok

Fransesca de Rimini

Galerija

Kornati National Park

Lucice

Mala Smokvica

Mljet Island

Odysseus's Cave (Odisejeva Spilja)

Ravnik Islet

S-57

Sipuja

Stambedar

Taranto

Teti

Te Vega

Tmara Island

Ursus

Vassilios T

Velika Smokvica


 

B-17 – an American Air Force heavy bomber sank near the Vis Island due to forced landing. The wreck of the plane lies at a depth of 65–73 m so it is only available for advanced technical divers. It is 22 m long and 31 m wide (with wings).

Location: close to the northern coast of Vis Island

Type of dive: close to the south coast of Vis Island (near Rukavac)

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: tech divers, skills with gas mixtures

 

 

Bisevo Island – this island is famous for two magnificent caves: Blue Cave (Modra Spilja) and Bear Cave (Medvjeda Splija). The first, as the name suggests, offers astonishing light effects for the visitors. Bear Cave is a unique rock formation. It is wide at the entrance (5–6 m)  and becomes narrower at the end. It is 160 m long and ends with a tiny beach. The cave is famous for its inhabitants – the Mediterranean monk seals, which are endangered species.

Location: Bisevo Island (5 km away from Vis)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Brioni – an Austrian liner sank in 1932 in bad weather due to a mistake in navigation. It is a deep and tech dive because the wreck lies at a depth of 50–60 m. Only advanced divers can dive here. The wreck is 68 m long and 9,5 m wide.

Location: close to the south-east coast of Vis Island

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: sand

Requirements: tech divers, skills with gas mixtures

 

 

Drvenik Island – in the waters surrounding the Drvenik Island, one can encounter magnificent geomorphological structure of the seabed. One of them is a cave with air cupola near Grebastica.

Location: Grebastica

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Dugi Otok – is an island near Kornati National Park. The waters around the island are full of various marine organisms – 250 types of flora and 300 animal species. One of the most spectacular diving places here is the Telascica Bay Nature Park with ten islands and islets. Diving here requires a special permission.

Location: Dugi Otok (North Dalmatian Archipelago)

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)

 

 

Francesca de Rimini – initially Croatian, later overtaken by the Germans, this iron ship sank in 1944 when two RAF aerial torpedos hit it. Nevertheless, the wreck is well preserved. It is 42 m long and 12 m wide.

Location: off northern coast of the Kaprije Island

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Galerija – this area is famous for a vertical wall and a large cave. In the cave there is an old anchor lying at the bottom. Usually, visibility is very good.

Location: Solta Island (near the cape at the Livka cove)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Kornati National Park – Kornati consists of nearly 90 islands and islets. The magnificent geomorphology of the sea and the profuse marine life guarantee an unforgettable diving experience. Kornati is full of steep underwater walls, caves, crevices, tunnels, cliffs and reefs. The area still remains not completely researched and there are some undiscovered wrecks. Kornati National Park is under special protection of the Ministry of Culture.

Location: Kornati Islands

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)

 

 

Lucice – here one can find a two-chambered cave with an entrance at a depth of 3 m. The maximum depth here is 45 m. Visibility is very good, even up to 30 m. Except for the unique rock formations (stalagmites, stalactites), there are corals, sponges and a variety of fish.

Location: Brac Island

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Mala Smokvica – in the waters surrounding this island, divers will encounter a wreck of a steamship. The wreck lies at a depth of 20–27 m

Location: Mala Smokvica Island

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: sand

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Mljet Island – the largest reef of stony coral in the Mediterranean lies in this zone. Except for the reef, there are more attractions near the island: colourful walls, wrecks and profuse marine life. This area is under protection of the Ministry of Culture and diving is possible only when organized by licensed diving centres.

Location: Mljet Island

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Odysseus’s Cave (Odisejeva Spilja) – the cave is situated in the central part of the island and has a wide entrance, actually two entrances. One is from the sea and the other is from inland. According to a legend, Odysseus was captured by a nymph Calypso here.

Location: Mljet Island

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: pebbles

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Ravnik Islet – by this island one can visit a beautiful Green Cave (Zelena Splija). Divers can marvel at the green reflections in the cave. The depth here varies from 3 to 5 m. The cave is spacious.

Location: Ravnik Islet (near Vis)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)

 

 

S-57 – a German  torpedo boat sank in 1944 after a fight with British boats. The wreck lies at a depth of 20–38 m. Visibility is good. The interior of the boat is a home for groupers, conger eels and other fish.

Location: Trstenik (Peljesac Peninsula)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: sand

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Sipuja – in this area divers will be overwhelmed by the magnificent underwater wall and other unique rock formations such as crevices, canyons and gorgonians. The average depth is about 25 m.

Location: Solta Island (bay of Stracinska)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Stambedar – the water surrounding the island is full of colourful beautiful gorgonians, fish, algae, snails and other sea organisms. The depth here varies from 5 to 45 m.

Location: Stambedar Island (Pakleni Otoci archipelago)

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Taranto – a merchant ship hit a mine and sank in 1943. The wreck is broken in half. The upper deck lies at a depth of 22 m. The wreck houses various fish species.

Location: Dubrovnik

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Teti – an Italian cargo ship in stormy weather hit a reef and sank in 1930. The wreck is 72 m long and 8 m wide. It lies at a depth of 10–34 m which makes it accessible for divers of all levels. Penetration is possible in the mid hold part.

Location: close to the eastern coast of Vis Island (near Island of Mali Barjak)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: sand

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent)

 

 

Te Vega – this is a ‘sea lake’ with depths of 5–35 m. The lake is entered through an underwater tunnel which is at the depth of 5 m and 2 m long. There is also an underwater wall and various marine organisms in the area.

Location: Korcula Island (Susac)

Type of dive: boat/shore dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Ocean Diver, PADI Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Tmara Island – the waters surrounding Tmara Islands also offer great diving possibilities. One can encounter here a beautiful underwater wall and a flat cave. It is possible to enter the cave at a depth of 35 m. Apart from the cave, there is also a reef called Cathedral due to its shape.

Location: near Primosten

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Ursus – a tugboat was sunken by a British submarine. This is a deep and tech dive. It lies at a depth of 45–60 m. The wreck is 35 m long and 5 m wide.

Location: close to the north-east coast of Vis Island

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

Requirements: tech divers, skills with gas mixtures

 

 

Vassilios T – a Greek cargo ship sank in 1939 due to the rudder error. The wreck lies at a depth of from 22 to 40 m. It is 103 m long. Diving through the wreck is possible.

Location: close to the coast of Island of Vis, close to Cape of Stupisce (near Komiza)

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)

 

 

Velika Smokvica – the waters surrounding the island are full of beautiful things to discover. There is a magnificent wall covered with red sea fans. The maximum depth here is 60 m. On the bottom one can find some pieces of ancient pottery, as well as a torpedo.

Location: Velika Smokvica Island

Type of dive: shore/boat dive

Sea bed: rock

Requirements: BSAC Sports Diver, PADI Advanced Open Water (or equivalent)