Diving in Croatia: Discover the beauty of the underwater world

Diving in Croatia is an unforgettable experience that makes every diver's heart beat faster. With over 1000 islands and a crystal clear Adriatic Sea, it's no wonder Croatia is a favorite destination for divers from all over the world.

The underwater world of Croatia is unparalleled in its diversity. Majestic reefs, enchanting caves, dramatic canyons and an incredibly rich biodiversity of marine life await discovery. Each island offers a unique adventure, keeping divers coming back for more.

The Dalmatian Islands are particularly popular, known for their breathtaking natural beauty and numerous diving opportunities. Whether you choose to explore intricate cave systems or experience vibrant marine ecosystems, you are guaranteed to be amazed by the beauty you encounter underwater.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, Croatia offers dive sites to suit every skill and interest. From shallow dive sites along the northern Istrian coast to deeper dive sites in the south, there is always a new adventure to be had. Diving in Croatia is not just diving, it is a journey of discovery through a breathtaking underwater world.

4 beautiful Dive Sites in Croatia

Croatia has countless diving locations that you want to come back to every year. Below we highlight 4 of them.

Biševo Cave, Island Vis

🚢 The Blue Cave and the Green Cave are popular sights on the islands of Biševo and Vis in Croatia.

🌊 The Blue Cave, located on the island of Biševo, is known for its beautiful blue light, which is created by sunlight reflecting on the limestone surface.

⛴️ Boat excursions from Split offer the opportunity to visit both the Blue Cave and the Green Cave.

🏝️ The island of Vis is recommended for longer stays or island hopping, and is generally quieter than other locations.

🗺️ Split is a convenient starting point for exploring the caves, with regular boat trips departing from Split harbour.

Taranto, Dubrovnik

💣 The wreck of the Taranto is a merchant ship used by the Italian Navy during World War II.

🚢 The Taranto sank in 1943 after hitting a naval mine, while transporting flour and tractors to Dubrovnik. Tractors can still be seen on the seabed as a reminder of the last voyage.

🤿 You can explore the Taranto at a depth of 10 meters, where they meet the bow of the ship and descend at an angle of 45 degrees to the steam engine. The aft part of the ship is at a depth of 40 meters.

🐠 The wreck serves as a habitat for several underwater species, including mullets, cardinalfish, scorpionfish, lobsters and octopuses.

🚧 The dive to the Taranto is only suitable for advanced divers. The depth varies from 23 to 52 meters and the visibility is good.

Premuda, pg

🏛️ The Cathedral, also known as “Katedrala,” is a popular diving spot located in Premuda, Croatia.

🌊 The Cathedral consists of connected caves with depths ranging from 10 to 30 meters. The caves offer beautiful rays of light shining through the porous ceiling and have excellent visibility.

🏝️ Premuda, the island where The Cathedral is located, is a small and charming island with about 50 inhabitants. Located southwest of Silba and northwest of Škarda, it serves as the last island off the Italian coastline.

🌟 The Cathedral is considered one of the top dive sites in Croatia and is highly recommended even for non-divers visiting Premuda.

Baron Gautsch

⚓️ The Baron Gautsch wreck is considered the most beautiful wreck in the Adriatic.

🚢 It was an Austrian passenger ship that was built in 1908 and sank in 1914 due to an explosion.

🌊 The wreck is located at a distance of 9 nautical miles from Rovinj and has a maximum depth of 39 meters.

📜 The wreck of Baron Gautsch is under the protection of the Croatian Ministry of Culture, which means that diving is only allowed through authorized local diving centers. 🗝️ Divers are allowed to enter the first two decks of the ship for safety reasons, offering an unforgettable experience. Best Time and Locations for Scuba Diving in Croatia

When can you dive in Croatia?

In general, it is possible to dive in Croatia all year round. It is an excellent European diving destination, especially between April and November. It is true that there are many tourists during the summer months, but the warm temperature, the refreshing water and the beauty of the underwater world make the crowds quickly forgotten. 

During the summer, the air temperature varies between 17 and 35 degrees Celsius, while the water reaches a pleasant 27 degrees Celsius. It is important to note that water temperature can vary based on depth and proximity to freshwater sources.

Diving schools in Croatia

Scuba diving is very popular in Croatia. Divers from all over the world come to it. So it will not surprise you, there are many diving schools in Croatia. At Duikvaker there are several diving schools. Follow our participant list and ask for information about diving in Croatia during Dive More often.

Finally, good to know about diving in Croatia

Diving in Croatia is only allowed with a license from the Croatian Diving Federation. This permit, which is valid for 12 months, is offered to certified divers and costs about 15 euros.

More information

Diving in Croatia

https://www.padi.com/nl/duiken-in/kroatie/