Scuba diving croatia

The best and most famous scuba diving journalists and underwater photographers such as: Franco Banfi, Antonello Paone, Maria Pia Pezzali, describe scuba diving & underwater world in Vela Luka on Korcula in Croatia as very complex and the most interesting of the whole of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic.

The underwater photographers mentioned above where diving with Croatia Divers
 

Croatia Divers is the best facility in the South of Croatia to book your scuba diving holiday in Croatia

There are numerous scuba diving centres and diving clubs along the coast of Croatia. They cater for the inexperienced diver as much as for the experienced and offer courses which are both accessible and affordable. They also hire equipment and offer excursions that are within easy reach.

For your safety and for the reputation of the industry, diving centres are strictly controlled by the Ministry for Maritime Affairs (please see below the general regulations for diving). With a sea so beautiful as the Adriatic, it’s no surprise that a lot of the diving clubs have been around for decades and so are very knowledgeable of their areas, knowing the best and most interesting places to dive - and the safest.

Shipwrecks are relatively common on the Adriatic seabed and most, like the German U boat off the Istrian coast in the picture, date from the Second World War. Wrecks from antiquity are known but their whereabouts are usually kept secret and to discover new ones is quite rare - but you never know!


A Greek amphora were discovered recently at Jakirusa on the Makarska Riviera. It is important to report finds like this to the authorities (like the police) straight away so they can protect the site from pillagers. It is actually a criminal offence to remove objects of antiquity from the sea. If you can’t take the objects you find how nice it would be though to be the discoverer of them.

Owing to the unusual geology of the area, called karst, underwater caves are very common and some actually have rivers coming out of them. Croatia Divers in Korcula include cave dives in their excursions. Scuba Diving in Croatia need not be so adventurous, nearly everywhere on the coast provides excellent diving with a minimum of risk.

Article from the Croatian National Tourist Board

Diving and diving tourism in Croatia :

Diving tourism in Croatia has been increasing in popularity 1996, following the cessation of war activities in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Annual growth in the number of tourists has been between 15 and 20%, and with it grew the number of professional diving centres organized in the near vicinity of the most attractive locations along the coastline, in order to enable divers from all over the world to abandon themselves to enjoying the Croatian submarine world, while at the same time being able to feel secure under professional supervision and with all the necessary safety measures in place. Today, the number of registered and licensed diving centres exceeds 100, with the largest number being located in Istria and Kvarner, and in the area of Central Dalmatia.

Undoubtedly the most attractive diving locations in the Adriatic are underwater cliff faces and reefs, caves and the wrecks of ships and airplanes. The Croatian land mass ranks among the most specific in the world: Dalmatia itself lies on karst, full of crevices, caves, sink holes and channels. Based on the number of caves so far discovered on land it is estimated that there are at least 1500 underwater caves and holes still undiscovered in the Adriatic. In addition to plant and animal species endemic to the Adriatic, which are a highly sought-after target for photo and video safaris, the most attractive locations are those which conceal traces of times gone by: archaeological localities and underwater wrecks.

The oldest localities containing the remains of sunken ships date from the times of Antiquity, and are to be found on the ancient trading routes leading from Greece towards northern Italy, and all the colonies founded along that route on the shores of the Adriatic: Cavtat (Epidaurus), Mljet (Meleda), Korcula ( Kokira), Hvar ( Pharos), Vis (Issa), Split (Asphalatos / Spalatum), Solin (Salona), Trogir (Tragurium), Rogoznica (Heracleia), anchorage sites in the Kornati archipelago (Zirje, Lavsa, Murter), the wider area of Sibenik and Zadar (Liburnia / Jadera), Pula (Pola), Roman villas on the Brijuni islands, and many other micro-locations once used by ancient mariners as refuges and anchorages. In the Middle Ages trades links between Italy and the Middle East intensified, Venice became a booming trading metropolis, towns along the Croatian littoral experience strong development (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula); naval battles of the 19th and 20th centuries leave their traces on the sea bed. Since WWII many wrecks have been lifted from the bottom of the sea (particularly along the Istrian coast), but there remains a considerable number of wrecks available to sports divers. Those at greater depths are still biding their time, waiting to be discovered and researched.

It is our desire to present all those special qualities to the world tourist market, particularly at nautical and diving fairs. This is why the Croatian National Tourist Board believes that a readily identifiable, attractive and exclusive approach to the promotion of diving tourism as a very young and promising, and highly specific branch of tourism, is very important indeed.

Legislative regulation regarding underwater activities in Croatia is still in the phase of defining the final legal provisions, the aim being to regulate development of diving tourism in the most effective way, based on practice and application, while at the same time preserving the wealth of the Adriatic underwater world and to increase diving safety. According to current regulations it is possible to dive in Croatian waters if one has valid permission (annual diving identity card at a cost of 100 HRK per annum, and individual Permission for independent underwater activities, costing 2400 HRK per annum. Should tourist diving activity be planned in the registered diving centres (presented in this catalogue), then individual permission is not necessary. There are zones where diving is prohibited even with individual permission. These are those zones under special protection by the Ministry of Culture, and diving in those areas may be allowed but only when accompanied by a diving guide from an authorized diving centre.

In other words, you can dive anywhere in the Adriatic provided that you are accompanied by a professional guide (diving guide or diving instructor) whose job is to take ensure your safety and to show you diving locations in a direct and informed way. Every professionally organized diving centre fulfils all the conditions required to make your diving trip a safe, interesting and unforgettable experience.

Check also PADI scuba diving for kids Croatia as PADI offer safe scuba diving courses for children!

Article by the BBC.co.uk

Scuba Diving in Croatia: Croatian waters are rumoured to be among the clearest in the world. They offer scuba divers a wide range of excellent diving opportunities, and for once the rumours are true! On the best days, you might have about 25 metres of visibility under water, which is an exceptional distance, and is great news for anyone interested in scuba diving.

The reasons for the great visibility are many:

Being a very sheltered, pleasant little body of water, the tides and currents of the Adriatic Sea are very small.

The climate is quite stable, which also makes the waters clearer, since lower thermal variation in the water gives better visibility.

The bottom of the sea itself is also mostly made up of stones, and contains less sand to whirl up, which would otherwise lessen the visibility range.

Further north along the coast, though, the bottom does tend to get more sandy, and not as varied as in the south. In addition, the waters generally don't contain very much algae and plankton.

The best diving opportunities are mostly found along the southern parts of the coast, and on the many Croatian islands' sea-facing sides. These areas are also the parts that offer the most diverse diving opportunities, because the southern parts of the coast are closer to deeper waters, which makes fish types more varied and plentiful.

The Croatian coast also contains a lot of underwater caves and cave diving, in particular, is among the specialities of Croatian scuba diving. You can also do wreck diving on both ancient wrecks and more recent ones, including wrecks from both World Wars. Reef diving is also possible, although the reefs are not too plentiful and tend to be in deeper waters, making them a little more inaccessible. In the north, the depth seldom goes beyond 60 metres, making diving a bit less diverse and exciting than that on offer in the south.

Safety is also a plus when scuba diving in Croatia. With only gentle tides and few currents, and without dangerous bloodthirsty fishes, sharks or other nasties, dives here are just about as safe as they come. In many places, the worst creature you will meet is a sea eagle or a sardine with an attitude, and the maximum approved depth for diving for sport and recreation is 40 metres. So as long as you are not into shark dives or very deep dives, Croatia will suit almost anyone from the very green divers to experts. Almost everyone will find something they might like here, whether it is to, or above, their skill level. In any emergency, there is a rescue team for divers that can always be reached through the following channels1, in case of any diving hazards:

Rescue Team phone number - 9155(DAN)
VHP channels 16,10.74
To obtain permission for diving, you will need to obtain a diver's card that makes you eligible to dive in Croatia, which is issued by the local port authorities for a fee of 100 kuna's (around £8 to £10). To get a diving card, you will also need to show your diving license. The Croatian Diving Federation recognises almost all the international diving schools. You can also go on organised dives with one of the many diving clubs that lie along the coastline.

Diving in the country's national parks is prohibited without a special permit. Information about where to obtain such a permit for various locations can be found on the Croatian Diving Federation homepage. Diving is not permitted at the following locations:

In the areas of internal sea waters encompassing harbours, accesses to harbours, anchorage and areas of heavy traffic.

In strict and special sea reserves, natural parks and other protected sea and undersea areas, except as explained above.

Near anchored warships and protected military facilities at the coastal edge at the distance of less than 100 metres.

There is also no diving in Brijuni or Krka national parks. Although diving is restricted in the Kornati and Mljet National parks, it is possible to join organised dives in both parks.

If you do not have a diving license before arriving in Croatia, do not despair! Although you do need one, the diving courses there might be a lot cheaper than in many other places. Many Croatian diving clubs will offer them to anyone prepared to pay the fee, simply check wherever you are along the coastline for the nearest diving centre or club, and they will be able to help you out.

For more online information about scuba diving in Croatia, you can visit the official website of the Croatian Diving Federation, where you will also find the rules and regulations you will have to follow while diving in the country. Diving in Croatia offers another good and informational guide, with links to all the diving centres on the Croatian coast.