Sports In Croatia - Diving

DIVING IN CROATIA

Many civilizations and cultures have passed through area of Adriatic sea and left marks on its nature and history. Croatian Adriatic is beautiful and precious and no sea can compete with its beauty. Many other coasts in the Mediterranean are inapproachable, sharp and not well-indented. Croatian coast is unique example of combination of natural beauty and cultural and historical heritage.

Adriatic sea is part of the Mediterranean sea, most accessible for Middle Europe countries. Croatian Adriatic is consisted of 1185 islands, islets and cliffs with total area of 138 595 km2. Croatian Adriatic is known for its crystal-clear sea, with transmittance to 50 m deep.

Adriatic sea is like a large bay of the Mediterranean sea, so it is pretty calm sea, with highest waves to 5 m during very bed weather conditions. Average sea temperature during winter time is 7-10 oC, and during summer time 21-26 oC. Difference of the sea level during the high and low tide is from 40 cm to 1 m. Highest difference is in region Istria in north Adriatic.

Tourism in Croatian Adriatic used to be more developed in north Adriatic, in regions Istria and Kvarner, because of its good connection and nearness. Today it is developed in all parts of Croatian Adriatic, including Dalmatia. Dalmatia still has parts and settlements that are very rare inhabitated what means great place for ones who enjoy in researching undersea beauties.

Diving in Croatia has been developing more and more since after the Fatherland War. Many professional diving centers have been founded. Largest number of professional diving centers is in regions Istria, Kvarner and Central Dalmatia. Most attractive diving locations in Croatia are cliffs, caves, remains of old ships.

Dalmatia is a region in Croatia, richest with undersea caves and cliffs, and ideal for undersea photography. Divers can also enjoy in researching archeological foundings and old wracks. Here are some examples for great undersea research: Split, Hvar, Mljet, Korcula, Trogir, Kornati, Pula, Zadar, Sibenik, Cavtat, Dubrovnik...

Diving in Croatia is possible for all domestic and foreign citizens with Diving Card and individual Approval for independent underwater activities. Diving Card costs 100 HRK (around 14 EUR) and it is valid for period of 1 year. Approval for independent underwater activities costs 2400 HRK (around 332 EUR) for period of 1 year. You can get diving licence at Croatian diving alliance or in diving centers. For freediving it is not necessary to have Diving Card. Diving is forbidden in areas under protection of Ministry of culture. You can dive anywhere in Croatia with expert by your side. In a case of diving accident you should inform Head office for searching and rescue at the sea in town Rijeka on freephone service 9155.

Organized diving in Croatia is diving organized by professional diving center or diving club in area of territorial waters and in area of Croatian sea. Organized diving is led by diving director who writes diving register and has equippment for first aid with oxygen. Here are some professional diving centers:

LIST OF DIVING CENTRES IN CROATIA

Individual diving is any domestic or foreign person`s diving with no diving director. Those divers must have Approval for individual diving and are responsible for their safety.
Here are examples of areas where diving is possible only with diving directors:
- Area of islands Vis, Palagruza, Cres, Mljet, Lastovo, Zirje, Hv ar, Ilovik, Unije, Susak, Osor, Krapanj, Kakanj, Mali Losinj,
- Areas of Cavtat, Rogoznica, Premantura-Pula,
- Wrecks of ships Baron Gautsch, Coriolanus, Liberator, TA-36, Hans-Schmidt, Francesca da Rimini,
- Areas of National Parks and Parks of Nature: Brijuni, Kornati, Mljet, Telascica...

DIVING IN ISTRIA: Region Istria is known for ship wrecks. It is easy to dive to ship wrecks because the sea level is low (to 40 m). Here are some examples of ship wrecks in Istria:

- Coriolanus was a war ship of British Royal Navy, 554 t weight, 8.5 m wide and 46 m long. It was sunken in 1945.,
- Baron Gautsch was Austrian-Hungarian passenger ship, 11.6 m wide and 84.5 m long. It is one of the most known ship wrecks in north Adriatic, sunken in 1914.,
- Josefina was a trade ship sunken in 1915. It was 8 m wide and 65 m long,
- Flamingo was torpedoboat of Austrian-Hungarian Navy, 40 m long. It was sunken during the World War I,
- Varese was Italian trade steamship sunken in 1915. It was 8 m wide and 65 m long,
- „John Gilmore“ was trade ship from Scotland. Its real name is unknown. It was sunken in 1915. It was 8 m wide and 65 m long,
- U-81 was German Navy`s submarine, sunken in 1945. It is broken on two parts.

Ideal place for diving is Fraskeric, south of Pula. It is consisted of many tunnels. Also you can go diving in Reff Stoja in south part of Pula known for many bays, caves and canyons.

DIVING IN KVARNER: Kvarner is ideal for diving because it is rich with undersea life. It has many undersea caves and cliffs. It is also rich with ship wrecks, such as Lina, Tihanny, Vis, TA 36 and Peltastis.

DIVING IN ZADAR: Region around Zadar has many different locations ideal for diving. In region of Zadar are National Park Kornati and Park of Nature Telascica and it is necessary to have extra licence for these zones. Zadar`s region also has many caves, cliffs and rocks rich with plant and animal life, crystal clear sea and many beautiful undersea attractions that you must see.

DIVING IN SIBENIK: Region of Sibenik also offers one of the most beautiful natural attractions National Park Kornati, ideal for diving and researching undersea beauties. Other attractive locations for diving in this area are: Sibenik, Vodice, Primosten, islands Zirje and Murter... In this area you can also find some ship wrecks, for example Francesca de Rimini and Merano. Francesca de Rimini was sunken in 1944. It was 42 m long and 12 m wide. Merano was Italian cargo ship sunken in 1943.

Very attractive is undersea cliff called the Cathedral north from Tmara and lighthouse Mulo near cape Ploca.

You also must visit very attractive islands Mala and Velika Smokvica with many attractive undersea contents, such as ship wrecks, undersea walls, cliffs and torpedos.

DIVING IN SPLIT: Region of Split (Central Dalmatia) has many diving centers and zones. Most popular diving zones are islands Hvar, Brac, Solta, Vis and Ciovo. Most attractive diving zone is around island Vis with attractions such as Modra and Zelena Spilja (Blue and Green Cave).

In region of Central Dalmatia you can also find ship wrecks (Vassilios T, Brioni, Ursus, Teti, B-17, Fortunal). Islands Solta and Brac are also popular for diving. Here are some attractions on island Solta:
- Galerija (the Gallery), Piramida (the Pyramid), Marie Grota, Jorija, Sipuja...

On island Brac:
- Cape Pticji Rat, wreck of a ship Meje, bay Lucice...

DIVING IN SOUTH DALMATIA: South Dalmatia has beautiful clean and clear sea, so it is very famous diving destination. Here are some locations ideal for diving in this area:
- Peninsula Peljesac – with wrecks of ships Vega and Dora, S-57, Helga and Boka,
- Islands Mljet and Korcula – with largest coral cliff in Mediterranean,
- Island Lastovo – with deep cliffs and caves.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:

Hyperbaric chambers are located in Split, Zagreb and Pula. They are always prepared for interventions.

LIST OF HYPERBARIC CHAMBER IN CROATIA:

GOSOVIC INSTITUTE SPLIT
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)21/ 343-980
TELEFAX: +385 (0)21/ 353-739
E-MAIL: gojko.gosovic@st.t-com.hr

INSTITUTE FOR MARITIME AND HYPERBARIC MEDICINE SPLIT
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)21/ 354-511
TELEFAX: +385 (0)21/ 361-355
E-MAIL: gojko.gosovic@st.t-com.hr

POLICLINIC FOR BAROMEDICINE OXY PULA
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)52/ 217-877
TELEFAX: +385 (0)52/ 217-877
E-MAIL: poliklinika@oxy.hr

POLICLINIC FOR BAROMEDICINE OXY ZAGREB
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)1/ 290-2300
TELEFAX: +385 (0)1/ 290-3723
E-MAIL: poliklinika.zg@oxy.hr

LIST OF OTHER IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS FOR DIVERS IN CROATIA:

CENTER FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE AT SEA IN CROATIA
TELEPHONE: +385 9155
TELEFAX: +385 (0)51/ 312-254
E-MAIL: mrcc@pomorstvo.hr
VHF CHANNELS: 16, 10, 74

DIVING TOURISM IN CROATIA
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)21/ 321-118
TELEFAX: +385 (0)21/ 356-956
E-MAIL: ikulis@hgk.hr

CROATIA DIVING ASSOCIATION
TELEPHONE: +385 (0)1/ 484-7582
TELEFAX: +385 (0)1/ 484-9119
E-MAIL: info@diving-hrs.hr

 

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