Croatia

TOP DIVE SITES – ISTRIA

 

Brijuni National Park

Coriolanus

Flamingo

Fraskeric

Baron Gautsch – in 1914 an Austrian passenger ship struck a mine and sank. The upper deck lies at 28 m and the lower at 42 m on the sand and pebble ground. The wreck is inhabited by tunas and other large fish. It is 84 m long and 12 m wide. The remains of the Baron Gautsch are under the protection of the Ministry of Culture and a special permit is required to dive in this area (10 euro).

Location: Rovinj (10 km from the shore)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: pebble/sand

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

 

Brijuni National Park – the area of Brijuni consists of fourteen islands islets that lie close to Istria’s western coast. Diving here can be an extraordinary experience due to the attractive flora and fauna and almost untouched underwater world. However, this area is under special protection and diving is possible only with authorized diving centres. In the waters of Brijuni one can encounter large groupers, breams, dentextes, forkbeards, black umbers, corals and sponges. There are some small caves and tunnels in the seabed.

Location: Brijuni Islands (6km from Pula)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

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

 

Coriolanus – in 1945 a British Royal Navy warship struck a mine and sank. The ship is believed to have been engaged in espionage activities. It lies at a depth of 11-25 m. The ship is 46 m long and 8 m wide. A part of the wreck is covered with the fishing nets which sometimes can be seen from the surface. The wreck us under the protection of the Ministry of Culture and a special permit is required to dive in this area (5 euro).

Location: north of Rovinj

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: ooze

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

 

Flamingo – in 1914 an Austro-Hungarian Navy torpedo boat struck a mine and sank. The wreck is 40 m long. It lies at a depth of 40–45 m. Here one can enjoy a very good visibility,

Location: 15 km south of Pula

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: ooze

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

Fraskeric – the system of four tunnels. The minimum depth here is 3 m and the maximum – 26 m. One can dive through the tunnels. There are also some small caves, wall and a variety of marine organisms such as John Dory, lobsters, electric rays and cat sharks.

Location: south of Pula

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

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

 

Giuseppe Dezza (TA35) – the ship served as an Italian minesweeper during World War II but later was overtaken by the Germans. In 1944 it hit a mine, exploded and – broken into two – sank. The two parts lie at a distance of 80 m at a depth of 30–36 m. Some parts of the armament are still intact.

Location: south of Rovinj

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: sand

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

 

 

Hans Schmidt (Istra) – this Austro-Hungarian merchant ship sank in 1898 after a crash with Capraia, an Italian ship. Due to the collision, the ship is now in two parts. The bow lies 20 m away from the stern section. Before the submersion, the ship was about 100 m long and 11 m wide. Both parts are covered with fishing nets. Now it lies at a depth of 32–40 m. It is possible to dive into the wreck. In order to dive in this area, a special permission is needed.

Location: Rovinj

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

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

John Gilmour – this is one of the first ships that was sunk in this area. Its actual name is unknown but it used to be a steamship built in the John Gilmour shipyard in Scotland. It was sunk in 1915. the wreck is 65 m long and 8 m wide. It lies at a depth of about 40 m. The streams are weak and the visibility is usually very good. Diving into the wreck is possible.

Location: west of Pula

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

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

 

Josephine – this Austro-Hungarian cargo boat probably struck a mine and sank in 1915. The explosion broke the ship into two pieces. It is 63 m long and 8 m wide. Some parts still can be entered. It lies at a depth of about 40 m.

Location: Istria

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock/sand

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

Reff Stoja – this is an unique geological formation which consists of caves, canyons and crevices. A great variety of marine life can be seen here. Maximum depth here is 15 m.

Location: south of Pula

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: rock

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

 

Valovine – this a system of caves and grottos near the coast. The formation ends in a canyon at a depth of 20 m.

Location: Valovine

Type of dive: shore dive

Sea bed: rock

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

 

Varese – an Italian merchant steam ship struck a mine and sank in 1915. The remains of the wreck lie at a depth of about 40 m. It is 65 m long. The currents are sometimes strong and the visibility can be poor but the whole wreck has become and artificial reef, being home to a variety of marine life.

Location: west of Pula (near John Gilmour wreck)

Type of dive: boat dive

Sea bed: ooze

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