Diving in Croatia

The Croatian Adriatic Sea is an attractive destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. It attracts many lovers of the underwater world.

Recreational diving in Croatia is regulated by the Ordinance on carrying out underwater activities issued by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport, Tourism and Development.

Every diver must have a diving card issued by the Croatian Diving Association (http://www.diving-hrs.hr/) which may be purchased through diving clubs and centres and through authorised tourist agencies along the entire Adriatic.

The diving card is valid for 365 days from the date of issue. It costs 100.00 HRK and is issued only to individuals with diving qualifications from a recreational diving school or diving associations.

Diving may also be carried out in protected zones but only if accompanied by the diving centre which holds a concession from the Ministry of Culture or National park for the current year.

Organised and Individual Diving in Croatia

• Organised diving is diving carried out exclusively in the accompaniment of a leader or diving instructor verified by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia and organised by a diving centre or diving club registered in the Republic of Croatia.
• Individual diving is carried out on the basis of Permission for individual diving. Permission is issued by port authorities. Permission is issued to the person holding a valid diving card of the Croatian Diving Association for the period of one year from the date of issue. Fees for issuing Permission amount to 2,400.00 HRK.

The Diving Tourism Group PRO DIVING CROATIA, an expert association of diving companies involved in providing diving tourism services, founded and operating at the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, is active in organising the diving tourism market in Croatia.

The association pools and coordinates the efforts of over 120 diving centres on the Adriatic sea and, in cooperation with the Croatian National Tourist Board, promotes diving in Croatia at international tourism fairs.

Changes to legislation related to providing services in tourism are expected in 2007, in particular related to "adventure" tourism services, which include recreational diving. The latest information on changes to legal regulations and other useful diving information can be found at the Croatian diving website www.croatia-diving.hr.

No diving zones in Croatia:

No diving zones include the National Parks Brijuni, Krka, Kornati and Mljet, sections of internal waterways which encompass ports, port entry areas, port anchorages, areas with dense traffic, special reserves and nature parks (Malostonski Bay, Lim channel, Nature Park Telašćica) and the sea in a circumference of 100 metres around anchored warships and guarded military facilities on the coast.

Permission for the organisation of diving activities in these areas is issued by the competent state administrations (competent Ministry) to authorised diving centres which operate in the aforementioned areas.

• All additional information can be obtained on the following numbers:
  Ministry of Culture, Department of Archaeology
  Tel: 01 61 16 848, Fax 01 61 16 849.
• Conservation department Split, Porinova 2, Split
  Tel: 021 305 430
• Conservation department Dubrovnik
  Tel: 020 411 075

Controlled diving zones in Croatia :

In the event of a diving accident contact the following:

• National centre for search and rescue at sea - Mobile Telephone 24hrs: 9155 112
• VHF channels 16, 10, 7

Diving Holidays and Diving Lessons:

Along the coast you will find numerous diving clubs offering lessons, guided tours and rental equipment. To dive in Croatia, you need to hold a valid diver’s card issued by the Hrvatski Ronilacki Savez (Croatian Diving Federation). These can be obtained from all recognized Croatian diving clubs, are valid for one year as of the date of issue. For a full list of recognized diving clubs in Croatia, contact either Hrvatski Ronilacki Savez, Dalmatinska 12, Zagreb, T01 4848765, www.diving-hrs.hr, or Pro Diving Croatia, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 23, Rijeka, T051 219111, www.diving.hr

Ten of the best scuba dive sites in Croatia:

• Baron Gautsch (near Rovinj) A passenger ferry wreck from 1914, suitable for advanced divers only, depth 28-42 m.
• Lina (island of Cres) A merchant shipwreck, suitable for advanced divers only, depth 22-55 m.
• Margarina (island of Susak, close to the island of Mali Lošinj) An underwater reef and canyon with amphorae and a shipwreck, beginner to advanced levels, depth 5-40 m.
• Rasip (Kornati islands) An underwater cliff with corals, sponges and schools of fish, excellent visibility up to 40 m, beginner to advanced levels, depth 3-65 m.
• Stambedar (Pakleni otoci, near Hvar Town) A sea wall with red and violet gorgonians (type of coral), beginner to advanced levels, depth 5-45 m.
• Te Vega (island of Sušac, between Korcula and Lastovo) A small sea lake entered through a 2-m-long tunnel at a depth of 5 m, beginner to advanced levels, depth 5-35 m.
• Modra Spilja (island of Biševo, close to the island of Vis) A sea cave, beginner to advanced levels, depth 3-40 m.
• S57 (Pelješac peninsula) A well-preserved German torpedo shipwreck from 1944, suitable for advanced divers only, depth 25-39 m.
• Taranto (Dubrovnik) A merchant shipwreck from 1943, suitable for advanced divers only, depth 23-55 m.
• Sv Andrija (Elafiti islands, near Dubrovnik) A sea wall with red coral and a cave at a depth of 26 m, beginner to advanced levels, depth 3-78 m. (as advised by Footprint Guides)