Diving and snorkeling while cruising is one of the best combinations to discover the Adriatic’s greatest diving sites.
Your Croatian holiday can certainly be greatly enhanced if you choose scuba diving during your cruises, and if you bring kids along they can easily snorkel or swim in shallow waters.
The Adriatic Sea is rich in underwater landscapes, coral reefs and caves. Discover sunken ships wrecks, amazing plants and sea life, through the crystal clear blue waters, without the danger of sharks and always calm.
Croatia offers some interesting diving destinations depending on what experience you are looking for when you dive. It is recommended that you should be in good health for this sport, and any age between ten and seventy years is typically fine.
During the low/middle season you can choose special sailing and diving programs, renting one of many gullet cruise ships for diving groups (min. 8 guests).
The program includes 8 days/7 nights cruise and 5 days dives (2 dives per day) for a package of 10 dives including all the equipment and professional dive master.
The diving package including dive master and all the equipment per week and has to be paid in addition to regular charter price.
Diving itineraries will include 2 days of diving in the Kornati Islands and 3 days in Dalmatia islands. The dive master will make a short briefing prior to the cruise, discussing diving areas and explaining characteristics of each diving site.
Best of Central Dalmatia – 7 nights sailing tour from Split – Learn more!
Pearls of the Adriatic – 7 nights sailing tour from Trogir – Learn more!
Please verify that these tours do indeed include diving equipment. Itineraries and features change faster than I can keep updating it!
Typically Mediterranean climate with mild and rainy winters, dry and hot summers with average temperature from about 34° C in north (Istria, Kvarner and Northern Dalmatia) to 38° C in central and southern Dalmatia and islands, makes Croatia one of the world’s most popular destinations for scuba divers and snorkelers.
Water temperatures range from 22° C to 25° C during the summer season at the surface while the temperatures at 12m is about 19° C.
Blue Lagoon day trip from Split
Escape the city and relax on beautiful beaches and bays in the Blue Lagoon. Spending your time swimming and snorkeling in untouched beaches with pristine blue waters.
Scuba Diving destinations
Listed below are some of the most popular scuba diving destinations in Croatia.
Kornati island – Rasip
- Depth: 3-65 meters.
- Experience required: beginner to advanced level.
- Attraction: colorful and diverse sea life.
One of the most beautiful scuba diving destinations. On the outer side of the island is a cliff, which descends from a depth of 3 to 65 meters.
The sea is crystal clear, often with a visibility of over 40 meters. The wall is overgrown with corals, sponges, mosses and many schools of various species of fish swimming about.
Kornati islands diving clubs:
Croatia Diving Location – Pakleni islands Hvar, Stambedar
- Depth: 5 – 45 meters
- Experience required: beginner to advanced level
- Attractions: beautiful gorgons, rich sea world.
Stambedar is a small island belonging to the group of islands called Pakleni islands near Hvar.
It’s interesting to many divers because of the beautiful underwater wall, which extends from 5 to 45 meters in depth. Numerous red and lilac gorgons can be found in the depths of the Pakleni islands. The site is crowded with fishes, algae, snails, sea urchins and other sea creatures.
Hvar diving clubs:
Croatia Diving Location – Vis island, Bisevo Blue Cave
- Depth: 3 – 40 meters
- Experience required: beginner to advanced level.
- Attraction: underwater cave, wall, wealth of fish species. Modra Spilja is well known for its shimmering blue waters within.
It is possible to enter underwater or by boat through the narrow corridor, which broadens into large area which is partly sunk, found partly below and partly above the surface of the sea.
It is best to visit the cave in the summer months, in the afternoon, when the light breaks and creates the miraculous blue effect within the cave. Apart from the cave, diving towards the next cove is beautiful.
Vis diving clubs:
Day trip to Blue Cave and Hvar from Split
Get on a speedboat and witness the magnificent Blue Cave! Continue to Vis island and take a swim at Stiniva Cove, snorkel on Budikovac island, discover the amazing Palmizana bay, and end your day with a walk on Hvar town's old streets.
Croatia Diving Location – The ‘Taranto’ wreck
- Depth: 23-55 meters
- Required experience: advanced level
- Attraction: a well-preserved wreck of a trade ship.
This ship sank in 1943 after it struck an allied mine. Fragments of the ship cargo, motor and tractors can be seen scattered around the wreck.
The wreck broke into two halves, the stern sank into the sand, while the bow is raised at an angle of 45 degrees and leans against the underwater cliff. Schools of fish and two great groupers dwell in the wreck.
Dubrovnik diving clubs:
Brac island diving site – Lucice Cave
On the island of Brac one can find numerous interesting sites for diving. One of the most beautiful is Lucice Cave. It is located on the south-east coast of the island, closer to Milna than Bol. It is the biggest cove in this area and it has five smaller coves.
At the coves exit, only 5m from the shore and at a depth of 3m, there is an entrance to the underwater cave descending vertically to 25m. Diving is possible throughout the entire cave under daylight, except in the tunnel, where underwater torches are required.
Brac island diving clubs:
Beginner scuba diving day trips
If you want to experience scuba diving in Croatia, you don’t have to over-complicate things. You can easily book a one-day trip to some popular diving destination, complete with diving equipment rental for less than €100.
I’ve listed a few short diving excursions you may want to check below.
Scuba diving training for beginners
This day trip is perfect for beginners, as all necessary diving equipment is included, and you’ll be guided by a professional instructor who will train and teach you the basics of diving.
- Available from: Split, Trogir, Omis, Makarska
- Pricing: from €85
PADI open water diver course
If you ever wanted to learn how to dive, this is the perfect opportunity. This 3 or 4 day course will teach you everything you need to know before becoming an independent diver, complete with all equipment and supervised by professional instructors.
- Available from: Pula
- Pricing: from €380
Discovery diving adventure from Split
Departing from Split, this tour is organized for amateurs and professionals alike, and will take you to some of the most beautiful diving locations in Central Dalmatia around islands Solta and Ciovo.
This tour includes over 30 diving locations near town of Trogir so you can easily take your pick of where to go.
- Available from: Split
- Pricing: from €70
Croatia snorkeling day trips
If scuba diving is too much for you, try your hand at something much simpler: snorkeling! There are plenty of tours, day trips and multi-day cruises offering to take you to beautiful snorkel locations rich with sea life.
Discovery snorkeling adventure
Discover over 30 fantastic sites near Split which will amaze you. Enjoy the sights of beautiful corals, caves, wrecks, and a rich flora and fauna on this fantastic active day trip. All equipment is of course included.
- Available from: Split
- Pricing: from €50
Dubrovnik sea kayaking and snorkeling
Discover the best way to explore Dubrovnik’s walls, and paddle and snorkel with the sights of this amazing city in the background. Marvel at the ancient walls, explore nearby hidden caves and beaches, and witness magical sea life.
- Available from: Dubrovnik
- Pricing: from €30
