BSAC TRAVEL CLUB

TRAVEL CLUB

Croatia
GENERAL
Croatia is a little known diving destination that benefits from the lack of crowds and over-diving prevalent at some Mediterranean destinations. The Adriatic Sea is also one of the cleanest in the world.

Croatia offers a wide variety of diving locations amongst the 1,700 islets scattered along the coast, ranging from shallow, sheltered, gently sloping shore entry sites for beginners to more adventurous sites including walls, reefs, caves and wrecks.

TEN TOP DIVE SITES
Ten dive sites that offer examples of the diving available:

BARON GAUTSCH, ISTRIA - Wreck of a Passenger Ferry.
Depth: 28 - 42 metres.
Necessary experience: experienced divers.
The Baron Gautsch was sunk in 1914 when it struck an underwater mine. The top deck is located at 28 metres and the lower one at 36. The bottom is located at 42 metres. The wreck is well preserved and penetration is possible.

CRES, LINA - Wreck of a Merchant Ship.
Depth: 22 - 55 metres.
Necessary experience: experienced divers.
The Lina was transporting lumber from Rijeka to Sicily but because of thick fog, it struck an underwater reef and was sunk. The wreck is well preserved and lies with the top of the bow at 22 metres and the stern at 55 metres. Penetration is possible.

SUSAK - Reef/Shipwreck.
Depth: 5 - 40 metres.
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
An underwater canyon which drops from 5 to 17 metres in which there is the wreck of a ship which transported construction material. One hundred meters away, at 20 metres, are the remains of beams used for boat construction. At the top of the reef are many schools of fish, and broken amphora can be found.

KORNATI, RASIP - Wall.
Depth: 3 - 65 metres.
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
From the outer side of the island there is a cliff wall dropping from 3 to 65 metres and covered with corals, sponges and with many fish. The sea is crystal clear, visibility is often over 40 meters.

PAKLENI OTOCI, STAMBEDAR - Wall.
Depth: 5 - 45 metres.
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
Stambedar is a small island of the Pakleni otoci archipelago. It has an underwater wall extending from 5 to 45 metres. There is a forest of red and violet gorgonias in the deeper part of the wall. There are many fish, algae, snails, sera-urchin and other sea creatures.

SUSAC, TE VEGA - 'Sea Lake'.
Depth: 5 - 35 metres
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
This is the site of a small sea lake, which is situated near the cape Na Zene. It is entered through an underwater tunnel 2 metres long and 5 metres deep. The lake is surrounded by the vertical cliffs and is 5 metres deep.

BISEVO, MODRA SPILJA - Cavern.
Depth: 3 - 40 metres.
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
Modra spilja is famous for a cavern with a glistening blue interior. Entry is by diving or boat through the narrow passage, which spreads into a large cavern, which is partially underwater and partially above seal level. It is best to visit the cavern during the summer at noon, when the light penetrates the darkness producing stunning effects inside.

PELJESAC, S 57 - Wreck.
Depth: 25 - 39 metres.
Necessary experience: experienced divers.
S57 was a German torpedo boat, which was sunk on 19 August 1944. by 3 British destroyers. The wreck is extremely well preserved with anti-aircraft cannons which can still be moved and torpedoes in the torpedo cannons. The ship lies on its side but penetration is not possible.

DUBROVNIK, TARANTO - Wreck of a Merchant Ship.
Depth: 23 - 55 metres.
Necessary experience: experienced divers.
The ship was sunk in 1943 after it hit a mine. The wreck is broken in half with its cargo of engines and tractors spread around. The stern in sunk into sand and the bow is elevated at an angle of 45 degrees. It lies leaned against an underwater cliff. Schools of fish live on the wreck including 2 big seabass.

ELAFITI, ST. ANDRIJA - Wall.
Depth: 3 - 78 metres.
Necessary experience: beginners to experienced divers.
The cliff drops almost vertically from 3-78 metres. At 26 metres, there is an underwater cave. Various fish, corals and algae cover the wall and in greater depths red coral can be found.

BSAC DIVING
The Dupin Dive Centre, a BSAC Centre, is based on the island of Korcula in the south.

Diving sites around the island include several wrecks, including the site of a 2,00 year old merchant ship wreck, and other sites with amphorae. Generally, there is a good variety of marine life, typically consisting of scorpion, damsels, wrasse, bream, gobies, etc. with plenty of colourful sponges and both soft and hard corals, various species of nudibranchia and lots of urchins.

Costs are about Ł19 for a single boat dive, rising to about Ł29 if kit hire is included. The BSAC Ocean Diver course can be run for about Ł235 with other courses available on request.

DIVING REQUIREMENTS
Divers will be required to purchase a HRS Divers Card from the Croatian Divin Federatyion, available through registered diving centres. The cost is 100 Kuna (£9.50) and is valid for one year. Individual diving is only permitted with the purchase of an individualpermit costing 2,400 Kuna per person. Diving is restricted in some prohibited zones except when diving with a diving centre that holds a licence from the appropriate authority.

CLIMATE AND DIVING CONDITIONS
The climate is typically a Mediterranean with mild rainy winters, and hot and dry summers. Summer temperatures in July will be about 34°C in the northern part of the Adriatic, while in the south they rise to 38°C.

The Adriatic has a marked annual change of surface temperature. The average annual temperature is 11°C. During the winter, the surface temperature is about 7°C; sometimes dropping below that. In the spring, the sea becomes warmer, and the surface temperature rises to 18°C. In summer, the surface of the sea reaches 22 - 25°C, and in the southern Adriatic and Istria up to 27°C. In the Adriatic, thermoclines are very noticeable. Thermoclines are most evident during the summer; the first at 3 - 5 metres, the next one at about 12 metres, and another at 18 metres, while below 30 metres the temperature is constant throughout the year.

There is little tidal movement in the Adriatic; the maximum being one metre in Istria and the Gulf of Trieste. Currents are generally weak, but local knowledge should be sought.

FOR NON DIVERS
Non - divers will enjoy the swimming and water sports available along the coast. The coast is also dotted with historic towns with narrow winding streets surrounded by defensive walls, the most famous being Dubrovnik.

GETTING THERE
Flights from UK fly all year to Zagreb with internal shuttle flights to Dubrovnik. In the summer there are direct flights to Dubrovnik in the south. Flight time is approximately 21/2 hours.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
UK Citizens do not require visas to enter Croatia as a tourist. There are currently no vaccination requirements.

ACCOMMODATION
Croatia is a well-known tourist destination and there is a variety of accommodation available to suit all tastes.

LANGUAGE
English may not be spoken when off the beaten track.

CURRENCY
The local currency is the Croatian Kuna. GBP and Euros are accepted, at varying exchange rates, generally above the Bank rate. Credit cards are not always acepted for purchases but there are many ATMs that will accept most UK cards including debit cards (Electron, Delta, etc.). Do not bother to buy Euros before coming out as you will have to exchange these for Kuna, and another commission fee will be charged!

CROATIAN
WEBSITE: http://croatia.embassyhomepage.com/index.htm
Email: info@cnto.freeserve.co.uk

CROATIAN DIVING FEDERATION (HRVATSKI RONILACKI SAVEZ)
WEBSITE: http://www.diving.hr
Email: info@diving-hrs.hr