The top 5 scuba diving spots in Croatia

1. Blue Nautica Underwater Museum, Trogir

Difficulty: easy

Whether you’re a scuba beginner or a veteran diver, the Blue Nautica underwater museum has something for everyone. Located in Jelinak Cove just 2 nautical miles from Trogir, this one-of-a-kind museum features 52 life-sized underwater statues, a sunken military plane, a beautiful beach and a “No Stress Zone” to unwind after it all. 

Blue Nautica organizes scuba diving day trips where you can explore and enjoy the underwater sights — both natural and man-made — all day long. The day trip includes a speedboat transfer to and from Jelinak Cove, scuba diving equipment, and an entry ticket to the museum and nearby aquapark where you can wind down after your dive. 

The best part? You don’t need any previous scuba experience to participate. We’re a PSS (Professional Scuba Schools) certified dive provider, and when you complete the dive (which doubles as a Scuba Discovery course), you’ll get a PSS diploma and underwater photos of your adventure! 

What to see

The Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross) –  The Via Crucis features life-sized statues of all 14 stations of the cross, plus an 8m tall statue of Jesus Christ to represent the 15th station. 

The Soko Jastreb J-21 – This sunken military plane is a late-1960s fighter-bomber made for the Yugolsav Air Force. We found it, bought it, renovated it, and gave it a new purpose — while keeping it eco-friendly for the marine life in the area. 

What’s nearby

The Blue Nautica Underwater Museum is located in an area rich with cultural history, with two UNESCO World Heritage Sites within 30 km: 

• Diocletian’s Palace – Roman emperor Diocletian built the palace in the 4th century AD 
• The City of Trogir– full of winding cobblestone streets and Venetian-era architecture 
• Marjan Forest Park – with a botanical garden, running trails, and breathtaking viewpoints

Pro tip: if scuba diving isn’t your thing, you can also snorkel your way through the museum with one of our organized snorkeling day trips! 

2. Kornati archipelago

Difficulty: easy to advanced

The Kornati archipelago is a cluster of over 100 islands and tiny islets, with a sea area of around 320 square kilometers, and over 60 different dive sites scattered throughout. Nicknamed “Poseidon’s Garden,” the Kornati archipelago is a biodiverse nautical paradise with over 500 plant and 300 animal species (and as many as 69 types of butterfly).

With no permanent settlements or inhabitants, the Kornati archipelago is a wild wonderland on both land and sea. It’s full of plant and animal life, plunging cliffs, and fantastic places to go for a dive. 

You can get to Kornati with your own boat or by ferry from Zadar, Split, or Šibenik. 

Top Kornati scuba diving spots:

• Blitvenica, with deep walls of up to 90m
• Žirje island, in the southern Kornati near Šibenik, this island is full of coves and places like Plič Grmeni, with a deep wall / rack combo with depths of up to 55m 
• Balun in Kornati National Park, with coral walls up to 85 m deep 
• Francesca de Rimini wreck by Kaprije near Šibenik, a sunken WW2 cargo warship at depths of 38-50m 

Note: you may need to have a diving license issued by the Croatian Diving Union to explore some of these spots.

What’s nearby

• National Park Kornati – encompassing both land and sea area, and 89 of the Kornati’s islands 
• Fortress of St. Nicolas – UNESCO world heritage site in Šibenik 
• Murter island – where you can get a hotel, eat out, and get your groceries (since the Kornati are uninhabited)

3. Taranto Shipwreck, Dubrovnik

Difficulty: advanced 

This ancient merchant ship was built by the Italian navy in 1889, used throughout WW2 as a cargo vessel. On February 15th, 1943, the ship crashed into the Grebeni islands and sank while carrying flour and agricultural equipment to Dubrovnik. You can get to the wreck by a short boat ride from Dubrovnik city.

What to see

The ship – Today, parts of the ship are scattered about the seafloor at varying depths: its bow at a shallow 10m deep, the upper deck at 22m deep, all the way to the stern at deps near 50m. 

The marine life – It’s surrounded by all kinds of marine life, corals, sea sponges, lobsters, schools of fish, crabs, and much more.

Note: you may need to have a diving license issued by the Croatian Diving Union to explore this area.

What’s nearby

• Old Town Dubrovnik – Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Adriatic,”, this UNESCO World Heritage site should definitely be on your list of things to do after your dive
• Lighthouse Grebeni – Built in 1872, this lighthouse is the only property on the tiny islet Greben, and now doubles as a relaxing villa you can rent out for your vacation 
• Velika Petka Forest Park — full of stunning panoramic views of the city and surrounding islands, and plenty of trails to walk, run, and hike on

4. Baron Gautsch Shipwreck, Rovinj

Difficulty: advanced

Rovinj is a beautiful port town on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula. And just 9 nautical miles away from Rovinj is the historic shipwreck: the Baron Gautsch. 

The Baron Gautsch is an Austrian passenger ship that sank on the coast of Rovinj in 1914 after hitting a mine on its way from Boka Kotor to Trieste. To this day the ship rests in sailing position and is in immaculate condition, making it a haven for advanced-level scuba divers who can actually enter the ship and explore it from the inside. 

What to see

August 13 memorial dive – Every year on August 13th is an organized memorial dive. Divers come from all around the world to lay wreaths in honor of the 330 victims of one of the Adriatic’s biggest maritime tragedies of WW1. 

Note: this site is protected by the Croatian Ministry of Culture, and you may need to have a special permission from the Ministry to explore the wreck from the inside. 

What’s nearby 

• City of Rovinj – Explore this ancient city’s 7th century walls and ramparts, museums, castles, and amazing restaurant and bar scene
• Basilica of St. Euphemia – completed in 1736, this legendary Baroque church is full of historic artifacts and hidden treasures
• Maškin island – a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Rovinj, ideal for swimmers, divers, and naturists looking to enjoy rich plant life 

5. Lučice Cave, Brač

Difficulty: intermediate

The island of Brač is full of mysterious coves, caverns, and secret beaches to explore. One of the most fascinating among them is Lučice Cave, located near the sandy Lučica beach on the southwestern side of the island. About 2 meters from the shore, there’s an inconspicuous opening in the sea floor, which leads to an enormous underground cave you can only get to with the proper equipment, a working flashlight — and nerves of steel. 

Note: you may need to have a diving license issued by the Croatian Diving Union to explore this area. 

What’s nearby

• Lučice beach – You don’t want to miss the beach that surrounds the cave— Lučice is a sandy beach paradise right next to a shady pine forest, cafes, and restaurants
• Osibova Bay – Near Milna village, this picturesque bay has crystal-clear water and endless swimming spots to explore
• Blaca Hermitage – a 16th century monastery built into the edge of a rocky cliff, operational today as a museum 

Get scuba-certified to make the most of your scuba diving adventure

Blue Nautica is a PSS-certified scuba diving instruction provider with lessons and courses for divers of all levels, from beginners to professionals. 

We offer three different scuba diving certification courses, and each includes theoretical instruction, real-life dives guided by experienced professionals, professional diving equipment, speedboat transfers to the dive sites, and a PSS certificate upon completion. 

Scuba diver (SD)– where beginners with no previous experience can learn to scuba dive

Open water diver (OWD)– for beginner to intermediate divers that have completed the SD course

Advanced open water diver (AOWD) – for advanced scuba divers looking to deepen their range and experience. Requires an OWD diploma

Book your next snorkeling trip with Blue Nautica