Boat charter & diving, best spots in the Adriatic Sea
A boat charter can be so much more than swimming and sunbathing. Have a restless mind? Always pursuing adventure? In short, combining yacht charter holiday with seabed exploration can be just perfect for you.
Sunken cities, caves, and shipwrecks. A whole new underwater world to explore. Once cargo or passenger ship. Now a perfect hiding place for lobsters, octopuses, and fishes. In other words, exploring marine life can truly be a magical experience.
The Loggerhead sea turtle is the only reptile species that inhabit the Mediterranean and Adriatic sea. In adulthood, they can reach weight up to 115 kg and grow up to 110 cm.
Top diving spots in Croatia
Shipwreck SS Tomislav, island Lokrum
Starting from the far south, near Dubrovnik, the pearl of the Adriatic lays SS Tomislav. Located on the shore of island Lokrum. SS Tomislav is actually in pretty good shape after all that time spent underwater. 40 meters beneath the surface, the SS Tomislav expedition calls for a serious diving abilities. Visibility is excellent, so prepare yourself for a photoshoot. Make sure after the dive, You take some time to visit the city of Dubrovnik. There is no place like it.
You can find 65 % of all coral species of the Mediterranean in the Adriatic sea. 36 species of those are endemic. That means they exist only there.
Taranto wreck
Ship Taranto was a merchant vessel built-in 1899. During WWII it was used by the Italian navy as a transport ship. It fell victim to an underwater mine and ended up stranded on Grebeni island, where it sunk. The site is more suitable for advanced divers. Shipwreck depth is stretching from 23-52 meters, and the wreck is laying at 45 degrees angle. Visiting Taranto makes you feel you've dived into not just water, but history.
The best port to more your boat charter would definitely be ACI marina Dubrovnik. They have excellent service and are pretty close to the dive spots.
Blue cave on the island Bisevo
There are about 10 caves to explore on island Bisevo, but only one really stands out. The Blue cave is something special. Sun rays passing through the underwater cave opening make the sea bead sparkle and the cave itself appear bright blue. The locals have opened the cave wall, so boats can fit, but you can't sail in with your boat. There are mooring places nearby for your yacht and small boats run daily tours.
The Mediterranean Sea is home to the Mediterranean monk seal. Now an endangered species with only 600 living seals in the world. They can grow up to 320 kg and 2,5 meters in length. By all means a truly impressive sight for divers. You can find them once in a while in the South Adriatic and the Aegean Sea.
Rasip Kornati national park
Kornati archipelago has 89 smaller islands, all this area is protected as a national park. A great place to see untouched nature. North-west of the National park Kornati you'll find the island Rasip. There's a whole wall covered with coral, sponges, and an abundance of fish life. Even though the wall falls to 70 meters in-depth, you can find the wildlife rather near the surface. Bottlenose dolphin sighting is also very common here. So best to keep your eyes wide open!
The Catedral near Premuda island
Premuda island, small and charming, is home to about 50 people. During summer days, this number explodes. Crystal clear sea, beautiful bays, and beaches just call out your name. The diving spot called the Catedral near Premuda is one of the top Croatian diving spots. Underwater system of connected caves that wary in-depth from 10-30 meters. A variety of fishes and other sea creatures call the Catedral their home. This impressive site really deserves its name.
In 2018 a big coral reef was discovered on the Italian side of the Adriatic sea. Near the town Monopoli, a 2,5-kilometer reef was found. The reason why it stayed hidden all this time is depth. You can find the coral reef 35-50 meters underwater.
Underwater Museum in Mali Losinj
An especially popular destination for yacht charter is the island of Mali Losinj. To make the best of your boating holiday, visit their underwater museum. Located in Cikat bay, home to eleven exponents. The depth of the museum varies from 5 m to 11 meters underwater, and the museum trail is about 300 meters. The top attraction is definitely the statue of "Apoxyomenos" from the 2nd – 1st century B.C. There are only 7 preserved statues in the world, and one is in Mali Losinj. Of course, the underwater exponent is a replica, but the real one is also here. You can check it out in the Mali Losinj museum.
After all Losinj is not just a great diving spot, it is also a yachting hot spot. Clean air and clear water, gave Losinj the title “Island of vitality”. A mild climate combined with biodiversity attracts boaters from all around the world.
Baron Gautsch wreck
Rovinj is considered to be one of the most romantic small cities in Croatia. Narrow streets, colorful houses on a peninsula in contrast to the blue sea look amazing. In 2020 Rovinj got a new beautiful marina ACI marina Rovinj offer the best views on the old town from your yacht.
The Baron Gautsch wreck was an Austrian passenger ship, built-in 1908, and surprisingly sank in 1914. They have by accident navigated to a minefield. Lenght of the shipwreck is 89 meters. On the negative side, diving is only allowed on the first two decks due to safety reasons. The wreck depth is 28-39 meters.
The Adriatic is home to 9 species of whales. The Finback whale is the second largest species after the Blue whale. It can grow up to 27 meters in length. Seeing him cruising next to your yacht would surely be a memorable sight.
Battleship Vis
One of the most famous boats in Croatian history was the battleship Vis. Once was used as a command boat for the Yugoslavian army. Finally, in 2016 was sunk on purposely to live a new more calming life as a diving attraction. The location of this 58-meter wreckage is in the Istra region, in front of the Cape Kamenjak. Istra region is also known for its picturesque towns and traditional gastronomy with a touch of a modern twist.
How to charter a yacht with GetBoat
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