Diving in Pula

The sea has always played an integral part of life in coastal Croatia, especially in Pula where for centuries the ancient town has defended Istria’s bay from marauders. Nowadays, dive tourism is one of the prominent forces. From all over the globe, thousands flock to the waters off the southwest coast of Istria to explore dozens of sites such as Fraškerić where the abundant sea life and spectacular caves make this one of the most scenic reefs along the whole western coast of Istria. So too at Cape Rakovica, where you’ll come across the remains of an ancient Roman shipwreck and caves teeming with colourful marine life. Sea walls often house the biggest array of submarine life and Svjetionik, or 'The Lighthouse', situated alongside a hotel beach doesn’t disappoint. Lobsters, crabs and eels all call this 100-metre-long wall home. At Topovi, the remains of an old Venetian ship can be found, its three cannons still remaining. This is just one of fourteen shipwrecks including destroyers, merchant ships and minesweepers waiting to be explored from dive centres in and around Pula. One of the largest is the Josephina, a cargo steamship built in 1864 which hit a mine some 50 years later and offers exciting exploration for more experienced divers. Near Stoja tourist beach, the impressive sight of the German WWII U-81 submarine can be seen at a depth of 35 metres, just one more of the many surprises awaiting underwater explorers off the coast of Croatia.