Agencies Valamar Quality Centre Groups

Diving in Rabac

With unbelievably clear waters, and depths rarely reaching more than 70 metres, the coastline of Rabac provides exceptional opportunities for dive tourism. A variety of locations feature awe-inspiring wrecks, reefs bursting with colour, dramatic cliff walls and a kaleidoscope of vivid marine life. Several fully-equipped and professional dive centres are to be found in Rabac. From trial ‘discovery’ dives to full PADI and CMAS courses, visitors can take advantage of a holiday in Croatia to learn a new skill and gain a passport to this fascinating world that will last a lifetime. Professional instructors provide all the training, equipment and guidance necessary to enjoy Rabac’s undersea world at locations such as Girandella, Lanterna, Babino and the island of Cres. The latter harbours the shipwreck of the Lina, and Italian steamship that transported oil and wine from Puglia and coal from Cardiff. During thick fog in January 1914, the Lina lost its way and quickly sank after running aground. Another cargo ship carrying coal hit a mine not far from Cape Mašnjak and sank at the entrance to Plomin Bay. Divers can still see remains of the wooden lifeboats that fell from the steamship Vis. However, the waters off Croatia are not just for wreck divers. Spectacular shoals of fish congregate around the caves, walls and reefs of dive sites such as the Kavranska Shoal and Black Point, providing up-close-and-personal encounters with striped bream, seahorses, crabs and lobsters. With calm, crystal clear waters, dive tourists of all abilities will find Rabac certainly ticks all the right boxes.
Wrecks Reefs Diving centres Important telephone numbers Useful information
Information on diving in Croatia   Recreational and sports diving, holiday diving, as well as commercial diving or special-purpose diving in Croatia are governed by the Regulations on Conducting Underwater Activities, the Labour Act and the Safety-at-Work Act. Holiday diving can only be conducted within the organisation and under the supervision of a diving centre that is authorised and qualified for recreational and holiday diving. The place of diving must be visibly marked with a dive buoy or a floating dive flag. The telephone numbers of the Search and Rescue Service and those of hyperbaric chambers must be clearly displayed in all dive centres and on all dive vessels.  
Diving permits   Divers are required to have a valid diving card issued by the Croatian Diving Federation (www.diving-hrs.hr) on behalf of the Ministry of the Sea, Transportation and Infrastructure (www.mmpi.hr). The diving card is valid until the end of the year in which it is issued. For individual diving, it is necessary to obtain a permit issued by the Port Authorities.
The permit costs HRK 2,400 and is valid for 365 days from the date of issue. Holiday diving in registered dive centres does not require an individual diving permit.  
Dive zones requiring special permits:   - all national  parks
- all zones under the protection of the Ministry of Culture
Permits for these zones are issued by the competent bodies, and each dive centre conducting diving activities in these areas is required to have a written permit f  
No Diving zones:   - in parts of internal waterways that include ports, port entry areas, port anchorage areas and areas of dense traffic
- in strict marine reserves and special marine reserves, nature parks and other protected marine and coastal areas (Lim Channel)
Tourist health care   There are hospitals and clinics in al major towns, and ambulance and pharmacies in all towns. Emergency transport by air (helicopter) and sea (speedboat) is provided for patients whose life is in danger.