Diving tourism in Croatia has been increasing in
popularity 1996, following the cessation of war
activities in Croatia and Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Annual growth in the number of
tourists has been between 15 and 20%, and with
it grew the number of professional diving
centers organized in the near vicinity of the
most attractive locations along the coastline,
in order to enable divers from all over the
world to abandon themselves to enjoying the
Croatian submarine world, while at the same time
being able to feel secure under professional
supervision and with all the necessary safety
measures in place. Today, the number of
registered and licensed diving centers exceeds
100, with the largest number being located in
Istria and Kvarner, and in the area of Central
Dalmatia.
Undoubtedly the most attractive diving locations
in the Adriatic are underwater cliff faces and
reefs, caves and the wrecks of ships and
aero planes. The Croatian land mass ranks among
the most specific in the world: Dalmatia itself
lies on karst, full of crevices, caves, sink
holes and channels. Based on the number of caves
so far discovered on land it is estimated that
there are at least 1500 underwater caves and
holes still undiscovered in the Adriatic. In
addition to plant and animal species endemic to
the Adriatic, which are a highly sought-after
target for photo and video safaris, the most
attractive locations are those which conceal
traces of times gone by: archaeological
localities and underwater wrecks.
The oldest localities containing the remains of
sunken ships date from the times of Antiquity,
and are to be found on the ancient trading
routes leading from Greece towards northern
Italy, and all the colonies founded along that
route on the shores of the Adriatic: Cavtat (Epidaurus),
Mljet (Meleda), Korcula ( Kokira), Hvar (
Pharos), Vis (Issa), Split (Asphalatos /
Spalatum), Solin (Salona), Trogir (Tragurium),
Rogoznica (Heracleia), anchorage sites in the
Kornati archipelago (Zirje, Lavsa, Murter), the
wider area of Sibenik and Zadar (Liburnia /
Jadera), Pula (Pola), Roman villas on the
Brijuni islands, and many other micro-locations
once used by ancient mariners as refuges and
anchorages. In the Middle Ages trades links
between Italy and the Middle East intensified,
Venice became a booming trading metropolis,
towns along the Croatian littoral experience
strong development (Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar,
Pula); naval battles of the 19th and 20th
centuries leave their traces on the sea bed.
Since WWII many wrecks have been lifted from the
bottom of the sea (particularly along the
Istrian coast), but there remains a considerable
number of wrecks available to sports divers.
Those at greater depths are still biding their
time, waiting to be discovered and researched.
It is our desire to present all those special
qualities to the world tourist market,
particularly at nautical and diving fairs. This
is why the Croatian National Tourist Board
believes that a readily identifiable, attractive
and exclusive approach to the promotion of
diving tourism as a very young and promising,
and highly specific branch of tourism, is very
important indeed.
Legislative regulation regarding underwater
activities in Croatia is still in the phase of
defining the final legal provisions, the aim
being to regulate development of diving tourism
in the most effective way, based on practice and
application, while at the same time preserving
the wealth of the Adriatic underwater world and
to increase diving safety. According to current
regulations it is possible to dive in Croatian
waters if one has valid permission (annual
diving identity card at a cost of 100 HRK per
annum, and individual Permission for independent
underwater activities, costing 2400 HRK per
annum. Should tourist diving activity be planned
in the registered diving center (presented in
this catalogue), then individual permission is
not necessary. There are zones where diving is
prohibited even with individual permission.
These are those zones under special protection
by the Ministry of Culture, and diving in those
areas may be allowed but only when accompanied
by a diving guide from an authorized diving
centre.
In other words, you can dive anywhere in the
Adriatic provided that you are accompanied by a
professional guide (diving guide or diving
instructor) whose job is to take ensure your
safety and to show you diving locations in a
direct and informed way. Every professionally
organized diving centre fulfils all the
conditions required to make your diving trip a
safe, interesting and unforgettable experience.
AUTONOMOUS DIVING IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA
LICENSES, APPROVALS, ORGANIZATIONAL FORMS AND
ZONES UNDER SPECIAL PROTECTION
Diving with autonomous diving gear (SCUBA
diving) in the Republic of Croatia is permitted
to local and foreign natural persons if they
posses a diving card which upon the approval of
he Ministry of Sea, transport, tourism and
development (Ordinance on the carrying out of
underwater activities: NN 47/99, 23/03, 52/03
and 58/03) is issued by the Croatian Diving
Association (HRS).
The diving card is valid for 365 days from the
date of issue and cost 100 Kuna.
The distribution of diving cards is organized
through the sales centers of the HRS (Croatian
Diving Association) and information regarding
the nearest sales centre is available at every
amateur club or professional tourist diving
centre. Most of the diving clubs and diving
centers act as sales centers of the HRS
(Croatian Diving Association) and sell diving
cards.
It is not necessary to posses a diving card for
free diving (APNEA) and free diving is permitted
on the area of the territorial sea of the
Republic of Croatia without any specific
limitations, except in specific zones insofar as
it has been regulated by special provisions
(e.g. National parks, etc.)
Two basic forms of organized diving in the
Republic of Croatia:
1. ORGANIZED DIVING:
Organized diving consists of diving activities
which professional tourist diving centers
(companies) or amateur diving clubs
(associations) possessing concession approvals
for training of divers and organization of
diving excursions carryout in the area of
territorial seas and interior waters of the
Republic of Croatia.
Organized diving is carried out by an authorized
diving instructor (minimal category DIVING
INSTRUCTOR - DIVE MASTER - DIVECON or
equivalent) who shall keep an official diving
log verified at the harbor master's office and
branch of the harbor master's office and who
has a complete first aid kit with oxygen (O2) at
the location of the dive.
A list of professional tourist diving center
(PRO DIVING CROATIA) can be found on the web
pages
www.prodiving.hr
and
www.diving.hr
2. INDIVIDUAL DIVING
Individual diving is a form of underwater
activity carried out by local and foreign
natural persons without the supervision and
organization of certified diving instructors
from diving center or diving clubs.
Natural person who wish to carry out underwater
activities independently with the use of
autonomous equipment in this manner must possess
an Approval for individual diving which they can
obtain at the harbor master's office or branch
of the harbor master's office.
The fees for individual diving amount to 2,400
Kuna for 12 months. Divers who carryout underwater
activities in this manner are not obligated to
but they independently assume responsibility for
diving safety, as well as responsibility for the
manner of carrying out the dive (in accordance
with legislation of the Republic of Croatia).
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