DIVING IN CROATIA
Weather conditions
Regulations governing diving in Croatia
Diving in National Park Kornati
Scuba diving
kornati-nautilus@globalnet.hr
photo: mirjana matoš
MURTER - CROATIA
Winds, currents and waves
The Adriatic Sea is a semi-closed Sea,
characterized by intense cyclone
activities (especially in winter), when
winds blow in different directions and
intensities.
Adriatic is under strong influence of
different air masses, and therefore heat
exchange between sea and atmosphere
shows a marked variability.
In the summer months heat input into
the sea is the strongest in June and July,
due to dominant short-wave solar
radiation. At that time the sea creates a
thermo cline, which is preserved until
autumn.
The most common surface waves are
caused by Bora and Sirocco wind in
winter and the northwest wind (mistral)
in summer.
Bora is a dry cold wind blowing direction
from north - northeast to east -
southeast.
In summer, it usually lasts a day or even
several hours while in winter it can blow
up to two weeks.
Sirocco is a warm and moist wind which
blows from east - southeast to south -
southwest. Its consequences are high
waves and rain. In summer it usually
blows up to 3 days, and in winter it can
blow up to 3 weeks. Sirocco causes
significantly greater waves than Bora at
the same speed and duration. In coastal
areas waves appear significantly smaller
than at the open sea.
Mistral is a daily thermal breeze that
blows from the northwest. It blows in the
period from spring to autumn, in
daytime, frequently changing its
direction.
Burin blows in the opposite direction of
the Mistral. It blows strongest before
dawn and then abruptly stops. At night it
blows from the north - northeast in
northern Adriatic and from the east -
southeast in southern Adriatic.
Wave height ranges between 0.5 and
1.5 m. Summer temperatures in July
range between 34 and 38 ° C.
High and low tides have relatively small
amplitudes in the Adriatic. In the
southern part of Adriatic sea the
difference is less than 40 cm and in the
northern part it reaches up to 1 m high.
Along the eastern (Croatian) Adriatic
coast, there is an incoming (NW) sea
current that transports salty Levantine
water into the Adriatic, while the western
(Italian) coast of the Adriatic takes
leakage of the less saline water from the
Adriatic. The average current speed is
about 0.5 knots, but it can reach speed
of up to 4 knots.
The average salinity in the Adriatic is
38.3 g per milliliter.
Values of surface salinity decrease from
the southern to the northern Adriatic. On
Murter, due to the proximity of Lake
Vrana, the salinity is somewhat lower.
Ordinance on Performing Underwater Activities (Official papers no.
47/99, 23/2003, 28/2003, 52/2003, 58/2003 and 96/10)
Organised diving in Croatia is performed by private and legal persons
who have obtained a concession for performing these activities (training
of divers, organizing diving excursions, etc.).
Individual diving is done by Authorization for individual dive.
Maximum permitted depth for sport - recreational diving on air is 40
meters.
The area where diving is performed must be visibly marked with a
orange or red buoy or dive flag.
Diving is not allowed:
a) in the areas of internal sea waters encompassing harbours, accesses
to the ports, anchorages ports and heavy traffic,
b) in parts of the inland sea and the Croatian territorial waters where it is
regulated by special laws or regulations of the government,
c) the strict and special reserves in the sea, the nature parks and other
protected areas of the sea and seabed
(such as Mali Ston Bay, Lim Bay, Park of Nature Telascica and others),
d) National parks Brijuni, Kornati, Krka and Mljet,
e) near the anchored warships and protected military facilities at the
coastal edge at a distance of 100 meters.
f) at sites that are protected by regulations of cultural property
protection.
Exceptionally, diving permission for points c) and d) is issued by the
government body responsible for environmental protection under the
conditions prescribed by the regulations in the field of nature protection.
47/99, 23/2003, 28/2003, 52/2003, 58/2003 and 96/10)
Organised diving in Croatia is performed by private and legal persons
who have obtained a concession for performing these activities (training
of divers, organizing diving excursions, etc.).
Individual diving is done by Authorization for individual dive.
Maximum permitted depth for sport - recreational diving on air is 40
meters.
The area where diving is performed must be visibly marked with a
orange or red buoy or dive flag.
Diving is not allowed:
a) in the areas of internal sea waters encompassing harbours, accesses
to the ports, anchorages ports and heavy traffic,
b) in parts of the inland sea and the Croatian territorial waters where it is
regulated by special laws or regulations of the government,
c) the strict and special reserves in the sea, the nature parks and other
protected areas of the sea and seabed
(such as Mali Ston Bay, Lim Bay, Park of Nature Telascica and others),
d) National parks Brijuni, Kornati, Krka and Mljet,
e) near the anchored warships and protected military facilities at the
coastal edge at a distance of 100 meters.
f) at sites that are protected by regulations of cultural property
protection.
Exceptionally, diving permission for points c) and d) is issued by the
government body responsible for environmental protection under the
conditions prescribed by the regulations in the field of nature protection.
Diving in National Park Kornati is
permitted only in arrangement of
private or legal person registered for
such activities and that has obtained
the permission to organize and
conduct diving trips to National Park
Kornati from governmental institution.
Individual or night dives are not
allowed (between 7 pm and 7 am).
Divers may not carry only a knife, any
other weapon (on boat as well) is not
allowed.
There are 9 zones where is permitted
to dive in National Park Kornati
1. Kornat (Opat - Tanka Prisliga),
2. Samograd,
3. Oključ,
4. Mala Panitula,
5. Vela Panitula,
6. Rašip,
7. Mali Rašip,
8. Mana,
9. Borovnik.
permitted only in arrangement of
private or legal person registered for
such activities and that has obtained
the permission to organize and
conduct diving trips to National Park
Kornati from governmental institution.
Individual or night dives are not
allowed (between 7 pm and 7 am).
Divers may not carry only a knife, any
other weapon (on boat as well) is not
allowed.
There are 9 zones where is permitted
to dive in National Park Kornati
1. Kornat (Opat - Tanka Prisliga),
2. Samograd,
3. Oključ,
4. Mala Panitula,
5. Vela Panitula,
6. Rašip,
7. Mali Rašip,
8. Mana,
9. Borovnik.
What to bear in mind
when going scuba diving
Diving season begins in spring,
around Easter and lasts until
November, when it is still possible to
dive.
The sea is warmer from April, when
the surface temperature is about 18 °
C. High season is during July and
August.
In summer, the surface is heated
between 22 and 26 ° C, depending on
the depth you can expect a
temperature of 18 ° C to 14 ° C when
diving.
Visibility is excellent, sometimes more
than 50 meters.
We recommend diving in June and
September, when the sea is warm,
visibility is the best and there are no
crowds.
Take with you on a diving trip:
Diving card (SSI, PADI, CMAS, etc.)
Diving equipment
Diving diary
Medical certificate
Personal items (money, sun cream,
towel, drinks and food)
DIVING CENTER KORNATI NAUTILUS
