Diving

In the internal sea waters and the territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia it is possible to dive for leisure or sport

Diving for leisure or sport can be:

• individual  
• organised.

Organised diving

Organised diving in the Republic of Croatia is allowed for members of diving centres, diving associations or other legal or natural person registered for registered for performing underwater activities in the Republic of Croatia.

Individual diving

Individual diving in the Republic of Croatia requires an individual diving authorisation obtainable at any Harbourmaster’s Office (Pula, Rijeka, Senj, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Ploče or Dubrovnik) or its branch office.

It is recommended to make an appointment beforehand, especially before the start of the season when the demand for obtaining individual diving authorisation is at its peak.

The contact details of Harbourmaster’s Offices are available on the website of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure

Harbourmaster’s Offices.
 
Individual diving authorisation is priced at 318,53 EUR (HRK 2,400) and is valid for one year from the date of issue.

Regarding individual diving, the diver is obliged to get informed on no individual diving zones, as determined by the Ordinance

Ordinance on the Procedure and Manner of Issuing Permission to Perform Underwater Activities in the Internal Sea Waters and the Territorial Sea of the Republic of Croatia in Areas Where Cultural Goods Are Located.
 
Regarding individual diving, the diver is obliged to properly mark the diving area by placing in the centre of the diving area a buoy of orange or red colour, with a diameter of at least 30 cm or a diver down flag (rectangular orange flag with a white diagonal stripe or a Flag A of the International Code of Signals or a prominently displayed diver down flag on the diving vessel).

For diving at night, the buoy must be fitted with a light, a so-called strobe (yellow or white) visible from a distance of at least 300 metres.
 

Coming across archaeological finds in the sea

If you come across remains – potential archaeological finds during recreational diving in an area that is not registered as an area where cultural goods are located, you will not pull them out of the water/sea, but instead notify the competent conservatory department of their exact location. Archaeological finds encountered underground, in water or in the sea are property of the Republic of Croatia pursuant to the Act on the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Goods. 

A list of conservatory departments and their contact details are available on the website of the Ministry of Culture and Media

Conservatory departments.