Underwater Istria

A holiday in Croatia is a great adventure - ancient ruins, picturesque towns with hundreds of houses covered with characteristic red tiles, a wonderful kitchen full of fresh herbs, a cloudless sky ... this is what tourists usually associate with this extremely popular country. Insiders know, however, that Croatia is also one of the best countries in Europe for enthusiasts of exploring life hidden in the depths of the sea. Yes, snorkelling, i.e. swimming with a mask and deep-sea diving, is a great way to spend your vacation in Croatia. The sea is warm here, the water is crystal clear most of the year, and the currents in many places are quite weak, which makes it possible for almost everyone to practice water sports. Of course, many of us are concerned that we do not have the necessary skills or equipment to explore the depths of the sea on our own. No worries! In almost every coastal city in Croatia you can find professional diving schools that run courses - from beginners to the most advanced, and also organize numerous expeditions and guided tours who will show you the most interesting corners of the underwater land and watch over the safety of the group. Where is the best place to go underwater exploring Croatia? Of course, to magical and warm Istria!

Reefs, wrecks and an underwater adventure

If you are planning a vacation in Istria in terms of diving or snorkeling, it is worth going to the picturesque surroundings of Rovinj . This tourist-friendly town is located right on the seashore and allows you to discover its secrets in a variety of ways. What especially attracts people who like underwater adventures is the large number of wrecks sunk here in the waters of the Adriatic Sea , which are available for "sightseeing". There are a dozen or so silent witnesses of the region's turbulent history in a short distance of less than 40 kilometers between Rovinj and Pula . As a rule, they are located about 40 meters under water and, most importantly, each of them is perfectly marked on many maps.

The closest to Rovinj is the famous Giuseppe Dezza , sunk by a torpedo shot in 1944. It rests on the seabed in an almost "frozen" vertical position, and elements such as shooting cannons are clearly visible. For people who love exploring the underwater life and reefs , both Rovinj and Pula have a lot to offer. In the vicinity of the first one, you can dive surrounded by the vertical rock walls of the island of Sturag and observe hundreds of shoals of small, colorful fish around the island of St. John . Pula, in turn, enjoys the opinion of the place where the underwater life is the richest - the Peneda peninsula, where you can swim through underwater tunnels, or the beautiful Galebove Stijene grotto - these are just some of the most frequently visited points. During your underwater holidays in Istria , you should not miss a visit to the Brijuni National Park , which is known as one of the most interesting and diverse in terms of underwater fauna on the map of Europe.

Camps in Istria

Since accommodation in Istria will be one of the most important elements of a diving trip, it is worth looking for a place that will be conveniently located and will allow you to move efficiently between the selected places. The equipment rental offer and the possibility of organizing trips to the underwater world are also important. The best option is to use one of the many campsites. The campsites in Istria are modernly equipped and offer both on-site dining in the restaurant and self catering. Camping Val Saline is one of the better options on the coast around Rovinj. Located only 100 meters from the beach, with a guarded bathing area and the possibility to leave all your valuables in the safe, it will surely satisfy everyone.