The Deeper You Go the More Beautiful it Gets

Lastovo – a richness of nature and history under the sea

If you seek a crystal clear sea, then Lastovo is the perfect place for you. It is the most remote inhabited island and as such was the first line of defense, so it is no wonder that its underwater depths conceal great historical mysteries from antiquity until today. Numerous boat wrecks and riches that never arrived at their final destinations adorn the seabed of the Lastovo archipelago. Lastovo is the youngest Croatian Nature Park – tame yet harsh at the same time, and whose underwater world abounds in flora and fauna from the very heart of the Mediterranean.

The wreck of “Vis” – the ship that came home

The steamboat “Vis” calmly sailed its course up until the start of World War II. It wanted to remain on the neutral side, but was intercepted by the Allied navy and assigned to their convoys. During the war it sailed everywhere, from North America to Africa, and when the war ended it returned home to the Adriatic Sea. It evaded all combat attacks and survived potential ambushes all over the world, only to sink in its own “backyard” near the Plomin Bay where it hit a mine.
But today, therefore, it is possible to study the wreck up close, without venturing too far from the shore. Dive into history, feel the majesty of this ship, and marvel at all the creatures of the sea that you will see around you.

The islet of Bobara – a limitless expanse behind narrow doors

Are you in the vicinity of Dubrovnik and looking for adventure? The sea could take you to one of the most beautiful caves in the Adriatic. At a depth of only a few metres you will reach a narrow passage leading to a beautiful underwater cave suitable for beginners because it is located at a depth of 15 metres. For those more daring among you, there is an 80-metre deep underwater wall located on the island’s outer edge, which hides the richness of the underwater world.

Baron Gautsch – a sunken giant

The 80-metre long Baron Gautsch was sunken more than 100 years ago and hides in the depths of the Istrian seabed. On its way to Trieste, the ship sailed too far north and was shipwrecked near Rovinj. This is definitely a must for every diver who wishes to witness the site of one of the greatest tragedies in the Adriatic, which occurred just two years after the sinking of the Titanic. For this reason, the Baron Gautsch is often called the Titanic of the Adriatic.

Kornati National Park – a beauty that comes from within

The real beauty of Kornati is concealed within and so you only need to look beneath the surface to know why this place is so attractive. A richness of nature and spectacular underwater world are the main features of this national park. Its untouched depths allow for the most beautiful interaction with its hosts, and even if you are not that big of a diver, you can be on the surface and still delight in beautiful sites thanks to the crystal clear sea. Kornati are proof that dreams really do come true – the clash of land and sea, and north and south, give the Kornati archipelago the richest fauna and most diverse underwater sculptures, and make it one of the most beautiful island groups in the whole Mediterranean.

Žirje – a historic underwater museum

The German bomber Junkers Ju 87, better known as “Štuka”, was produced in 5709 units, and only a small number of them are saved today. Two are kept in museums in London and Chicago, two were pulled from the underwaters of Greece and Norway, and the one in Žirje was found in 2014 and still lies at the bottom of the sea. The plan is to pull it out and restore it, but until conditions are met for a quality restoration of the plane, it will continue to adorn the Adriatic seabed. Take the opportunity and visit this historic underwater museum in person before it gets transferred to a real museum.

From Croatia Feeds