| Croatia's Islands, 24 June - 3rd July '12 |
DIVING CROATIA, A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR SA DIVERS!Dates: 24th June - 3rd July '12 Terms & Conditions apply
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Day 5, 28th June - Relocate to the Island of Korčula
* After breakfast transfer to the Port of Split and then ferry across to Korčula and enjoy the wonderful sights of Makarska
Rivijera. Take a ferry boat from Orebic to Korčula.
DIVING FOR THE DAY: After breakfast, visit Korčula's archipelago which consist of 17 islands and offers a rich configuration of many underwater mountains with peaks, bays and cave. Visit the remains of the famous naval battle between Genoa and Venetian republic fleet. Here Marco Polo wrote his famous book Million which inspired Christopher Columbus to discover America. After diving, you will have some leisure time. Korčula offers a wide range of dive sites, including ship wrecks "Boca" and "Garda"; Raznijc at the end of the island close to Lumbarda; around a number of the islets in the Korčula archipelago and in the Peljesac channel.
Day 6, 29th June - Diving Korčula's Archipelago
Visit the small Susac Lake, which is located on the southwest of Korčula island and includes diving Te Vega and the reef Margarina. Susak is an open sea island in the Northern Adriatic. It is only 3 km long and 1.5 km wide. It is a completely sandy island, very unusual for this archipelago. The whole northern and north-eastern coast of the island is suitable for diving.
Te Vega is a small ‘sea lake’ which is entered through a small hole above the water and then into an underwater tunnel which that leads you to the Te Vega sea lake. Surrounded by walls rising 30m above the waterline, the bottom of the sea lake is inhabited by goby and parrotfish. Near the entrance is a large boulder, under which you can pass to the open ocean.
The reef Margarina is a very interesting location offering special diving experience even for the beginner divers. It starts by shallow waters, about 5 m deep. Beginners can enjoy there the rich submarine life and meet shoals of fish. The advanced divers accompanied by expert escorts will dive to bigger depth along the cliff through an underwater canyon beginning a few metres to the left of the centre of the reef, descending to 17 metres. The wreck of the ship used once for transportation of construction materials lies in a cutting of the reef. From this place the ground descends to the greater depth. At a depth of 20 metres there are remains of the pillars used in construction. At that level the wall falls to the depth of about 60m. There are many holes, caves, and cuttings inside the wall. There you can observe various kinds of fish. In the shallow waters of only 4-5 metres you can see fragments of the Greek amphorae.
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Day 7, 30th June - Relocate to the Island of Cavtat
DIVING FOR THE DAY: Afternoon dive on the wreck Kaiser Franz Joseph followed by a night dive
Day 8, 1st July - Diving the Island of Dubrovnik
DIVING FOR THE DAY: After breakfast, transfer by ferry to the island of Dubrovnik. First dive is at the Taranto wreck (a famous wreck in front of Grebeni island) dating from 1943. The well-preserved upper deck is at 22m and the entire wreck houses a variety of fish.
Day 9, 2nd July - Day of Cultural Activities in Cavtat - last day
Enjoy some cultural activities in Cavtat and then transfer to Split and depart on flight from Split to Munich and then international flight Munich via Frankfurt back to Johannesburg.
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Day 10, 3rd July - Back in SA!
Early morning arrival in Johannesburg.
ACCOMMODATION IN CROATIA
We have opted for the self-catering chalets as this is the accommodation recommended by the dive operators and also the establishments from which the operators offer transfers to the dive centres and back. No meals are included as shops, bars, restaurants and pubs are within easy walking distance making it convenient to do self-catering for breakfast, lunch and supper or to enjoy local foods at a variety of restaurants in our own time.
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ABOUT THE THE ISLAND OF BRAC
Brac is the largest island of the central Dalmatian group of islands. The island landscape is dominated by a karst limestone relief, with numerous gullies, crevices, cavities, round valleys and coves. Composed primarily of limestone and dolomite, the quarries of the island of Brac have been a source of stone for building decorative stonework for centuries. The old Romans have known its quality and used this very stone to build cities, amphitheaters, temples, palaces and graves all over Dalmatia. Brac Island (pronounced "Bratch") is the longest and most elevated island in central Dalmatia, 48km long and 14 km wide. (see Brac Island on a map). Brac is a relatively dry island; you won't find the lush vegetation of, say Korčula or Hvar, but there are some lovely spots along the rocky shores and great scuba diving from Lucice Bay.
ABOUT THE THE ISLAND OF HVAR
The island of Hvar is the queen of the Croatian Dalmatian islands and brings with it a rich antiquity, various historical periods, cultural and natural monuments, dense mediterranean nature, rich tradition and arhitecture, and nightlife. There are wine and olives, so a guest wishing to get closer to nature will stop at a small inn (Hvar "konoba") rather than a top quality restaurant, and sing old island songs and forget the monotony of the everyday routine. Hvar Island boasts 2718 hours of sunshine a year, making it Croatia's sunniest island. The throbbing nightlife and Venetian architecture of Hvar Town is the highlight. The island of Hvar is extraordinarily green and lush, filled with lavender, heather and pines and the coastline is heavily indented with an abundance of rocky coves. See a map of Hvar Island or see Hvar Island on a map. Hvar Town makes an excellent base for exploring the island but there's also Stari Grad, the tiny port of Jelsa, the picturesque village of Vrboska or the even more miniscule port of Milna on the southern coast. Most wonderful are the day trips offered to the offshore Pakleni Islands, which also offer excellent scuba diving.
ABOUT THE ISLAND OF KORčULA
Korčula has been called in song “a dream in stone” or “Aphrodite born from the sea foam”. This is a town of the finest Renaissance architecture and rich tradition. There are numerous cultural events and numerous events including the famous knightly pageants, Dalmatian harmony singing and annual attractive religious processions. The men and women of Korčula are great enjoyers of local drinks and good food. The old city has such a special atmosphere that it is no wonder that this verse was written in the 17th century: You are the adornment of the world, enchanting Korčula. The town of Korčula is one of the best preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean, and its history is very long and interesting.
Korčula Island (pronounced kor chula) is one of the most delightful in southern Dalmatia. Nearly 47km long and 8km wide, it's blanketed with dense woods and fringed with indented coves. The interior is lush and hilly, rich with vineyards, olive groves and peaceful villages. (See a photo gallery of Korčula Island). The jewel of the island is undoubtedly Korčula Town, a cluster of remarkable Venetian architecture on a narrow peninsula. Its heritage is celebrated each week with the colourful Moreska Sword Dance. From Korčula, it's easy to day trip to lovely Badija Island . Other island villages are worth a stop: Lumbarda is near Korčula Town and has sandy beaches; Racisce is the village of choice for local seamen; Pupnat has one of the most beautiful (and inaccessible) bays on the Adriatic; Blato boasts a charming 14th century church; Vela Luka is one of the island's main port of entries and a good alternative base for exploring the island. Dive centres sometimes organise scuba diving excursions to nearby Te Vega off Susac.
ABOUT THE ISLAND OF CAVTAT
Cavtat is a fascinating and cultured destination and a thriving hub for working artists. Cavtat perches on the saddle of a wooded peninsula set between two bays, so you're never more than moments from the water. The sea is as still as a mirror, a deep and brilliant blue with pools of green reflected from the pine forests beyond. A wide promenade, fringed with palm trees, runs along the harbour front. This is the cosmopolitan centre of the town, where fishing and tourist boats jostle with gleaming jet-set yachts the size of battleships. In the same way, simple bars where locals crowd to watch football matches stand alongside restaurants gleaming with silverware and white linen. Ordinary pharmacies and hardware shops are likewise interspersed with hastily improvised souvenir outlets selling cheap shot-glasses and ashtrays sporting the Croatian flag.
If Dubrovnik is a chocolate box, then Cavtat is a paintbox. Cobbled streets with traditional red-roofed brownstone houses climb back from the blue of the waterfront. The narrow stairways between the opposite sides of each street are smothered in clouds of white, mauve and pink blossoms. In the fruit and vegetable market, by the bus station, crates of green and red peppers, purple aubergines and green figs are piled high beside trestle-tables laden with a golden blaze of fruits: bananas, papayas, enormous melons and the gorgeous knobbly lemons that also drip from the surrounding trees like blobs of yellow candlewax. But most of all, Cavtat is about light. In the daytime, the town shimmers. In the evening, clouds in the night sky are outlined in a glow of copper and silver, looking for all the world like strange new countries on a mysterious old map. It's no wonder that the place has attracted so many artists.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN CAVTAT INCLUDE
* situated on a small picturesque peninsular including the bay, harbour and palm-fringed promenade
* the old and new architecture cherishes its rich cultural and historic traditions
* Cavtat is a mix of ancient culture with modern hotels, gift shops, pavement cafes, bars and restaurants that come alive in the
evening
* the pebble beaches are clean, the sea is clear and warm and the Mediterranean climate encourages lush green vegetation
* the octagonal domed mausoleum of the Racic family built by the famous sculptor Ivan Mestrovic
* local art gallery
* Baroque Parish Church of St Nikola where rare paintings and ceremonial church decorations can be found in gold and silver
ABOUT DURBROVNIK
Dubrovnik is Croatia's top sight, and its most visited destination. George Bernard Shaw baptised Dubrovnik "the pearl of the Adriatic" because of its incomparable architectural heritage. The gleaming marble streets of Dubrovnik are lined with baroque buildings punctuated by beautifully sculpted Renaissance fountains and facades. Dubrovnik's walls are the most intact and impressive in the Adriatic and clearly head the long list of Dubrovnik's sights. No wonder UNESCO named Dubrovnik a World Heritage Site! And there's plenty more to see in the Dubrovnik region. But Dubrovnik is more than a fascinating Old Town with an ancient history. It's also a first class Adriatic resort. Stretching out from the historical centre is a network of beaches to laze away the day in the sun. Offshore, the crystal-clear sea is littered with wooded islands that make easy day trips. And the array of cafes, bars and clubs in and around the Old Town insure that Dubrovnik at night is never dull.
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CROATIA'S BEST DIVING SPOTS
Croatia's Adriatic Sea draws many lovers of the underwater world. Undoubtedly the most attractive diving locations in the Adriatic are underwater cliff faces and reefs, caves and the wrecks of ships and aeroplanes. The clarity of its turquoise waters, the beauty of its depths, the variety of marine life, underwater cliff faces, reefs and caves, archaeological localities and the fascinating ship and aeroplane wrecks hidden at the bottom of the sea, are all part of its appeal.
Sea temperature fluctuations throughout the year: in winter months temperature ranges from 7 to 10 °C, in summer months average surface temperature is from 21 to 26 °C, while the temperature at a depth of from 20 to 30 m (average diving depth) remains constant throughout the year, ranging from 16 to 17 °C. The difference between high and low tide varies from 40 cm (Southern Adriatic and Dalmatia) to 1m at Istria. The Adriatic is a relatively calm sea, with no high waves or strong currents. Wave height ranges from 40 to 150 cm, to 4 to 5 m at the most in extremely adverse weather conditions on the open sea. Speed of sea currents is about 0.5 knots, although in certain places and in special weather conditions it can reach up to 4 knots.
Divers are required to purchase a HRS Divers Card from the Croatian Diving Federation, available through registered diving centres. The cost is 100 Kuna and is valid for one year. Individual diving is only permitted with the purchase of an individualpermit costing 2,400 Kuna per person.
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.
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| The Blue Grotto |
MAP OF CROATIA'S ISLANDS AND DIVE SPOTS
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DIVERS
All divers need a Croatian diving permit in order to dive legally in Croatia. It costs 100HRK and can be obtained from dive centres and dive clubs on presentation of your passport and diving certification card. It's valid for a year. Even with a general permit, you need a special permit to dive in the Kornati Islands National Park , Mljet National Park and a number of other locations. The cost (100HRK) and paperwork of the permit is handled by the dive club organising the dive.
BOOKS & WEBSITE ABOUT DIVING IN CROATIA
1. The Croatian Undersea World - click here (BOOK)
2. New Website - Diving in Croatia - click here (WEBSITE)
3. Croatia: Dive into coral seas & a rich culture - click here
For enquiries, quotes or bookings contact Lynne on:
Email:
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Cell: (+27) 83 463 2163 or (+27) 71 569 1342
