Diving

DUBROVNIK
Pelješac, Korčula, Lastovo and Mljet, and the area of Dubrovnik and
Cavtat, are the southernmost diving areas in the Croatian Adriatic. This area
is specific for the high clarity of sea (the open southern Adriatic), for the
great depths which possess relatively few diving locations – most of them
immediately next to the shore. Between the islands of Lastovo and Mljet
lies an archipelago of islets, reefs and rocks (Vrhovnjaci). The area is rich
in fish and it is possible to film some species which are rare in the more
northern parts of the Adriatic Sea (grouper, lobster). In the last 5 years,
warming of the sea has resulted in the emergence and fast population
growth of tropical species of fish (parrotfish), and it is to be expected that
such a trend will continue. Due to the lack of exploration and research
the areas of Mljet and Lastovo are under the protection of the Ministry
of Culture, which means that diving is possible only when organized by
licensed diving centres with special permits for underwater activities.
Korčula and Mljet offer several attractive underwater caves. In the
Mljet zone lies the largest reef of stony coral in the Mediterranean (in
the vicinity of the isle of Glavat and in the Veliko jezero (Large Lake) on
the island of Mljet itself. On the southern side of the island are several
interesting locations of exceptional visibility and varied configuration
of terrain: Cape Korizmeni Rat and the islet of Štit are among the most
attractive sites on the SW coast; there are steep walls in the location
Dubrovnik
Grouper on one of the largest stone coral
reefs in the Mediterranean – the underwater
world of the island of Mljet
∆
of Zapetrali, cape Lenga and the islands of Vanji Škoj and Nutarnji
Škoj. A special adventure is diving at the location of Odisejeva špilja
(Odysseus’ Cave) with its wide entrance and pebbles on the bottom of
the entrance, with a clearly visible interior into which large rocks have
fallen from the caved in ceiling, and an attractive wall in front of the cave
full of fish and lobsters.
∆ Drifting along the walls, where a colony of red
gorgonians lives
Croatian National Tourist Board 43