Poreč, Istria

Explore Poreč’s rich history, soak up the sun on pristine beaches and hit the old town for pure fun

Adults
Children
Pets

Persons older than {0} years of age are considered adults.

Till which age is a person considered as a child?

Children up to 2 years of age stay for free.

Persons from 2 up to 9,99 years are considered as children in:

Poreč:

Lanterna Sunny Resort by Valamar

Persons from 2 up to 11,99 years are considered as children in:

Rabac:	Valamar Sanfior Hotel & Casa
Krk:	Koralj Sunny Hotel by Valamar
Island of Rab:	Valamar Padova Hotel, San Marino Sunny Resort by Valamar, Suha Punta Apartments
Makarska:	Valamar Meteor Hotel; Rivijera Sunny Resort by Valamar
Dubrovnik:	Dubrovnik President Valamar Collection Hotel

Persons from 2 up to 12,99 years are considered as children in:

Rabac:	Valamar Girandella Family; Valamar Girandella V Level Villas
Island of Rab:	Valamar Carolina Hotel & Villas

Persons from 2 up to 13,99 years are considered as children in:

Poreč:	Marea Valamar Collection Suites; Valamar Diamant Hotel & Residence; Crystal Sunny Hotel by Valamar; Valamar Pinia Hotel; Rubin Sunny Hotel by Valamar; Valamar Parentino Hotel; Naturist Resort Solaris, Valamar Collection Isabella Island Resort; Valamar Riviera Hotel & Residence
Rabac:	Allegro Sunny Hotel by Valamar; Miramar Sunny Hotel by Valamar
Makarska:	DALMACIJA [PLACESHOTEL] by Valamar
Island of Hvar:	HVAR [PLACESHOTEL] by Valamar; Arkada Sunny Hotel by Valamar

Guests should be min. 11,99 years old. Persons older than 11,99 years of age are considered adults.

Island of Rab:

Imperial Valamar Collection Hotel

Guests should be min. 15,99 years old. Persons older than 15,99 years of age are considered adults.

Rabac:

Valamar Girandella Designed for Adults

Persons from 2 up to 14,99 years are considered as children in:

Baška:	Corinthia Baška Hotel; Zvonimir Sunny Hotel by Valamar
Island of Hvar:	Valamar Amicor Green Resort
Dubrovnik:	Valamar Tirena Hotel, Club Dubrovnik Sunny Hotel; Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik Hotel

Persons from 2 up to 15,99 years are considered as children in:

Poreč:	Valamar Tamaris Resort
Rabac:	Valamar Girandella Maro Suites; Valamar Bellevue Resort

Valamar Obertauern Hotel

Children up to 3,99 years of age stay for free.

Kesselspitze Valamar Collection Hotel

Children up to 1,99 years of age stay for free.

Diving in Poreč

Warm sea temperatures and a seabed rich in animal and plant life makes the area around Poreč an exciting diving destination all year round. Regardless of your experience level, you will be able to explore the deep blue and find an activity which suits you thanks to the whole array of courses (CMAS; PADI, NITROX APNEA) and professional diving instructors available in and around Valamar Hotels & Resorts in Poreč. Explore the cliff walls of Kampani and Tempesta reefs as well as the underwater caves of the Banjola Island. Discover the riches of two shipwrecks: Baron Gautsch, perfectly preserved Austrian passenger ship which sank in 1914 and British battleship Coriolanus. For something completely different, try the night diving expedition – a truly memorable experience.

Information for divers

Diving Centres

Diving centres
Diving Center "Poreč"
Poreč, Brulo bb
T: + 385 52 433 606
Diving Center "Plava Laguna"
Poreč, Plava Laguna bb
T: + 385 52 647 160
Diving Center "Zeus Faber"
Poreč, Lanterna 52
T: + 385 98 951 2986
Important telephone numbers

Important telephone numbers
Port Poreč
Poreč, Obala m. Tita 17
T: + 385 52 431 663
24/7 Pharmacy
Pula, Giardini 14
T: + 385 52 222 551
T: + 385 52 222 544
Baromedicine Polyclinic OXY Pula
Pula, Kochova 1a
T: + 385 52 215 663
T: + 385 98 219 225
For all emergency situations
T: 112
Rescue at sea
T: 9155
Useful information
Useful information
Information on diving in Croatia
Recreational and sports diving, holiday diving, as well as commercial diving or special-purpose diving in Croatia are governed by the Regulations on Conducting Underwater Activities, the Labour Act and the Safety-at-Work Act. Holiday diving can only be conducted within the organisation and under the supervision of a diving centre that is authorised and qualified for recreational and holiday diving. The place of diving must be visibly marked with a dive buoy or a floating dive flag. The telephone numbers of the Search and Rescue Service and those of hyperbaric chambers must be clearly displayed in all dive centres and on all dive vessels.
Diving permits
Divers are required to have a valid diving card issued by the Croatian Diving Federation (www.diving-hrs.hr) on behalf of the Ministry of the Sea, Transportation and Infrastructure (mmpi.gov.hr/en). The diving card is valid until the end of the year in which it is issued. For individual diving, it's necessary to obtain a permit issued by the Port Authorities.

The permit costs HRK 2,400 and is valid for 365 days from the date of issue. Holiday diving in registered dive centres does not require an individual diving permit.
Dive zones requiring special permits:
- all national parks
- all zones under the protection of the Ministry of Culture
Permits for these zones are issued by the competent bodies, and each dive centre conducting diving activities in these areas is required to have a written permit.
No Diving zones:
- in parts of internal waterways that include ports, port entry areas, port anchorage areas and areas of dense traffic
- in strict marine reserves and special marine reserves, nature parks and other protected marine and coastal areas
  (Lim Channel)
Tourist health care
There are hospitals and clinics in all major towns, and ambulance and pharmacies in all towns. Emergency transport by air (helicopter) and sea (speedboat) is provided for patients whose life is in danger.

Wrecks

Gilda

Off Cape Savudrija, Istria’s most northern cape lies the freight steam ship Gilda, which split in two after hitting an underwater mine. This open water dive uses an anchored rope tied to the wreck and provides a dive adventure you won't forget!

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Coriolanus

The wreck of the Coriolanus, a sunken battle ship of the British Royal Navy of the Shakespeare class, is located west of Novigrad at a depth from 11–25 m. Despite being a minesweeper, the ship sunk after hitting a mine in 1914. Powered by steam engines, designed for the roughest weather, and weighing more than 554 tons, it was armed with anti-aircraft cannons and 30 anti-submarine depth charges.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Numidia

Dating back to World War II, the wreck of the Numidia is one of the largest in the Adriatic Sea. Its incredible length of 120 m represents a true challenge to all experienced divers. With the wreck located at a depth from 33–40 m, much experience is needed in planning the dive. Depending upon water currents, the visibility at this dive site may vary, and only a few divers have been lucky enough to see the wreck.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Romagna

Poor weather conditions in November of 1912 caused the fate of the Romagna, a freight ship that sunk near Rovinj. On its last voyage, the Romagna was transporting wheat from Ravenna to Trieste. Today it lies at a depth of 40 m, and is an almost ghostly sight, with 60 m of length heavily covered in the remains of fishing nets. Experienced divers can dive to the Romagna only in conditions of exceptionally good visibility.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Giuseppe Dezza

Built in 1913, this Italian minesweeper was sunk in 1944 by English aircraft that spotted it during a routine reconnaissance flight. A torpedo tore the vessel in two, leaving the bow and the stern separated about 50 m apart. The stern has a greater appeal to divers. The Giuseppe Dezza lies on the seabed in an upright position as if frozen in time, with its cannons and military equipment clearly visible.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Maona

The small freight ship Maona is located at a depth of 30–35 m not far from the 'Sv. Ivan na Pučini' lighthouse near Rovinj. With a length of 40 m, this wreck presents a fairly straightforward dive in conditions of good visibility. Many lobsters and scorpion fish can be seen along the ship’s bottom and stern. Similar to any artificial structure, the wreck attracts large numbers of small fish, and its vicinity to the shore makes it a favourite dive site in the summer season.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Baron Gautsch

Built in 1908, this Austrian passenger ship sank after hitting a mine in 1914 while carrying the families of Austrian officers on the Boka Kotorska – Mali Lošinj – Trieste route. Wanting to shorten the voyage, the ship attempted to pass through a minefield, nine nautical miles off of Rovinj, because, allegedly, a merchant ship had managed to do so shortly before. The Baron Gautsch touched a mine midship portside, and the ship quickly sank. Diving is allowed only through diving centres that hold a special permit of the Croatian Ministry of Culture, and for safety reasons, entry to the ship is allowed only through the first two decks.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Marija

Once a wooden sailboat with a metal mast, the Marija sank during the 1950s. Today it is possible to see the ship’s frame with parts of the planking, keel and mast, while one part is covered in fishing nets giving it the appearance of a sunken pirate ship. The ship is teeming with different fish species that add to the overall diving experience.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Hans Schmidt

For a long time, the Hans Schmidt wreck was known as the Istria, because its true name was not known. It was built in 1920 in the Netherlands (under the name of the Albireo), but carries the name of its last owner from Germany. This cargo steamship was ripped in two by an explosion when it struck an underwater mine on 23 January 1943 while transporting armament and ammunition. On the seabed, the wreck is in two parts, a 10-m bow, and the rest of the wreck some 10 m away. Particularly interesting and of historical interest is the special type of anchor that has not been in production for more than 100 years.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Reefs

The Gobo Shoals

At the Gobo Shoals underwater mines and torpedoes from World War II can be found at depths from 8–14 m. This site is suited to beginners because visibility is excellent due to the rocky seabed. Diving instructors often bring PADI course attendants to this site so they can practise boat diving and open water diving.

tekst: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Lim Shoals

The shoals at the very entrance to the Lim Channel are characterised by short but thriving “walls” that reach a depth of 25 m.. The steep structure of the seabed and the hollow “burnt-out” crags provide an idea habitat for many crustaceans and the site is rich in seabed fish and crabs.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Salina Coast

The Salina Coast is the ideal destination for any diver intent on seeing a lobster or an eel. Covered with hollow rocks, the seabed holds an abundance of seabed fish. The Salina Coast is a favourite among divers also because it is the location best protected against storms.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Salina Wreck

This is a dive site for beginners wanting to see a shipwreck for the first time. Although small, this wreck lying at a depth of 16 m provides an exciting experience for the novice diver. Nearby is the beginning of a rocky seabed that adds to the dive experience.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Piranor Shoals

Underwater mines and torpedoes from World War II can be found at depths from 8–14 m. This site is suited for beginners as visibility is excellent due to the rocky seabed. Diving instructors often bring PADI course attendants to this site to practise boat diving and open water diving.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Figarola Island

This islet is a favourite beginner’s destination because of its terrace-shaped underwater structure and depths not greater than 20 m. Divers have a chance of seeing seahorses, eels, lobsters, as well as the common torpedo and St. Peter’s fish.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Banjol Island

Not far from Rovinj and located in one of the most appealing sites on Istria’s western coast, this islet features three caves at a depth of 12 m offering the ideal spot for beginners. It's also an exciting dive site for the more experienced as it is possible to dive as deep as 35 m down the rocky reef.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Sturag Island

The rocky structure of the islet’s western seafloor resembles canyons stretching from the shallows to a depth of 18 m. It enables divers to dive between high rock walls, protected from currents, and surrounded by the wide variety of fish found in this seabed habitat.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

San Giovanni’s (St. John’s) Island

St. John’s Island is a dive site ideal for beginners. Excellent conditions for viewing marine life can be found at a depth of 20 m without the need for deep diving. An ancient Roman quarry and sunken stone blocks provide a safe haven for many fish and crabs.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Rubini Reef

Beginning at a depth of 20 m, the shoal near the lighthouse descends to 45 m. The Rubin Reef dive site is only for divers experienced in deep diving who want to see more than just the typical life forms found in shallow reefs. Here they can see fish such as large dentex, sea bass, scorpion fish and frogfish, etc.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

Faro Island (Lighthouse Sv. Ivan na Pučini)

The Faro Island islet lies at the very end of the Roving archipelago and is rich in fish and other marine organisms, with a beautiful rocky seabed that reaches as deep as 45 m. This is a dive site for experienced divers only.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

The Buje Shoals

At the Buje Shoals underwater mines and torpedoes from World War II can be found at depths from 8–14 m. This site is suitable for beginners as visibility is excellent due to the rocky seabed. Diving instructors often bring PADI course attendants to this site to practise boat diving and open water diving.

text: Željko Kamerla in collaboration with the Istria diving centres

All accommodation in Poreč

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