Most travelers arrive with a car through one of two ferry gateways. From Krk, drive to Valbiska and take the vehicle ferry to Merag on Cres. From Istria, drive to Brestova and take the vehicle ferry to Porozina. Cres and Losinj are then connected by road through Osor, so the same vehicle can serve both islands.

Rijeka Airport is useful for the Krk-Valbiska route, while Pula Airport aligns with Brestova-Porozina. Mali Losinj Airport is much closer to the core destination but has limited or charter-oriented service, so verify the exact operating flight rather than assuming a regular network schedule. Car-free travelers can use buses and the fast-passenger route linking Rijeka, Cres, Martinscica, Unije, Susak, Ilovik, and Mali Losinj, but seasonal frequency and luggage handling require careful timetable matching.

Reserve ferries early when vehicle reservations are offered, arrive before check-in closes, and do not place an international flight immediately after the last plausible island connection.

The closest airport, suited to limited scheduled, private, air-taxi, or charter movements rather than a guaranteed year-round airline network. Confirm the operating carrier and baggage allowance directly before building a dive trip around it.

A seasonal network airport on Krk that pairs naturally with the Valbiska-Merag vehicle ferry. Current routes include a changing mix of European scheduled and low-cost services.

A major seasonal Istrian gateway that connects to Cres through the Brestova-Porozina vehicle ferry. It can be convenient for western European summer services and an Istria extension.

A rental car is the most useful choice for combining Cres and Losinj, reaching Beli, Lubenice, Martinscica, Artatore, Veli Losinj, and trailheads. Roads can be narrow, winding, and slow behind summer traffic, sheep, or ferry arrivals. Confirm that the rental contract permits vehicle ferries.

Public buses connect principal settlements but are less useful for early dive check-ins or remote coves. Taxis and pre-booked transfers work around Mali and Veli Losinj, while passenger boats support selected island trips. The Osor and Privlaka swing bridges open for marine traffic on schedules that can change; check current times and leave road margin. Cycling is rewarding but heat, hills, and fast traffic make it a planned activity rather than universal transport.

Croatia is in the EU and Schengen Area. EU, EEA, and Swiss travelers normally use a valid passport or national identity card. Other nationals need a valid passport and may need a Schengen visa depending on citizenship. EU guidance says a non-EU passport should generally be valid for at least 3 months after the intended EU departure and have been issued within the previous 10 years; short stays are generally limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.

As reviewed on September 5, 2026, ETIAS had not yet become operational. The EU announced a later 2026 start and instructs travelers to use only the official site when applications open. Recheck official EU and Croatian diplomatic guidance immediately before travel because launch dates, exemptions, and document rules can change. Airlines and ferry operators may require the same identity document used for the booking.

Tell the dive center your cylinder, valve, weight, exposure, computer, camera, rebreather, and gas needs before paying for travel.
Standard recreational rentals and air fills are available through local centers; nitrox, technical gases, rebreather support, twinsets, and stage cylinders must be confirmed individually.
Keep regulators, computer, mask, lights, and prescription equipment in cabin baggage within airline rules.
Airlines and small aircraft may impose strict weight limits. Mali Losinj flights can be especially constrained, so request written baggage confirmation.
Never fly with a pressurized cylinder. Remove the valve when required by the carrier and make the empty interior available for inspection.
Car ferries simplify hard-case transport, but fast-passenger boats are easier with compact, wheeled bags.
Allow equipment to dry before inter-island transfers and carry a ventilated bag for wet boots and suits.

Croatia uses the euro. Cards are common at hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, and established dive centers, but cash remains useful for small cafes, market purchases, parking, remote villages, and some boat services. Ask before assuming a small operator accepts cards.

ATMs are easiest to find in Cres Town and Mali Losinj, with fewer options in small settlements and on outer islands. Prefer bank-operated machines, review fees before confirming, and decline dynamic currency conversion when your own bank offers the better conversion route.

Bring a type C or F adaptor if needed and verify that chargers are rated for 230V. A compact multi-port charger is useful in older rooms with limited sockets, but do not overload extension leads with camera, scooter, and light batteries.

Communications

Mobile data and Wi-Fi are generally strongest in Cres Town, Mali Losinj, Veli Losinj, and established accommodation areas, with weaker reception possible in remote coves, forests, and outer islands. EU roaming normally applies to EU subscriptions subject to provider fair-use terms. Visitors can buy a Croatian SIM or eSIM before or after arrival. Download ferry tickets, operator details, offline maps, emergency numbers, and accommodation directions before leaving town. A phone is not a substitute for VHF, float, whistle, or agreed boat procedures at sea.

Language

Croatian is the official language. English is widely used in tourism and dive operations, while German and Italian are also common in visitor-facing businesses. Confirm technical dive details in a shared language and ask the guide to repeat gas, depth, current, lost-buddy, and pickup procedures rather than relying on gestures. Useful place names often appear without or with Croatian diacritics in search systems, so save map pins as well as written addresses.

Insurance

Carry travel insurance that explicitly covers scuba or freediving at the planned maximum depth, plus wreck, cavern, decompression, technical, or rebreather activity when relevant. The policy should cover search and rescue, marine evacuation, hyperbaric treatment, repatriation, weather disruption, and missed onward transport. An EHIC or GHIC can support eligible state healthcare for qualifying travelers but does not replace activity-specific cover. Keep the insurer and DAN numbers offline, and understand whether prior authorization is required when local emergency dispatch has already begun.

Packing list

5mm full suit for mainstream summer diving; 7mm, hood, or adaptable layers for spring, autumn, and deep thermoclines.
Delayed surface marker buoy, spool, whistle, computer, torch, and backup light for suitable advanced plans.
Boots or water shoes for rock, pebble, ladders, and hot shore surfaces.
Bright snorkel or freedive float and legal flag where required.
Sun hat, UV top, high-protection sunscreen, sunglasses, and reusable water bottle.
Light wind and rain shell for boats, ferry decks, and shoulder-season fronts.
Grippy walking shoes, compact binoculars, and offline maps for Beli, Tramuntana, Lubenice, and Osorscica.
Dry bag, mesh gear bag, reusable wet-item sack, and type C/F charging adaptor.
Personal medication, seasickness strategy, certification cards, dive log, insurance proof, and emergency contacts.

Cres and Losinj

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Logistics

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Getting There

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