Safety · Destination Guide
Adriatic wrecks, island walls, seagrass coves, and wild Kvarner horizons
Use a registered local operator, accept weather-driven site changes, and match every wreck, wall, current, and overhead to genuine recent experience. The nearest identified hyperbaric center is on the mainland in Rijeka, so prevention and early emergency activation matter. Conservation is inseparable from the trip: protect Posidonia, keep distance from dolphins and turtles, leave archaeological objects untouched, and follow quiet-observation rules around Cres's griffon vultures.
Local clinics and emergency services can provide initial assessment, but the reviewed specialist hyperbaric facility is the Center for Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine at KBC Rijeka on the mainland. A marine evacuation, road transfer, or coordinated combination may be required.
For life-threatening or time-critical symptoms, call 112 first. At sea, call 195 or VHF Channel 16. Then contact DAN Europe for diving-medicine consultation and evacuation support. Give dispatchers the dive profile, gases, symptom onset, oxygen already provided, exact GPS or site, boat name, number of people, and available transport. Keep computers and written profiles with the patient. Chamber staff should not be treated as a substitute for emergency dispatch.
Rapid wind and sea-state changes
Bura, southerly winds, and local exposure can turn an outer-island plan into a sheltered-bay day or disrupt ferries. Follow operator and captain decisions without pressuring them to keep a marquee site.
Thermoclines and deep-water cold
Surface warmth can conceal substantially colder water on walls and wrecks. Plan exposure protection for the deepest part of the dive, not the harbor, and end a dive before shivering compromises judgment.
Depth, wreck, and overhead escalation
Lina, Bangladesh, Koludarac, and Srakane can exceed basic open-water comfort or training. Stay outside penetration, decompression, and overhead profiles unless appropriately trained, equipped, current, and supported.
Rocky entries, urchins, and boat traffic
Wear entry footwear, protect hands without grabbing marine life, and use a bright surface marker. Avoid harbor mouths, marked channels, moorings, and uncoordinated crossings between shore and boats.
The Cres-Losinj marine Natura 2000 area supports resident bottlenose dolphins, Posidonia oceanica, loggerhead turtles, coral communities, fish, invertebrates, and seabirds. Maintain neutral buoyancy, keep fins and anchors clear of seagrass, do not touch or feed animals, and never pursue dolphins for an in-water encounter. Choose recognized educator-led dolphin watching and follow the skipper's approach rules.
Croatian rules prohibit removing archaeological finds. Amphora fragments, tiles, columns, anchors, weapons, and ordinary-looking objects can all have cultural value. Leave them in place, note the location without disturbing it, and report a possible find through the dive center or competent authority.
Griffon vultures nest on Cres's cliffs. Observe quietly from appropriate viewpoints or boats, avoid flash and disturbance, and use the Beli centre to understand rescue and monitoring work. Carry out litter, refill water bottles, and favor established trails and moorings.
Do Not Do This
Avoid entering when rapid wind and sea-state changes. Confirm local briefings before committing.
| Contact | Role | Phone | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Emergency Number | Police, fire, ambulance, mountain, and coordinated emergency response | 112 | 24/7 |
| MRCC Rijeka Maritime Search and Rescue | Accidents, missing persons, divers in trouble, and medical evacuation at sea | 195 or VHF Channel 16 | 24/7 |
| DAN Europe International Emergency Hotline | Diving-medicine advice and assistance coordination after local emergency activation | +39 06 42115685 | 24/7; first response in English with multilingual medical support |
| KBC Rijeka Center for Underwater and Hyperbaric Medicine | Mainland hyperbaric treatment contact; use emergency dispatch for active evacuation | +385 51 407 435 | Specialist facility; call 112 first for an active emergency |