News
A Croatian Dive Safari

Diving Istria’s “Big Five” shipwrecks
The west coast of Croatia’s Istrian peninsular has been a popular tourist destination for decades, captivating visitors with its combination of sunny climate, great natural beauty, and sandy beaches lapped by the warm waters of the northern Adriatic Sea.
For any diver with an interest in ships and maritime history though there are other reasons to visit; top class shipwrecks!
In June 2016 I took the opportunity to combine my passion for shipwrecks and my wife’s desire to escape rainy England by taking a holiday near the pretty Istrian town of Rovinj where she could enjoy the hotel’s beaches and facilities whilst I undertook a wreck diving safari visiting the “Big Five” of Istria’s classic wreck sites.
First up was the wreck of the Italian destroyer Giuseppe Deeza. Launched in 1913 she was originally named Pilade Bronzetti and fitted out as a minesweeper. She served in the northern Adriatic throughout WW1 protecting the Italian coast from mines laid by the Austro-Hungarian fleet based in nearby Trieste.
Between the wars she was updated, converted into a destroyer and renamed Giuseppe Deeza.
During WW2 the Italians used her as a convoy escort, but following their surrender in 1943 she was commandeered by the Germans and re-named T35. In August 1944 she hit a mine whilst escorting a convoy from Pula to Rovinj. The explosion blew off her bows causing her to sink in seconds with the loss of 71 German sailors. She now lies upright in 35 meters in two parts, the bow some 50 meters away from the mid-ship and stern sections.
My dive began at the forward end of the mid-ship section. Here the ship is heavily damaged with most of the superstructure missing. Being new to the wreck my buddy and I decided against exploring inside and instead headed aft along the buckled main deck enjoying the shoals of small fish darting in and out of the ship’s broken deck plates.
Soon we found the aft anti-aircraft battery consisting of four 20mm cannons mounted inside an open circular tub completely covered in soft corals and colourful sponges.
Continuing aft, the stern 102mm deck gun slowly came into view. Pointing defiantly skywards it too was covered in sponges, mussels and soft corals.
Bonus finds here included tiny purple and blue nudibranchs smaller than my thumbnail and a small Langoustine with beautiful blue eyes boldly defending its home in the mouth of the gun’s barrel.
Wreck number 2 was a 4400 ton freighter recently identified as the Hans Schmidt lost in 1943. Built in Holland in 1920 and originally named Albirgo she had several owners, the last being a German company who renamed her Hans Schmidt. On 27th January 1943 she was in convoy laden with war materials when she hit a mine near Pula which totally destroyed her forward hold.
She now lies upright in 41 meters with her main deck at 33 meters and her bow and fo’csle areas effectively separated from the rest of the ship by a 15 meter gap where the forward hold used to be.
My dive began on the main deck roughly half way between the wrecked forward hold and the remains of the superstructure from where I headed aft. The journey took me past the remains of her superstructure eerily draped in trawl nets and along her side rails covered with hard corals and clumps of bright yellow sponges.
At the extreme stern there’s a small easily accessed compartment which contains the ship’s auxiliary steering system complete with quadrant as well as providing a home for shoals of small fish and a myriad of mussels and sponges.
Descending over the ship’s graceful stern I followed her impressive rudder down to the sea bed and her single propeller. As the bottom approached two huge propeller blades loomed into view each at least 6ft long and covered in dark sponges. Divers can easily swim around the blades and through the gap between the ship’s hull and the rear of the rudder creating a great photo opportunity.
The third of my Croatian “Big Five” was the Austro-Hungarian liner Baron Gautsch. Built in Dundee for the Imperial Osterricher-Lloyd line and launched in 1908, she was once one of the most luxurious ships in the Mediterranean.
With the outbreak of WW1 she was seconded to the Austro-Hungarian navy and used as a troopship and freighter supporting their forces. On 12th August 1914 she was transporting 350 civilian evacuees to Trieste when she accidentally entered a “friendly” minefield being laid near Pula. Tragically she hit one of their mines and rapidly sank. 147 passengers died in the disaster but miraculously 200 others were rescued by nearby ships despite the obvious risks to their own safety. She now sits upright and largely intact with her main deck at 35 meters.
The plan was to start at the bow and follow her starboard companionway to the stern before returning via the lifeboat deck. Descending through the clear water the shadowy outline of the wreck soon came into view, even though it was still over 20 meters below.
The bow and foredeck area is very photogenic with the outline of the main superstructure just visible in the far distance.
Moving off, we followed the toppled foremast to the enclosed starboard upper promenade deck. Entering through one of the large windows, the sponge and mussel-encrusted companionway disappeared into the distance, and with much of the original teak decking still visible, it makes a very atmospheric swim through.
To the left, gaps between the lifeboat deck supports provided easy escape routes to open water whilst to the right large holes in the steelwork provide tantalising glimpses of her once luxurious cabins.
At the stern we descended to main deck level and found several large Scorpion fish in residence (so please take care where you put your hands).
Ascending to the lifeboat deck, the twin rows of empty davits were a poignant reminder of the tragedy visited here 102 years earlier. Heading forward we passed the sponge covered dining room skylight with its portholes still in place and found the engine room hatches whose slats have collapsed allowing us to look in and see the top of the ship’s huge steam engine rising up from the depths.
Continuing forward we found a steel room just aft of the bridge which may have been an auxiliary steering position, though nothing of its interior has survived. Sadly the bridge and its treasures are all gone, victims of time, fishing nets and salvagers (though the steel bridge wings still remain).
The fourth of my “Big Five” wrecks was HMS Coriolanus, a Shakespeare class minesweeper built in 1940 by Cochrane and Sons of Selby, North Yorkshire. At 150ft long and with only 3 x 20mm Oerlikon AA guns, she was by any standard small and lightly armed. Despite her diminutive size however, she punched well above her weight, supporting Allied landings in North Africa and Sicily, where her shallow draught enabled her to sweep mines much closer inshore than many of her larger sisters.
On 5th May 1945 she was patrolling off Novi Grad when she hit a mine. Some say she was trying to get close to a major Red Army base to listen to their radio traffic whilst others think her luck simply ran out. Either way she sank within minutes and now lies upright in 30 meters.
Descending to the bow it was obvious the visibility wasn’t going to be anything like we’d experienced on the Baron Gautsch. The water here was distinctly “milky” and as we closed on the wreck we could see a thick, white, mist like layer surrounding the ship through which its guns, masts and superstructure emerged like trees in a haunted wood; very strange.
First we explored the two forward anti-aircraft batteries. Their guns, each covered in sponges and hard concretions, dipped towards the sea-bed seemingly in a silent salute to their lost ship whilst around them neatly stacked boxes of ammunition lay ready for use.
Moving aft we ascended to what had once been the ship’s bridge on top of the armoured wheelhouse. The bridge had disappeared long ago and now only the broken main mast remains to remind you of how things were.
Arriving at the after deck we negotiated the toppled mizzen mast finally reaching the stern anti-aircraft battery. Its single 20mm gun points out over the stern rail and both it and its mounting are covered with colourful algae and sponges. It’s marvellous how if given enough time simple organisms can transform a deadly weapon into a beautiful sculpture.
With the current picking up, my buddy and I decided to hitch a ride and return to the shot-line. On the way, empty lifeboat davits clutched at us out of the gloom like the branches of sunken trees, but the strangest sight was the ship’s paravaning boom appearing to just float beside the ship as it emerged through the milky layer.
My final “Big Five” wreck should have been the Italian freighter Varese which was lost near Pula in 1915, but unfortunately adverse weather prevented me from getting there this trip. On 18th January 1915 she was on the final leg of a voyage from Tunisia to Venice in heavy weather when her Captain decided to seek shelter in Pula. In doing so he sailed directly into an Austro-Hungarian minefield laid to protect the port. Predictably the Varese struck a mine which totally destroyed her bow, sinking her almost instantly with the loss of all but one of her crew.
Today she lies upright in 41 meters with her main deck at 33 meters and is reported to be a great dive. Covered in sponges and mussels, her superstructure makes a good rummage dive and her steam engine can be seen through large holes in her collapsing main deck. For more adventurous and suitably trained divers it’s possible to explore large parts of the ship’s interior as the passageways and holds are quite wide and safe.
Essentials
When to go
Istria is a “year round” diving destination, though the main season runs from June to October. September is a good time to go as the sea is still warm (23ºC at the surface and 18ºC at depth), visibility is usually very good and most activities are still available.
Accommodation
We bought a package holiday with Thompson holidays flying from Manchester to Pula staying 14 nights at the 4* Island Istra Hotel Rovinj. This cost £1250pp and included a half board + drinks meal plan, road and ferry transfers. Alternatively there’s lots of other accommodation nearby including the Villas Rubin (which incorporates the Rubin Dive centre used on this Safari).
Flights
All flights to Istria land in Pula. In addition to Thompson holidays, Jet2 fly from Manchester and Leeds/Bradford airports whilst Easyjet flies from Stansted and Gatwick airports. Taxi transfers from Pula airport to Rovinj cost approx. £40pp return.
Diving Logistics and costs
My Safari was organised and delivered by Filip Visic (owner of Puffer Dive Centre located at the Island Hotel Istra and co-owner of Dive Centre Rubin, Villas Rubin Rovinj) and his excellent staff.
E-mail & web sites
Filip Visic: fico751@gmail.com
Puffer Diving Centre: www.rovinj-diving.hr
Dive Centre Rubin: www.diverubin.com
My safari cost £400 and included 10 boat dives, a 10ltr twin set, weights and NITROX on every dive.
Note: Currently neither dive centre accepts credit cards. Dive groups/clubs are welcome and there are significant discounts available for groups of 8 or more divers.
Non-diving activities
There’s plenty to do other than diving. St Andrew’s island is a haven for sea birds and small creatures, whilst a short complimentary boat ride takes you to the picturesque streets of Rovinj. In addition the hotel organises tours to other places of interest. The Hotel Istra itself offers a full range of water-sports (June – Oct), Gym, Spa and free Wi-Fi.
Marine Life & Conservation
IUCN Spotlights Green Fins at Bali Ocean Days 2025, Calling for Stronger Business Model in Marine Conservation

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Global Ocean Director, Minna Epps, has spotlighted Green Fins Indonesia along with a call for stronger business models that sustain marine conservation. Speaking at the inaugural session of Bali Ocean Days 2025 held on 7-8 February, Epps emphasised the need for sustainable financing to support and scale marine conservation initiatives such as Green Fins.
Activities earlier in the week with the Coral Triangle Center in Sanur and Ceningan Divers in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area shaped the IUCN Ocean Director’s message at the conference and showcase, aligning with the theme of the blue economy and impact finance to sustain marine ecosystems.
“Tourism has such a big impact on marine biodiversity, and we need it to adhere to a certain code of conduct,” Epps said. “That is why through our funding facilities, we worked with The Reef-World Foundation advancing Green Fins so dive operators can become certified with standards. But this kind of initiative has been around for a long time and it’s also a tool used to improve [MPA management], but it needs to come with a business model. I also believe in market-based instruments to evolve this programme.”
IUCN’s visit is part of their Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF), which supports at least 21 projects around the world, building the business case for investing in the future of our ocean.
In Indonesia, the project supported by IUCN was developed in partnership with The Reef-World Foundation, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Coral Triangle Center, which serves as the local implementing organisation for Green Fins. The initiative engages marine tourism businesses through voluntary sustainability certification based on the only internationally recognised environmental standards for diving and snorkelling operations. Green Fins’ activities aim to reduce negative environmental impacts associated with marine tourism activities as well as improve the management of marine protected areas.
IUCN’s promotion of Green Fins in Bali Ocean Days signals the need for greater private sector engagement in marine conservation across Indonesia and beyond.
Investors, donors, marine tourism operators and stakeholders looking to support scalable marine conservation solutions are encouraged to explore opportunities with The Reef-World Foundation, the international coordinator of the Green Fins initiative. To learn more about sustainable marine tourism and how to get involved, visit www.reef-world.org.
About Reef-World
The Reef-World Foundation is a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. The charity promotes the wise use of natural resources – particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems – for the benefit of local communities, visitors and future generations. It is dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.
Reef-World leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. As such, the charity provides low-cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with the marine tourism industry. It provides education and capacity-building assistance to empower environmental champions (within the diving industry, local communities, authorities and governments) to implement proven coastal resource management approaches.
Visit www.reef-world.org to learn more or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Green Fins
Green Fins is a proven conservation management approach – spearheaded by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme – which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with the marine tourism industry. The initiative aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. It provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance.
Green Fins encourages and empowers members of the diving industry to act to reduce the pressures on coral reefs by offering dive and snorkel companies practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices – such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution – as well as providing strategic training, support and resources. By reducing the local direct and indirect pressures tourism puts on coral reefs, it helps make corals healthier and more resilient to other stresses such as the effects of climate change. Look for the Green Fins logo when booking your next dive trip.Visit www.greenfins.net to learn more or follow the initiative on Facebook, Instagram and X.
News
Filming 360 in The Bahamas

In December 2024, the Shark Trust had a very special opportunity to film sharks and rays in The Bahamas. Frogfish Photography are the Bahamas Dive Ambassadors for the UK. And Caroline, Deputy Editor at Scubaverse, is the Marketing Manager at the Shark Trust. So, when the need arose to film footage of several species of shark and ray for a new Shark Trust project, The Bahamas seemed the perfect fit. A huge thank you is needed here to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. As they stepped in to fully support the trip both financially and practically. Ensuring that the filming expedition ran smoothly, and that we got as much time as possible in the water with sharks and rays, during the 10 day, 3 island trip.
The Bahamas is famous for its sharks and rays. Divers flock there to experience getting up close to a range of species. Our itinerary saw us visit Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama. It packed in as many in-water experiences as possible and had us dive, snorkel, and even take a submarine to experience them in a variety of different habitats and to capture them on film. We saw 148 sharks and rays from 8 different species (all of which have been logged on the Shark Trust Shark Log!).
But why were we there? The expedition was designed to fulfil the needs of two new projects being launched by the Shark Trust in 2025. The filming done underwater on this trip was the start of creating OneOcean360: A Shark Story. A new 360 immersive experience designed primarily for immersive domes and planetariums. The film will be the nearest experience to getting in the water with sharks and rays without getting wet! It will bring the world of sharks to an audience that may never get the chance to experience it first-hand. A Shark Story aims to deepen people’s understanding of sharks, uncovering and illustrating why they are so wonderful as well as being vital to marine ecosystems.
The film is being made in collaboration with Real Immersive. Also based in Plymouth, they have an immersive dome and are providing the technical expertise behind creating this unique experience. Reviewing the footage in the dome has been an invaluable part of the process. Both inspiring the team and allow us to refine the filming techniques to suit this immersive theatre.
You might imagine that we are using expensive cameras and even more expensive housings. But this is not the case. The entire project is being filmed using Insta360 X4 cameras. With only a few simple additions to the standard dive setup. The INON weight plate allowed us to attach this camera to a dive weight, set it down on sand or wreck, and then swim away and let the sharks be the stars. And the results are very exciting. The film will be ready this autumn. It will be accompanied by an educational pack for teachers to take away after school trips to see the film. Encouraging all those that see it to continue learning about these incredible animals.
You can support the creation of OneOcean360: A Shark Story by heading to the crowdfunder page and donating or selecting a reward.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-shark-story
Read about the shark and ray dives we did on Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama in our next blog post coming soon on Scubaverse.
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