Offering incredible underwater vistas, and home to such creatures as seahorses, frogfish, and an abundance of other marine life, the reefs off Pula welcome divers new and experienced alike. Renowned for stunning blue water and exceptional visibility, the waters surrounding this region are among the cleanest in the Mediterranean; be sure to bring your camera for some amazing wide angle shots as well as some outstanding macro opportunities. Let's take a look at just a few of the nicest reef dives Pula has to offer.
Seagull Crag
Seagull Crag is an incredible site all divers can enjoy. Newer divers will enjoy the many creatures inhabiting the walls that wind along the shore; those with more experience will enjoy the thrill of exploring a 20 meter long tunnel which ends in a cave approximately 20 meters in diameter, and about 10-15 meters high. The cave leads to a small beach on shore - you can either hike out, or enjoy a second trip through the tunnel.
The Lighthouse
A great place for a relaxing drift dive, the Lighthouse is located right next to a hotel beach. Here, you'll find a wall that extends for a distance of about 100 meters; populated by crabs, lobsters, eels, and other creatures, it offers shallow depths and is ideal for newer divers as well as for underwater photographers.
Canyon
Located at Cape Verudela, the Canyon actually rises to a distance of about 20 meters above sea level. Inside, depths are shallow - just 3 to 7 meters. Once you leave the canyon, you'll find a maze of tunnels at a depth of about 5 meters, and a drop off to a depth of about 25 meters. As you descend, you can explore many grottoes and small caves located at depths between 16 and 19 meters. Though the site is well-populated with marine life, its geology is what makes it most memorable.
Stoja
The Stoja dive site is suitable for all divers, and is easy to access from the Stoja Motor Camp which is located on the northern cape. With incredible rock formations that begin in the shallows and which continue down a splendid slope, this site is a fantastic place to enjoy face-to-face meetings with colorful crustaceans and intriguing invertebrates, as well as with plenty of fish. Bring a strong light with you - there are many little nooks and crannies to peer into!
Fraskeric
A very popular site with local dive schools, Fraskeric is located at the northern end of Fraskeric Island. With no less than four caves to explore, it is an exciting site for all, and a wonderful place to practice wide angle photography techniques. The beams of light which enter the darkened caverns from above create an ethereal effect; all in all, Fraskeric is absolutely magnificent.
Ship's Mast
Offering depths between 10 and 25 meters, Ship's Mast features a vertical wall peppered with holes and pocked with caves. Most of these indentations are too small to enter; bring a good light with you, and look inside - you might see a big lobster or a friendly conger eel looking back! At a depth of 25 meters, you'll find a ship's mast jammed into the rock wall; below it you'll see a bit of old debris - all that remains of what was once a sturdy sailing ship. As you make your way back to the surface, you'll come upon a cave at 9 meters - this one is big enough to enter.
Frasker
A great place for a drift, Frasker features steady currents that move you along walls and cascading rocks at depths between 15 and 20 meters. Lobsters, crabs, fish, and conger eels look out from their rocky homes as you pass, and schooling anthia and bream sometimes accompany you as you make your way through their blue world.
Pula is Istria's largest city, and has been the region's administrative center since before ancient Roman times. With a rich tradition of fishing, shipbuilding, and wine making, Pula is a fantastic place for divers and non-divers to explore. You'll find the slow pace of life relaxing, the food delicious, and the hospitality second to none; don't be surprised if, once you've gone home, you find yourself planning a second trip to this amazing destination.