Offering a fascinating history and endless natural splendor, Porec is well-known as one of the best places to dive in Croatia. Home to a stunning kaleidoscope of marine life, and featuring vertical cliffs, mysterious caves, and fascinating shipwrecks, this area has been inhabited for more than 2,000 years and is also known for its wrecks. Whether you're a diehard wreck diver, or if you're brand new to diving, you'll enjoy the crystal clear waters and underwater panoramas Porec has to offer; plus, you'll enjoy exploring the area's many reefs. Let's take a look at five of the best.
San Giovanni
San Giovanni's Island is also known as St. John's Island. Here, you'll find a splendid reef and an easy maximum depth of just 20 meters. In addition to the many small reef fish which inhabit the area, this site is of historic interest - sunken stone blocks taken from an ancient Roman quarry speak of the people who once lived, worked, and played in the topside communities. Take some time to explore - you'll find lots of crabs and other crustaceans hiding in the shelter these ancient stones provide.
Rubini Reef
Marked with a lighthouse topside and more than just a reef, this site features a shoal that begins at a depth of 20 meters and allows for a descent all the way to 45 meters. Here, you'll find large sea bass and dentex, plus you may encounter well camouflaged frogfish. As you explore, be very careful about touching anything - there are lots of scorpionfish living here. Due to depth, Rubini Reef is best for experienced divers.
Banjol Island
A very popular site with local divers, and an outstanding destination for all, Banjol Island is located along Istria's western side. This little islet offers a total of three underwater caves, and you'll find plenty of crustaceans and invertebrates as you explore the reef itself. While maximum depth at the bottom of the reef is 35 meters, the caves and many other features are located at a depth of just about 12 meters.
Salina Coast
A great site to explore anytime, and normally calm even when other dive sites are blown out, Salina Coast features hollowed out rocks where lobsters and eels hide. Nearby, the so-called Salina wreck shelters additional marine life and offers a first-time wreck dive experience to novice divers. Maximum depth here is just 16 meters.
Faro Island
Locals sometimes refer to Faro Island as Lighthouse Sv. Ivan na Pučini. Located at the end of the archipelago, the site is home to a veritable wealth of marine life, all along the rocky seabed. As you make your way from one rock formation to the next, it is possible to descend to a depth of 45 meters. This somewhat challenging site is suitable for experienced divers only. Watch for lobsters, crabs, and eels.
Porec has been inhabited for thousands of years and topside, you'll find plenty of diversions to keep you busy between dives. Of particular note is the Euphrasian Basilica, a 6th century church which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997; other historic sites are numerous, as are natural wonders, such as the cave of Baredine, where you'll find magnificent stalactites, stalagmites, and other geologic formations. Porec also offers numerous hotels and fantastic restaurants, making it a wonderful place for divers and non-divers alike to enjoy a relaxing holiday.