Makarska is a port town which lies on the Dalmatian Coast, the south west coast of Croatia. The coast borders on the North Adriatic Sea. It is a popular destination for those travellers who are hoping to enjoy some nice beaches, bustling nightlife and, ofcourse, do some impressive dives. This is a popular diving destination for many due to the variety of dive sites which are accessible to divers of all levels. One of the main characteristics of the large majority of the dive sites here are the vibrant colours of the marine environment. The dive centres here have experienced dive guides who know exactly when is the best time to go where. Whether it’s a stunning coral reef teeming with marine life, a cave dive which has been voted amongst the top 50 dive sites in the world, a wreck which can be explored inside and out or a thrilling steep wall dive; Makarska has it all.

MAkarska has a Mediterranean climate which means hot summer winters with a lot of rain. The air temperatures here range between a cold 8 degrees Celsius in the midst of winter, between December and February, and reaches up to 26 degrees Celsius in the summer months of July and August. The peak diving season lies between May and September when the waters are the most calm, the most clear and the warmest, with the least amount of rain and the least amount of currents. The water temperature here ranges between 12 and 24 degrees Celsius and the visibility is on average good throughout the year and ranges between 10 metres and 35 metres on the best days. 

What makes this an attractive diving destination is the fact that there is such a wide range of types of diving to be done. There are also different levels of thrill to the dives; if divers are hoping to relax underwater and just soak in the colourful scenery, or whether they are seeking thrill underwater, it’s all possible. There are dive sites such as Vodnjack Kampanel which embodies what the Adriatic Sea has to offer in terms of marine life, this dive site is covered in gorgeous Gorgonians and a plethora of other species. There are wall dives such as Smociguzica and Zala Luka. A popular cave dive called Lucice. Lastly, there are some wrecks lying on the seabed here that can be explored inside and out such as B24 wreck. There are also some dive spots here which are ideal for night dives. 

The colourful and thriving reefs here are the foundation to waters which are filled with numerous different marine species. The reefs are made up of a collection of different Soft Corals, Hard Corals, Red Gorgonians, Sea Sponges, Sea Fans, Anemones and Purple Algae. Some of the many species which inhabit these reefs include Red Scorpionfish, Shellfish, Lobsters, Octopus, Moray Eels, Conger Eels, Dogfish, Crabs, Shellfish and Snails.

There is also a high abundance of different reef fish which are often seen in schools including Two-Banded Sea Breams, Damselfish, Sea Bass, Grey Mullets, Hake Fish, Butterfly Fish and many more. The main feature about the marine life here is definitely the colour; together, these species are like rainbow coloured confetti in clear turquoise waters. 

Vodnjack Kampanel is a dive site which encompasses the word ‘beauty’. This dive site has some unique features including a bell tower which rises up between 40 and 10 metres and is absolutely covered by stunning Gorgonians. There is also a tunnel which is filled with marine life. This is one of those dive sites that will truly impress divers with the colours and amount of marine life to see.

Lucice Cave is among the most popular dive sites here, this is a cave dive for more advanced divers and takes them on a journey down a vertical cave and into multiple tunnel systems filled with different marine life. This is a truly exhilarating diving experience. 

Smociguzica has both a stunning reef as well as a steep wall which makes for an enjoyable combination. This topography also means many cracks, crevices, holes and many more hiding spots for many different marine species to be admired.