Zone of nort Adriatic islands is very atractive for divers who love to dive on reefs and underwater walls, and the zone near islands Cres and Krk is full of caves, wrecks, and luxuriant vegetation.
The most wanted wrecks in Nort Adriatic to see are Lina and Peltastit.
Lina
Greek cargo ship of c. 1500 BRT which sank in a storm while sailing off the coast of the island of Krk in the night of January 7/8, 1968. With night approaching the ship dropped two anchors near the quay of Pazduhovo, some 200 to 300 m before Dramalj.
The wreck is lying at a depth of from 20 to 30 m, easily accessible to divers. Its mast is at 10 m and from this depth the first outlines of the ship are discernable. Visibility changes since it is affected by sea currents. The bow anchors are located quite close to the shore, the bow is also facing the same way (one anchor has been lifted and is now kept in the village of Silo). The ship lies on a sandy seabed, on its keel and in an upright position.
Vis was a 120 m-long cargo steam ship built in Great Britain in 1921, owned by a shipping company with its seat in Croatia. The beginning of WW2 found it on a voyage through the
Atlantic, and it was commandeered for use as a cargo ship for Allied war convoys. After the war it ferried cargos in England, northern Africa, and then humanitarian aid to Yugoslavia. In February 1946 it sailed from Rijeka towards Rasa, to pick up a cargo of coal, but its route led through what was a still dangerous channel between the island of Cres and Istria, seeded with underwater mines. In the early morning hours the vessel struck one of those mines on its starboard bow and sank only 400 m from the entrance to Plomin bay. This wreck ranks among the best preserved in the Adriatic and lies at a
Kalliope belonged to famous Liberty ships type. The Liberty ships were ships built in the USA during WWII. They were british in concept but adapted by USA, cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by German U-boats, they were purchased for the U.S. fleet and for lend-lease provision to Britain. Eighteen American shipyards built 2,751 Liberties between 1941 and 1945, easily the largest number of ships produced to a single design. With length of 133 m and width of 15 m was Kalliope able to carry up to 10 000 tons in 5 cargo holds. This vessel served during WWII and after the war was sold to greek company - Panagos D. Patera. On of her journeys took her to Rijeka. Unfotunately the captain didn't follow chart and on 20th of December 1947 hit sea mine and was sunk close to the city of Brsec.Kaliope now lies in 43 - 62 meters. Visibility is usually very good, sometimes there is a weak current.
Wreck lies in upright position in the depth of 45 - 65 m. Front part of the ship lies about 150 m away from the rest of the wreck, althought the main part is pretty intact. You can find here depth charges and cannons. TA 36 is a war grave.
Report of Court.
The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances of the above - mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons annexed, that the stranding of the said vessel "Flamingo" was due to the negligent navigation thereof by John Ellison, the pilot in charge of her, in having over-estimated his offing from Dover Pier when taking his departure for his anchorage ground in the Downs, and in not having, when passing the South Foreland Lights, taken any steps, by a cast of the lead or otherwise, to ascertain his distance from the shore, although the state of the weather at the time rendered it extremely difficult to estimate correctly the distances. The Court also finds that no blame whatever attaches to the master, or to any officers of the said vessel, for the casualty. The Court is not asked to make any order as to costs. Dated the 8th day of December 1881.
Seventy two meters long vessel Giuseppe Dormio sunk after hitting sea mine on 11th of August 1944 on the way from Pula to Rijeka in Kvarner channel. Although it was first believed that vessel was torpedoed by british submarine. But soon it turned out, that it was sea mine. During this accident 6 crew members lost their life's.
This wreckship was found in 2006. Giuseppe Dormio lies in 62 meters, with main deck 57 - 58 meters deep. Visibility is usually 10 - 15 meters.
There is a plenty of fish and usually a very good visibility. From the permanent inhabitants, the most common are eels, scorpion fish, lobster, crab-fish and cat-sharks. A lot of “penatula” can be found around the wreck. The wreck is safe and appropriate for diving in all categories from AOWD and higher. Diving in a bad weather conditions is possible too because of its closeness to the coast.
The submarine is not complete, only its stern has been found. The stern is opened and it can be seen, as well as two diesel engines. Diving is possible in a bad weather conditions, because of its closeness to the coast. Also, there are remains of the bomb-shell and openings for the air on the submarine.
There is often a lower visibility, because of the sand bottom and underwater streams.
Diving on the submarine is quite easy and simple, what enables diving for the less experienced divers with the escort of our leaders.
