MEDICEO (PART OF)(POSSIBLY) - Istria Peninsula

The Mediceo, lying at a comfortable 18 metres off the Istrian coast, is one of our favourite wreck dives in the northern Adriatic. It’s a big old steamship, 122 metres long, that met its end in January 1945, either by bomb or mine depending on whose log you read. Either way, it’s now a fantastic artificial reef. Dropping down, the sheer scale hits you first. The bow is particularly intact, looming out of the blue, often swarming with schools of damselfish that scatter as you approach. We love to take our time here, exploring the holds which are now home to lobsters and conger eels, tucked deep into the shadows. The stern section is more broken, revealing the massive propeller and rudder, often draped in sponges and colonial anemones. Visibility can be a bit variable here, so we always try to hit it on a calm morning before the afternoon breezes kick up. It’s a straightforward dive, perfect for advanced open water divers looking for a good long bottom time on a genuinely impressive piece of history. You'll find scorpionfish camouflaged on the plating and a surprising number of nudibranchs if you look closely enough.

Location
Istria Peninsula, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
45.524000, 13.093833
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
18m

Best Time to Dive in Istria Peninsula

The warmest water temperatures in Istria Peninsula occur in August, averaging 26.1°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 11.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 13.5°C
  • February: 11.9°C
  • March: 11.8°C
  • April: 13.4°C
  • May: 17.0°C
  • June: 22.4°C
  • July: 25.6°C
  • August: 26.1°C
  • September: 23.6°C
  • October: 20.3°C
  • November: 17.8°C
  • December: 15.8°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Istria Peninsula

Nearest Dive Centres to MEDICEO (PART OF)(POSSIBLY)

Marine Life in Istria Peninsula

Home to 48 recorded species including 28 reef fish, 7 sharks & rays, 3 other, 2 crabs & lobsters, 2 octopus & squid, 1 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for MEDICEO (PART OF)(POSSIBLY)

Based on average water temperature of 18.3°C, currents 2 cm/s.

  • Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 18°C water
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories