REX - Istria Peninsula
The Rex wreck off Istria is a curious dive, especially when you consider its sheer size on paper – a massive liner, nearly 300 metres long. What you find at 13 metres is much more modest, but still interesting. This isn't a deep penetration dive; instead, you're exploring the scattered remains of a vessel that met its end in 1944. We’ve found plenty of small crabs picking through the debris, and schools of juvenile fish often hover around the larger metal plates. It’s a good spot for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive, allowing you to appreciate the history without any serious challenges. Just remember, it’s not the ship itself you're seeing, but the ghosts of its past.
- Location
- Istria Peninsula, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 45.552223, 13.691112
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 13m
Marine Protected Area: Vrsarski otoci
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
- 100 Steps
- 1. Niederbayerischer Tauchsportclub Plattling e.V.
- 3 Zinnen - 18m
- A CAPELLINI - 11m (wreck)
- Accademia Blu Diving Center
- Allgäuer Taucherhof
- Allmannshausen: Naturschutzgebiet
- Allmannshausen: Seeburg
- Allmannshausen: Wasserwacht
- Allmannshauser Steilwand
- Almsee (reef)
- Alpenblick
- Alte Badanstalt
- Alte Brücke-Flurlingersteg
- Alte Julierbrücke
Nearest Dive Centres to REX
- 100 x 100 Diving - PADI, TECREC, DAN, EFR
- ACQUASUB VICENZA TEAM asd
- Albarella Diving Center SSDRL
- Apnea Slovenija
- Aquaemotion SSD SRL
- Aquanautic Elba - SSI
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
- Corb (Sciaena umbra) - Reef Fish
- Cape Shark (Squalus acanthias) - Sharks & Rays
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- Common lobster (Homarus gammarus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Common Eagle Ray (Myliobatis aquila) - Sharks & Rays
- poor cod (Trisopterus minutus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Stingray (Pteroplatytrygon violacea) - Sharks & Rays
- Common smoothhound (Mustelus mustelus) - Sharks & Rays
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Blackspotted Smoothhound (Mustelus punctulatus) - Sharks & Rays
- Damsel fish (Chromis chromis) - Reef Fish
- Leidy's Comb Jelly (Mnemiopsis leidyi)
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Slender Seagrass (Cymodocea nodosa) - Seagrass & Algae
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- european squid (Loligo vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
Recommended Packing List for REX
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