Plavi Jadran - Kornati Islands
Plavi Jadran in Kornati always delivers, and it's easily one of our favourite spots in the entire archipelago. Drop in, and you’re immediately greeted by walls draped in life. We’re talking about massive black leather sponges, the colour of deep merlot, interspersed with vivid green calcareous algae. Light filters down through gaps in the rock, making the water glow in places, picking out the tiny beadlet anemones clinging to the shadowed overhangs. It’s a site that rewards slow exploration, taking time to peer into every crevice. We often find cowfish here, looking distinctly out of place with their boxy bodies, and if you’re lucky, a common brittlestar might just peek out from under a rock. For us, Plavi Jadran shines brightest on a sunny afternoon, when the light plays best on the rock faces. This site is excellent for macro enthusiasts and photographers who appreciate intricate details, but also for any diver who enjoys a relaxed exploration of a vertical reef. Just remember to bring a torch; it helps bring out the true colours down there.
- Location
- Kornati Islands, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 43.725937, 15.786351
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-30m
Marine Protected Area: Uvala Tijašnica
Best Time to Dive in Kornati Islands
The warmest water temperatures in Kornati Islands occur in August, averaging 25.6°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 14.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 15.3°C
- February: 14.3°C
- March: 14.1°C
- April: 14.7°C
- May: 17.6°C
- June: 21.8°C
- July: 24.7°C
- August: 25.6°C
- September: 24.0°C
- October: 21.4°C
- November: 19.5°C
- December: 17.1°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Kornati Islands
- Alains cliff - 15-40m (wall)
- Amfiteatre dive - 25m
- Anchor dive
- "AQUANAUT" - 15-40m (cave)
- Aquanaut Diving Centar Murter - 5-30m (wall)
- Arta Vala
- AVALA - 10m (wreck)
- Babuljasi
- Balun
- Big Blue Diving - 20-40m (wall)
- Blue Lagoon - 14m (reef)
- Božava Diving - 10-30m (reef)
- Brbišćica - 10-25m (cave)
- Brbiscica Cave - 10-30m (cave)
- BRIGITTA MONTANARI - 30m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Plavi Jadran
- Albamaris - SSI
- Ancora
- Anma Diving center - SSI, PADI
- Aqualis Diving Center Hvar - PADI, SSI
- "AQUANAUT"
- Aquanaut Diving Centar Murter
Marine Life in Kornati Islands
Home to 91 recorded species including 64 reef fish, 10 sharks & rays, 6 octopus & squid, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 other, 3 hard corals.
Notable Species
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) - Reef Fish
- anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) - Reef Fish
- Capelin (Trisopterus capelanus) - Reef Fish
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- Gurnard (Trigla lyra) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- Frie's Goby (Lesueurigobius friesii) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Plavi Jadran
Based on average water temperature of 19.2°C, currents 3 cm/s.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 19°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