AURORA - Split & Central Dalmatia
Aurora is our pick for a genuinely atmospheric wreck dive in the Split area. It’s a shallow site, only five metres deep, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's simple. This old fishing vessel lies broken across the seabed, its hull split and spilling its guts. We love how the light plays through the gaps, illuminating schools of juvenile damselfish that dart in and out of the twisted metal. You'll spend your time here exploring the two main sections, one part listing heavily, the other almost flat. Look closely and you'll spot crabs scuttling amongst the debris, and we’ve often seen small octopus tucked into crevices. The wreck feels alive, even in its decay, with delicate hydroids swaying gently in the subtle surge. It's a fantastic spot for photographers, especially later in the afternoon when the sun casts long shadows. Because of the depth, it’s a brilliant site for newer divers getting their first taste of a genuine wreck, but also a relaxing, rewarding dive for anyone who appreciates a bit of history beneath the waves.
- Location
- Split & Central Dalmatia, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 41.626236, 15.921772
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Wreck History - AURORA
- Vessel Type
- fishing vessel
- Cause
- unknown
The wreck of the fishing vessel Aurora in Croatia's Central Dalmatia region is a site to be approached with caution. Lying in the extremely shallow depth of just 5 meters, its history is undocumented, but its classification as a 'dangerous wreck' speaks volumes. It likely poses a hazard to navigation for local boat traffic, and for divers, this designation suggests potential risks such as sharp, broken metal or entanglement from old nets and lines. Divers and snorkelers exploring this site should exercise extreme awareness of their surroundings and any overhead boat traffic. Despite the hazards, the clear Adriatic waters and abundant sunlight at this depth will have transformed the wreckage into a thriving micro-habitat, attracting a variety of small fish and invertebrates, making for an interesting, if brief, exploration for the cautious diver.
Nearby Dive Sites in Split & Central Dalmatia
- Bijelac reef (reef)
- Bratin
- Crnac - 10-30m (reef)
- Drasan plic
- Hvar Island - 10-40m
- JELSA I - 60m (wreck)
- Kaleb plic
- KENMAR - 13m (wreck)
- LOASSO (POSSIBLY) - 17m (wreck)
- Lukovac
- Lukovci - 10-30m (reef)
- Male Stine
- MARIJA (PROBABLY) - 2m (wreck)
- Medjedina
- MTB 372 - 60m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to AURORA
- Bully Diving - Cala del Principe - ["PADI"]
- Croatia Divers - ["PADI"]
- Hvar Divers - ["PADI"]
- Scuba Diving Black Pearl
Marine Life in Split & Central Dalmatia
Home to 112 recorded species including 71 reef fish, 15 sharks & rays, 6 octopus & squid, 5 hard corals, 4 other, 3 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) - Reef Fish
- anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) - Reef Fish
- Salema (Sarpa salpa) - Reef Fish
- Garfish (Belone belone) - Reef Fish
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus) - Reef Fish
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- Blotched Picarel (Spicara maena) - Reef Fish
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- Atlantic Spotted Flounder (Citharus linguatula) - Reef Fish
- Rockfish (Scorpaena notata) - Reef Fish
- Capelin (Trisopterus capelanus) - Reef Fish
- Pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) - Reef Fish
- Deep-body Pickarel (Spicara smaris) - Reef Fish
- Scaldfish (Arnoglossus laterna) - Reef Fish
- Butterfly blenny (Blennius ocellaris) - Reef Fish