B-24 (Wreck) - Vis & Biševo
Dropping down to the B-24 Liberator, you immediately feel the weight of history. It’s a proper aircraft wreck, not just a pile of scattered metal. The plane lies mostly intact at 40 metres, upright on the seabed, its wings still spread wide. We love that you can see the cockpit, the gun turrets, even the faint outline of the bomb bay doors. Swimming along the fuselage, you get a real sense of its scale. It’s a sobering reminder of the war, yet it's also a thriving artificial reef. Conger eels peer from gaping holes where engines once were, and bright orange scorpionfish blend perfectly with the encrusted metal. Our favourite part has to be finning past the tail section, imagining the sheer force of its landing. This dive is definitely for those who appreciate wrecks with a story, and who are comfortable at depth. Visibility here is usually good, often 20 metres or more, making it an excellent site for photographers too.
- Location
- Vis & Biševo, Croatia, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 43.034500, 16.273800
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 40m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Wreck History - B-24 (Wreck)
- Vessel Type
- aircraft
- Cause
- unknown
During the later stages of World War II, the Croatian island of Vis served as a vital forward airbase for Allied forces, including a runway for emergency landings. Many heavily damaged bombers, returning from perilous missions over occupied Europe, tried to make it to the safety of the island. Unfortunately, not all of them succeeded. This wreck is believed to be a Consolidated B-24 Liberator, another four-engine heavy bomber, that ditched in the waters near Vis after sustaining critical combat damage.
Lying at a depth of 40 meters, this is a dive for experienced and suitably qualified divers. The aircraft rests on the seabed, a silent testament to its final flight. Depending on its condition and orientation, divers may be able to identify the B-24's distinctive twin-tail fins, the large bomb bay, and the cockpit where its crew faced their final moments in the air. The depth adds an element of challenge and atmosphere to the dive, offering a moving glimpse into a dramatic chapter of the region's wartime history.
Marine Protected Area: JI strana o. Visa
Nearby Dive Sites in Vis & Biševo
- Airplane - 20m (wreck)
- Amfore
- Amphora Wall - 26m (wall)
- Anchor Wall - 26m (wall)
- Anfore
- Anfore - Komiza
- Anfore - Mliki rat
- B-17G (wreck)
- B-24 Tulsamerican (wreck)
- Baba Reef - 20m (reef)
- Bisevo Blue Cave (cave)
- Bisevo Wall - 15-40m (wall)
- Blue Cave Bisevo (cave)
- Blue Lagoon (reef)
- BRIONI - 20m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to B-24 (Wreck)
- Anma Diving center - Scuba School International, PADI
- Deep Blue Diving
- Issa dive center - SDI, TDI
- Issa Diving Center
- Istvan d.o.o.
- MARLINTREMITI ASD
Marine Life in Vis & Biševo
Home to 144 recorded species including 97 reef fish, 16 sharks & rays, 6 octopus & squid, 5 other, 5 seagrass & algae, 3 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- hake (Merluccius merluccius) - Reef Fish
- pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) - Reef Fish
- anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) - Reef Fish
- Painted Comber (Serranus scriba) - Reef Fish
- Bogue (Boops boops) - Reef Fish
- Norway Lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Capelin (Trisopterus capelanus) - Reef Fish
- Mullet (Mullus barbatus) - Reef Fish
- blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) - Reef Fish
- Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
- common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) - Octopus & Squid
- dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) - Sharks & Rays
- Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) - Octopus & Squid
- lesser argentine (Argentina sphyraena) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Coris julis) - Reef Fish
- Thornback skate (Raja clavata) - Sharks & Rays
- dory (Zeus faber) - Reef Fish
- megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) - Reef Fish
- Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Dragonet (Callionymus maculatus) - Reef Fish